Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Academic Plan: Course of Study

Moving forward, I would like to continue studying to achieve a Bachelor of English. English is a field which does interest me, and I specifically enjoy writing and creating original pieces. With this being an interest of mine, the courses I have taken so far at Queen’s have aided me in developing the proper techniques to analyze my work clearly, read perceptively, and communicate effectively. Along with this, learning about a vast variety of writers from various epochs has helped me gain basic knowledge and understanding about my first language, and how art and literature has developed through time – valuable information which is not only necessary to obtaining my degree, but also to helping me develop as a young person in the 21st century.

After having taken some time to consider my future years of study, moving forward, it would be beneficial to enroll only in elective courses which interest me entirely. Looking at my academic records, I excel in courses such as WRIT, which have not only provided me with great comprehension of the basic, fundamental skills of academic writing, but are of interest to me; RELS; and Indigenous Literatures and History.

The Bachelor of English degree demands the completion of:

• Core courses (12.0 units)
Which I have successfully achieved (Both ENGL 100 (6.0) and ENGL 200 (6.0), as well as WRIT 125, although not mandatory if ENGL 100 is completed);
• Optional courses (18.0 units)
6.0 units of ENGL above the 200-level (ENGL 218, ENGL 223), leaving me to either complete 6.0 more units of ENGL above the 200-level, OR 6.0-unit substitute courses, and;
• Electives (60.0 units)
Of which I have achieved 24.0 units, not including WRIT 125.

In the following academic year, it is crucial to enroll only in ENGL (200 or above level) courses, creative writing courses, Indigenous literature or history courses, and courses which have a similar focus as the aforementioned, as these have proven to be my strengths, and most importantly, interests. By enrolling in these types of courses, I would be avoiding the shame which comes from again, trying to achieve a course such as history, and failing due to a lack of understanding or procrastination.
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Full Time versus Part Time status

According to the “Preparing an Academic Plan” document provided to me by Queen’s University, it states that under no circumstances should a student returning to Queen’s after proven academic difficulty plan to conduct more than 15.0 units per semester.

My plans as of September will involve me dancing professionally, requiring me to balance paid employment and a higher education, simultaneously. Having consulted professional dancers which I know personally, and having taken the time to read online about other ballet dancers balancing their professional careers and academics, my individual circumstance would, realistically, require me to continue at Queen’s as a part-time student. Other professionals in this career field have found that pacing their academic load is the most crucial step when balancing out academics and their professional careers.

For me, studying and dancing professionally is not just about obtaining a degree, but it is about

1. Being an educated human being in an ever-changing world, and;
2. Preparing for life beyond the stage, specifically in a field of interest to me.

While the benefits of obtaining a degree are clear, recognizing the challenges which come with it are equally as important to recognize, in order to help me avoid the past mistake of failing courses due to incomplete and unsubmitted course material. Time management becomes a crucial skill in being able to adapt to studies and a career.
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Strategies for Success

Trying harder or believing that if I try harder I will success is a mentality which I need to get rid of in order to achieve my goals. Success can be achieved through hard work, but it also requires proper planning, dedication, and determination.

While I did not struggle in the past year at Queen’s due to my comprehension abilities of course materials, I did struggle with:

• Effective learning strategies (time management, studying skills, exam mastery techniques);
• Motivation, and;
• Situational demands

In order to take the proper steps towards success, I believe that it is imperative that moving forward, I (regularly, monthly) contact Student Academic Success Services, and/or an Academic Advisor at Queen’s University for advice regarding proper and effective learning strategies (with a large focus on time management), and taking sufficient time to study the provided “Exam Study Tips” through the Queen’s Learning Commons (online). In courses which I do excel in, I have noticed that my overall course GPA drops following exams, indicating that although I may be able to comprehend the material provided to me, I do not prepare sufficiently leading up to exams.

After careful consideration consulting the “Preparing an Academic Plan” pdf, the “Motivation” section under section C. of this pdf has helped me rule out that I do not suffer from any mental health issues or learning disabilities, but I do struggle heavily with the very real issue of procrastination when I am overwhelmed – burnout procrastination. In order to tackle this issue, it is important that I recognize that I have procrastinated in my studies due to my inability to properly manage my career and academics. Moving forward, it is mandatory that I regularly consult with an Academic Advisor or person(s) through the Student Academic Success Services which will help me stay on track by setting goals which I can reach, without being overwhelmed. By lowering my workload to a half time work load, and only enrolling in courses which interest me, I believe that my struggles with procrastination will be eliminated. Of course, a large part of procrastination comes from being burdened by workload, so it is crucial that I understand how to manage workloads, and to not stray away from help when I need it.

My situational demands this past year have been a lot to manage physically, mentally, and emotionally. As my documentation states, specifically from the period of January to the beginning of June, I participated in intense daily preparations at the National Foundation for Dance – including weekends when international guests would guest at the school – to achieve a diploma highlighting the successful completion of my ballet education.
While living in Toronto, Canada, I trained at a private ballet school which did not offer diplomas to their students. This would later hinder my ability to be hired by a theatre, as most places now seek ballet dancers with diplomas in order to be considered educated in their technique and understand of the body and history of dance: Achieving this diploma was a crucial step towards boosting my chances in the professional ballet world. Similarly, achieving my degree through Queen’s would only positively benefit me, boosting my chances of being hired easily in a variety of career fields.

With this clarified, I can admit that handling two diploma/degree programs simultaneously was difficult for me. While I excelled in my dance exams – as my documentation shows – my academics at Queen’s suffered.
Moving forward in the following season, it is important that I show not only to myself, but the staff and Academic Dean at Queen’s University that this mistake will not occur again. Considering that I will be working next season (the decision remains between two theatres) professional theatre always have a set schedule for rehearsals and class. This structure in my day allows me to create a schedule to integrate my education into my professional life. I recognize that I need structure in order to function, and this would help me immensely. In addition, I would regularly be contacting an Academic Advisor to help me plan out my time, as I struggle with this skill on my own.
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Conclusion

After careful consideration, achieving two diploma programs at once boasted a challenge for me. In the future, I will make it absolutely mandatory to contact Student Academic Services and an Academic Advisor frequently in order to help me plan out an effective working strategy for my individual circumstance, and I will not shy away from asking for help when I need it, as I have done in the past.

Out of the 90.0 units required to achieve my Bachelor of English, I have completed 48.0, leaving me with 42,0 more elective units to complete, and 6.0 more optional course units to complete. I believe that with sufficient time management planning with an Academic Advisor, lowering my overall workload to sustain a professional career and higher education, as well as reconsidering which courses I take moving forward would absolutely boost my performance at Queen’s University.

I understand that after receiving this request to withdraw, I face the possibility of needing to withdraw for a three-year period if my academic performance does not improve. This past semester, I achieved an overall GPA of 1.48, which I feel would have been boosted to a 1.60 GPA, had I not failed HIST 124, a course worth 6.0-units. This course requires a sufficient amount of attention, and after careful reflection, my workload, inability to plan accordingly, and extenuating circumstances led to the failure of this course, which led to my ultimate withdraw request.

These past few weeks since receiving my Academic Standing report have been eye-opening. After careful discussion with my family, specifically my mother who has dedicated her time for years to save money for my schooling, this has been a wake-up call, and I would like nothing more than to clean up my act, and prove to my family, myself, and the staff at Queen’s that I am capable of achieving my degree – it is a matter of taking the right steps moving forward, and sticking to my word which will get me to my goal.

I truly hope that the Academic Dean may reconsider my situation, and understand the difficulties that have come with tackling an rigorous workload in my career and academics. I recognize my past actions and mistakes, and would like to be granted the opportunity to highlight a positive change in my attitude and growth in my maturity.