Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 7907
Submitted: June 17, 2021 at 7:42:11 PM
First Name: Eleena
Last Name: Aluthgama Hewage
Student Number: 10105601
Email: eleena.hewage@gmail.com
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: ARTH
Level of Study: 3
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: This letter is for the purpose of appealing requesting to return to studies after a requirement to withdraw for three years has lapsed. The reasons pertaining to my withdrawal were related to issues relating to my mental health, difficulties with self discipline, and having little to no motivation due to not setting clear and realistic goals.
Remedies and actions I have taken during my time away to help prepare me for academic counsellor success.
Regarding my mental health, I have sought professional help from a mental health counsellor and a therapist. I will be continuing personal counselling sessions because I have found it very beneficial in setting goals in my personal and professional life. Professional help allowed to me clearly set out a plan for my future academically and helped me stay motivated. Counselling has helped me understand what motivates me and I will be continuing these sessions as well as career counselling as I have made significant progress since seeking professional help.
During my time at Queen¿¿s, I was unable to stay focussed and lacked the time management and organizational skills. This made it difficult to stay on track because I was unable to set clear goals lead me to float through the years aimlessly.
For the duration of my time away, I attended Sheridan College and completed a two-year diploma in Investigations. During this time, I had many opportunities to connect with professionals in the field. Through academic advisors and mentors within the program I was able to receive meaningful insight into the field of my interest. With the guidance of program advisors, I was able to gain information regarding careers within this field. This helped me set clear short-term goals and make plans for long term that would help me map out my academic targets.
During these two years, I completed two placement requirements. One at William Osler Health Systems and another at the Centre for Forensic Sciences. This was a great opportunity because it gave me exposure to the many opportunities in the field and motivated me to set out plans for long term. Since then, I have obtained my private investigator licence and been motivated to pursue further in the field.
The successful completion of the placements were required to graduate from the diploma program. These placements required that I be organized and prepared for scheduled tasks. It was required that I kept lines of communication open and met the deadlines that were set in place. This required self discipline and organizational skills. I kept a digital calendar and a journal specifically for coursework and kept meticulous notes on my tasks. This allowed me to prioritize my time accordingly. These tools and strategies helped me stay ahead of deadlines in my coursework and placements. It also helped me develop anti procrastination methods that I find useful in my day-today. One such skill I will continue to practice is mapping out tasks and breaking them down into steps, so that I am not overwhelmed. I will continue to utilize digital calendars as well as planners to stay ahead of deadlines.
It was essential that I scheduled time for work and time for relaxing. I found carving out time for these necessities allowed me to take maximum advantage of the time. For example, I would book quiet study rooms at the library for studying, completing assignments, and researching. I would schedule time to exercise and time to spend with family and friends.
I believe that I am finally fully prepared to take on, what I believe to me my final year, with both eyes open. In amalgamation of the skills and habits I have practiced over the last three years, I have the confidence and the motivation I did not possess in the earlier years. It is my intent to complete the remainder of my time at Queen¿¿s successfully.
Sincerely,
Eleena Aluthgama Hewage
Student Number: 10105601
Remedies and actions I have taken during my time away to help prepare me for academic counsellor success.
Regarding my mental health, I have sought professional help from a mental health counsellor and a therapist. I will be continuing personal counselling sessions because I have found it very beneficial in setting goals in my personal and professional life. Professional help allowed to me clearly set out a plan for my future academically and helped me stay motivated. Counselling has helped me understand what motivates me and I will be continuing these sessions as well as career counselling as I have made significant progress since seeking professional help.
During my time at Queen¿¿s, I was unable to stay focussed and lacked the time management and organizational skills. This made it difficult to stay on track because I was unable to set clear goals lead me to float through the years aimlessly.
For the duration of my time away, I attended Sheridan College and completed a two-year diploma in Investigations. During this time, I had many opportunities to connect with professionals in the field. Through academic advisors and mentors within the program I was able to receive meaningful insight into the field of my interest. With the guidance of program advisors, I was able to gain information regarding careers within this field. This helped me set clear short-term goals and make plans for long term that would help me map out my academic targets.
During these two years, I completed two placement requirements. One at William Osler Health Systems and another at the Centre for Forensic Sciences. This was a great opportunity because it gave me exposure to the many opportunities in the field and motivated me to set out plans for long term. Since then, I have obtained my private investigator licence and been motivated to pursue further in the field.
The successful completion of the placements were required to graduate from the diploma program. These placements required that I be organized and prepared for scheduled tasks. It was required that I kept lines of communication open and met the deadlines that were set in place. This required self discipline and organizational skills. I kept a digital calendar and a journal specifically for coursework and kept meticulous notes on my tasks. This allowed me to prioritize my time accordingly. These tools and strategies helped me stay ahead of deadlines in my coursework and placements. It also helped me develop anti procrastination methods that I find useful in my day-today. One such skill I will continue to practice is mapping out tasks and breaking them down into steps, so that I am not overwhelmed. I will continue to utilize digital calendars as well as planners to stay ahead of deadlines.
It was essential that I scheduled time for work and time for relaxing. I found carving out time for these necessities allowed me to take maximum advantage of the time. For example, I would book quiet study rooms at the library for studying, completing assignments, and researching. I would schedule time to exercise and time to spend with family and friends.
I believe that I am finally fully prepared to take on, what I believe to me my final year, with both eyes open. In amalgamation of the skills and habits I have practiced over the last three years, I have the confidence and the motivation I did not possess in the earlier years. It is my intent to complete the remainder of my time at Queen¿¿s successfully.
Sincerely,
Eleena Aluthgama Hewage
Student Number: 10105601
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: Academic Plan
Since seeking professional help, I am able to clearly set out realistic goals that are more aligned with the future that I want. I will be continuing the professional help because I have found it to be great tool in building essential skills I need for my success. During my time away I was able to research and study in the field of my interest. I will be further consulting academic advisors and careers counsellors regarding the field of my interest.
I have connected with an academic advisor in order to understand my situation academically and to set out a realistic academic plan. I will be continuing regular meetings with academic advisors and career counsellors. Ongoing meetings will allow me to stay on task as well as be informed on what I need to be successful in my field.
Upon meeting with the academic advisor, it is clear to me that changing my program will better suit my situation. This will allow me to manage my time better. With the guidance of the academic advisor, I was able to understand why switching from an honours to a general degree would better suit my academic goals.
Strategies for success.
In the past I have encountered issues related to self discipline and have little to no time management skills. It was difficult for me to stay focussed because I had lacked motivation and I did not set realistic goals.
I believe that the skills that I have learned during my time away will help me greatly. Skills in self discipline, time management, and prioritizing in combination with regular meetings with an academic advisor and career counsellor and continued meetings with my mental health counsellor will be my greatest support. These skills will be further honed to be used as tools during academically challenging instances.
In my previous years, I have had difficulties in managing my time. However, during my time away I was able to practice prioritizing my time. It is important to schedule time for academics as well as time for relaxation. Some of the skills I have learned is to schedule time off for study and I did this by booking a room in the library to study or research for assignments. By doing this it was possible for me to stay focussed on the tasks I planned for the day. Likewise, I learned how to schedule time for relaxation with family and friends. I believe these methods I have learned on time management would help me greatly in balancing academics and non-academic activities.
I intend to focus primarily on my studies as I will not be splitting my time between work and study. This will give the opportunity to focus on my academics and not stress over financial situation because I will be fully supported my OSAP and personal savings. I will also be applying for bursaries and will be budgeting carefully.
It is my intention to keep improving these skills and to use them to not repeat the mistakes I have made in the past. Although I understand mistakes are normal so when they do occur, I understand that I have resources and the skills I need to overcome them.
Since seeking professional help, I am able to clearly set out realistic goals that are more aligned with the future that I want. I will be continuing the professional help because I have found it to be great tool in building essential skills I need for my success. During my time away I was able to research and study in the field of my interest. I will be further consulting academic advisors and careers counsellors regarding the field of my interest.
I have connected with an academic advisor in order to understand my situation academically and to set out a realistic academic plan. I will be continuing regular meetings with academic advisors and career counsellors. Ongoing meetings will allow me to stay on task as well as be informed on what I need to be successful in my field.
Upon meeting with the academic advisor, it is clear to me that changing my program will better suit my situation. This will allow me to manage my time better. With the guidance of the academic advisor, I was able to understand why switching from an honours to a general degree would better suit my academic goals.
Strategies for success.
In the past I have encountered issues related to self discipline and have little to no time management skills. It was difficult for me to stay focussed because I had lacked motivation and I did not set realistic goals.
I believe that the skills that I have learned during my time away will help me greatly. Skills in self discipline, time management, and prioritizing in combination with regular meetings with an academic advisor and career counsellor and continued meetings with my mental health counsellor will be my greatest support. These skills will be further honed to be used as tools during academically challenging instances.
In my previous years, I have had difficulties in managing my time. However, during my time away I was able to practice prioritizing my time. It is important to schedule time for academics as well as time for relaxation. Some of the skills I have learned is to schedule time off for study and I did this by booking a room in the library to study or research for assignments. By doing this it was possible for me to stay focussed on the tasks I planned for the day. Likewise, I learned how to schedule time for relaxation with family and friends. I believe these methods I have learned on time management would help me greatly in balancing academics and non-academic activities.
I intend to focus primarily on my studies as I will not be splitting my time between work and study. This will give the opportunity to focus on my academics and not stress over financial situation because I will be fully supported my OSAP and personal savings. I will also be applying for bursaries and will be budgeting carefully.
It is my intention to keep improving these skills and to use them to not repeat the mistakes I have made in the past. Although I understand mistakes are normal so when they do occur, I understand that I have resources and the skills I need to overcome them.
Documentation
Professional Letter: 1- letter_protected-2021 06 09-0.pdf
Professional Letter Detail: Letter indicating my sessions with a professional counsellor and therapist
Documentation Detail: Osler William - Placement
Document: OSLER-0.pdf
Documentation Detail: Osler William - Placement
Document: CFS 1-0.pdf
Documentation Detail: Center for Forensic Science - Placement
Document: CFS 2-1.pdf
Documentation Detail: Center for Forensic Science - Placement
Decision Letters
History
Originally submitted June 17, 2021 at 7:42:11 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | In Review | Spring Forsberg | 2021-06-21 8:32:11 AM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Granted | Spring Forsberg | 2021-06-28 10:00:56 AM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D. | Spring Forsberg | 2021-06-28 10:00:56 AM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Spring Forsberg | 2021-06-28 10:02:49 AM |