Academic Plan
I have spent a couple sessions with academic advisors creating a plan for moving forward with my studies. In the past we have highlighted a few issues that I will be improving with this plan and meeting again after a couple weeks into the next semester to see how things have improved and make any adjustments to the plan.
In terms of course content I have been able to follow all of the materials covered in lectures and notes provided but was lacking when it came to showing up for tutorials and office hours. This was partially due to being bed ridden from my depression but also being too afraid to ask for help. I have been in talks with my therapist and she has helped me open up with talking with others. Before I felt ashamed that I wasn't good enough or didn't know the answers but I will be attending all required and optional sessions for my classes. I originally stopped going to office hours because I was too afraid to ask for help and would just listen to other questions asked by other students. I have become less anxious when speaking in front of people and will be asking for help no matter how stupid I think the question might sound as it is the only way for me to learn.
I have also been in talks with an academic advisor about switching my major from Math to Physics. I found physics to be a much more interesting field of study and have taken many of the required courses for a physics degree. The only thing stopping me from becoming a physics major in second year was my GPA. I plan on switching majors as well as improving my grades in the upcoming year so that I can officially switch out of pure Math which I don't find as a fulfilling field of study.
Previously I had difficulties remembering important deadlines and dates as I would often forget unless I was constantly reminded. In therapy my therapist recommended keeping things in sight so that I could visually see when things were approaching and wouldn't let assignments or quizzes pass the deadline and take penalties for them. I have gotten a large whiteboard calendar and bright coloured post it notes that I leave on my monitor to keep a visual reminder of things approaching. This has proved very helpful for things outside of school and I am ready to apply it to my studies when I return.
After being required to withdraw previously I had taken some time to better myself by speaking with my family doctor about my medication and depression. Things got a lot worse in October of 2022 after my girlfriend of 5 years broke up with me and I developed a nasty drug addiction. This lead to a period of major depression where I could barely leave my bed and would order food while not taking care of myself. I have quit my addiction two months ago and have been clean ever since. I will no longer be partaking in any sort of drugs or alcohol and have moved away to my parents house in kingston to avoid the people who got me started on that path.
Financially I have spent the summers as well as my year away from studies to build up some savings that will last me comfortably for the next two to three years of full time classes. Previously I had been working part time and splitting my focus between school, work, and my mental health. This cause me to stretch myself to the point where I was lacking in all three and not making much progress. In the future I will only be working during the summer when I am not taking classes so that I can spend all of my time working on improving my grades and study habits. This will allow me to improve my GPA without the added stress of trying to save enough for tuition and rent.
If I am allowed to return to studies I will be routinely be in talks with and academic advisor to make sure I am following my academic plan and improve my GPA. I hope that by meeting with QSAS and getting tutors that I will be able to get all of my assignments and homework completed well before the last day before it is due. I am also on a wait list for a psychiatrist to see if there are any learning disabilities affecting me and if a different type of medication might help me focus on my studies.
In terms of course content I have been able to follow all of the materials covered in lectures and notes provided but was lacking when it came to showing up for tutorials and office hours. This was partially due to being bed ridden from my depression but also being too afraid to ask for help. I have been in talks with my therapist and she has helped me open up with talking with others. Before I felt ashamed that I wasn't good enough or didn't know the answers but I will be attending all required and optional sessions for my classes. I originally stopped going to office hours because I was too afraid to ask for help and would just listen to other questions asked by other students. I have become less anxious when speaking in front of people and will be asking for help no matter how stupid I think the question might sound as it is the only way for me to learn.
I have also been in talks with an academic advisor about switching my major from Math to Physics. I found physics to be a much more interesting field of study and have taken many of the required courses for a physics degree. The only thing stopping me from becoming a physics major in second year was my GPA. I plan on switching majors as well as improving my grades in the upcoming year so that I can officially switch out of pure Math which I don't find as a fulfilling field of study.
Previously I had difficulties remembering important deadlines and dates as I would often forget unless I was constantly reminded. In therapy my therapist recommended keeping things in sight so that I could visually see when things were approaching and wouldn't let assignments or quizzes pass the deadline and take penalties for them. I have gotten a large whiteboard calendar and bright coloured post it notes that I leave on my monitor to keep a visual reminder of things approaching. This has proved very helpful for things outside of school and I am ready to apply it to my studies when I return.
After being required to withdraw previously I had taken some time to better myself by speaking with my family doctor about my medication and depression. Things got a lot worse in October of 2022 after my girlfriend of 5 years broke up with me and I developed a nasty drug addiction. This lead to a period of major depression where I could barely leave my bed and would order food while not taking care of myself. I have quit my addiction two months ago and have been clean ever since. I will no longer be partaking in any sort of drugs or alcohol and have moved away to my parents house in kingston to avoid the people who got me started on that path.
Financially I have spent the summers as well as my year away from studies to build up some savings that will last me comfortably for the next two to three years of full time classes. Previously I had been working part time and splitting my focus between school, work, and my mental health. This cause me to stretch myself to the point where I was lacking in all three and not making much progress. In the future I will only be working during the summer when I am not taking classes so that I can spend all of my time working on improving my grades and study habits. This will allow me to improve my GPA without the added stress of trying to save enough for tuition and rent.
If I am allowed to return to studies I will be routinely be in talks with and academic advisor to make sure I am following my academic plan and improve my GPA. I hope that by meeting with QSAS and getting tutors that I will be able to get all of my assignments and homework completed well before the last day before it is due. I am also on a wait list for a psychiatrist to see if there are any learning disabilities affecting me and if a different type of medication might help me focus on my studies.