Academic Plan
With the help of my parents and family doctor, I have created an academic plan for the upcoming school year that allows me to realistically achieve my goal of graduating. While I have enjoyed the Politics program, I feel as though the style of work required of me makes it difficult to stay on track. After briefly speaking with an academic advisor, I was informed of my options to either switch out of Honours and simply obtain a Bachelor of Arts, or to switch out of Politics into General Arts to allow for a more diverse course selection. I currently have 72 credits with 6 more planned to finish at the end of July, placing me at 78.
If I were to complete a successful year at Queen’s with at least 12 credits, I would be able to graduate with my Bachelor of Arts- General Arts degree in Politics, as opposed to my Honours. Taking a reduced course load would allow me to put greater focus into my schoolwork, as overlapping deadlines and a busy schedule greatly impact my ability to stay on top of my work.
In order to make this plan a reality, I have gathered documentation from my family doctor to submit to QSAS, as I believe accommodations would be beneficial to my situation. I find my ability to perform is quite often impacted by my innate ability to space out, procrastinate, and panic. Having some extra time on exams and assignments will allow me to slow things down and work through issues without getting flustered. Additionally, I have met with other health specialists such as a naturopath who has been working with my family for years, and have plans to meet with both a therapist and GI specialist later in the year, to help resolve my metal health issues.
To help me stay organized, I have begun to use Google’s calendar software for my day-to-day schedule, as well as the Pulse app to stay up to date on deadlines. This has worked wonders for me during this summer semester as I can plan my deadlines out months in advance, and get notifications on my phone from Pulse when things are due. Additionally, I have a wonderful peer support network. Since taking courses with friends this summer, it has been much easier to stay on track as my friends let me know when assignments are coming up.
By setting a realistic goal of obtaining my Bachelor of Arts (no longer with Honours), it allows me to measure my progress and work throughout the school year in a way that coincides with my mental illnesses. I am determined to follow this plan because I know that I am capable of seeing it through. I have put in a lot of work, as well as sought the help of my peers and professionals to make attending Queen's next year both possible and successful.
If I were to complete a successful year at Queen’s with at least 12 credits, I would be able to graduate with my Bachelor of Arts- General Arts degree in Politics, as opposed to my Honours. Taking a reduced course load would allow me to put greater focus into my schoolwork, as overlapping deadlines and a busy schedule greatly impact my ability to stay on top of my work.
In order to make this plan a reality, I have gathered documentation from my family doctor to submit to QSAS, as I believe accommodations would be beneficial to my situation. I find my ability to perform is quite often impacted by my innate ability to space out, procrastinate, and panic. Having some extra time on exams and assignments will allow me to slow things down and work through issues without getting flustered. Additionally, I have met with other health specialists such as a naturopath who has been working with my family for years, and have plans to meet with both a therapist and GI specialist later in the year, to help resolve my metal health issues.
To help me stay organized, I have begun to use Google’s calendar software for my day-to-day schedule, as well as the Pulse app to stay up to date on deadlines. This has worked wonders for me during this summer semester as I can plan my deadlines out months in advance, and get notifications on my phone from Pulse when things are due. Additionally, I have a wonderful peer support network. Since taking courses with friends this summer, it has been much easier to stay on track as my friends let me know when assignments are coming up.
By setting a realistic goal of obtaining my Bachelor of Arts (no longer with Honours), it allows me to measure my progress and work throughout the school year in a way that coincides with my mental illnesses. I am determined to follow this plan because I know that I am capable of seeing it through. I have put in a lot of work, as well as sought the help of my peers and professionals to make attending Queen's next year both possible and successful.