Academic Plan
To whom it may concern,
My name is Sinan Malik, and I am a student at Queens University. My student number is 10028329. A few weeks ago I was made aware of a requirement placed upon me to withdraw from the University for one year. This is my Academic Plan to deal with the circumstances outlined in my letter, included as part of this appeal.
At the moment I am enrolled in the General School of Computing here at Queens. However I have encountered difficulties in my studies thus far. I do not believe this is due to a difficulty I have with the course content, and rather I am far more capable of managing my courseload and content outside exam situations. I have very severe anxiety which causes me, to this day, to freeze up during the exam writing period and does not allow me to properly apply the knowledge and skills I develop during the term. I am retaking a course I failed this past term during the summer session. It is my hope that as I am managing my anxiety through a number of different methods, I will be able to do much better than I have in the past and this will help to raise my GPA. I also intend to retake certain courses I failed this past year in order to achieve the grades I know I am capable of achieving. As well, I do not intend to keep my plan in the General School of Computing. It is, and has been my intention to switch into the Cognitive Science stream in the School of Computing, which has a larger focus on non-computing courses. In the past I have done better in my Philosophy courses, and as Cognitive Science can have a Philosophy focus, this is what I wish to pursue. I have been unable to do so, however, as my GPA is as yet not high enough to switch into this stream. I believe I would be able to apply my strong analytic and communication skills in the courses that make up the Cognitive Science major in order to achieve higher grades and raise my GPA.
As I indicated in my letter, I have been experiencing a number of issues that have caused very serious anxiety in both my day-to-day life as well as during exam-writing situations. I approached my family doctor once I realized that the anxiety I had been facing has seriously adversely affected my academic performance, and she has referred me to a psychiatrist, so that if necessary I can be prescribed anti-anxiety medication to control my episodes of very serious anxiety. It is my intention to begin treatment as soon as possible, presuming the psychiatrist my family doctor has referred me to agrees that it is in the best interest of my mental health. As well, I have been going to the 519 Center while in Toronto to attend weekly support meetings for LGBTQ identified youth in order to come out to my family. I have also been in contact with a psychologist while I am in Toronto for counseling services
I have also reached out to Disability Services at Queens in order to receive an accommodation during my exam-writing period so that this does not happen again. I want to achieve the academic success I experience through the term reflected my in final exams as well, and I will take any further action necessary to prevent a repeat of the circumstances that brought me here.
While learning to fully manage my anxiety will continue to be a issue at hand for me, I believe the support network I have been working hard to create will help me succeed academically. Between my weekly meetings with people in similar situations, my upcoming psychiatrist appointment, my ongoing counseling appointments, and the fact I am and have been coming out to my friends, I believe I can manage my anxiety and focus my energy in a healthy productive way to be as successful as I can. Regardless of whether my appeal is granted, I will continue to seek counseling services to help me manage both my anxiety and the issues I am facing in my home life. I just want to express that I know I have not been performing to par, but that I am truly working as hard as I can to manage these circumstances and make sure that my academic future is more successful than I have experienced thus far. I hope this helps you understand the measures I have been taking to alleviate my situation. I have a serious interest in continuing my studies here at Queens this upcoming fall, and will be continuing to grow my support network so that upon returning to university I will be able to experience the success of which I know that I am capable.
Thank you. I hope you hear from you soon.
Respectfully yours,
Sinan Malik
My name is Sinan Malik, and I am a student at Queens University. My student number is 10028329. A few weeks ago I was made aware of a requirement placed upon me to withdraw from the University for one year. This is my Academic Plan to deal with the circumstances outlined in my letter, included as part of this appeal.
At the moment I am enrolled in the General School of Computing here at Queens. However I have encountered difficulties in my studies thus far. I do not believe this is due to a difficulty I have with the course content, and rather I am far more capable of managing my courseload and content outside exam situations. I have very severe anxiety which causes me, to this day, to freeze up during the exam writing period and does not allow me to properly apply the knowledge and skills I develop during the term. I am retaking a course I failed this past term during the summer session. It is my hope that as I am managing my anxiety through a number of different methods, I will be able to do much better than I have in the past and this will help to raise my GPA. I also intend to retake certain courses I failed this past year in order to achieve the grades I know I am capable of achieving. As well, I do not intend to keep my plan in the General School of Computing. It is, and has been my intention to switch into the Cognitive Science stream in the School of Computing, which has a larger focus on non-computing courses. In the past I have done better in my Philosophy courses, and as Cognitive Science can have a Philosophy focus, this is what I wish to pursue. I have been unable to do so, however, as my GPA is as yet not high enough to switch into this stream. I believe I would be able to apply my strong analytic and communication skills in the courses that make up the Cognitive Science major in order to achieve higher grades and raise my GPA.
As I indicated in my letter, I have been experiencing a number of issues that have caused very serious anxiety in both my day-to-day life as well as during exam-writing situations. I approached my family doctor once I realized that the anxiety I had been facing has seriously adversely affected my academic performance, and she has referred me to a psychiatrist, so that if necessary I can be prescribed anti-anxiety medication to control my episodes of very serious anxiety. It is my intention to begin treatment as soon as possible, presuming the psychiatrist my family doctor has referred me to agrees that it is in the best interest of my mental health. As well, I have been going to the 519 Center while in Toronto to attend weekly support meetings for LGBTQ identified youth in order to come out to my family. I have also been in contact with a psychologist while I am in Toronto for counseling services
I have also reached out to Disability Services at Queens in order to receive an accommodation during my exam-writing period so that this does not happen again. I want to achieve the academic success I experience through the term reflected my in final exams as well, and I will take any further action necessary to prevent a repeat of the circumstances that brought me here.
While learning to fully manage my anxiety will continue to be a issue at hand for me, I believe the support network I have been working hard to create will help me succeed academically. Between my weekly meetings with people in similar situations, my upcoming psychiatrist appointment, my ongoing counseling appointments, and the fact I am and have been coming out to my friends, I believe I can manage my anxiety and focus my energy in a healthy productive way to be as successful as I can. Regardless of whether my appeal is granted, I will continue to seek counseling services to help me manage both my anxiety and the issues I am facing in my home life. I just want to express that I know I have not been performing to par, but that I am truly working as hard as I can to manage these circumstances and make sure that my academic future is more successful than I have experienced thus far. I hope this helps you understand the measures I have been taking to alleviate my situation. I have a serious interest in continuing my studies here at Queens this upcoming fall, and will be continuing to grow my support network so that upon returning to university I will be able to experience the success of which I know that I am capable.
Thank you. I hope you hear from you soon.
Respectfully yours,
Sinan Malik