Petition Letter
3 December 2016
Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services, Dunning Hall
Queen¿¿s University, Kingston
Dear Dr. Bénard, Associate Dean (Studies),
I¿¿m writing to request to be re-admitted to Queen¿¿s University after my requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years has lapsed and I feel I am now in a position to achieve success. In the six years that have passed since the requirement to withdraw was presented to me, I have implemented some much-needed positive change in my lifestyle that will be conducive to attaining my educational goals that remain unchanged. I have acquired and held two full-time jobs over this time period, and excelled in both instances. My employment opportunities included supervisor and management roles that have presented me the opportunity to develop a necessary sense of responsibility and accountability. I have improved my time management skills, and am now able to complete tasks within timelines and focus on maintaining organization in both my professional and personal lives.
When I first attended Queen¿¿s University in September 2005, I immediately found myself out of my element. As an only child who grew up in the same household from birth, attending schools with the same group of friends from primary grades through high school graduation, it was quite shocking to move away from my comfort zone. I understand that in reality the majority of students attending Queen¿¿s likely endure the same changes during this transitional period; however I overestimated my ability to adapt and flourish in my new environment. Within my initial four months, I noticed some significant changes in my disposition, most significantly symptoms of anxiety and depression that I was unable to correctly identify within my entire first year. I became somewhat agoraphobic, and as a result I developed moderate reclusiveness and did not leave my residence room very frequently. It wasn¿¿t until my second year that I sought assistance to help me understand the symptoms that were significantly hindering my ability to attend classes, or even enter a public space without feelings of anxiety and panic.
I attended Queen¿¿s Health Services to speak with a counsellor regarding the difficulties that had developed in my daily life. It wasn¿¿t long before the counsellor explained that my symptoms were those of anxiety and depression, and I was instructed to carry out a series of behavior-modifying techniques over the following week, and recording my feelings when attempting to attend classes. I attempted to follow the directions provided to me for about two weeks, however I personally felt that the attempted cognitive-behavioural therapy efforts were futile, and I ceased my visits to Queen¿¿s Health Services. Instead I elected to self-medicate myself with alcohol and marijuana, which of course only worsened the symptoms I had and made me increasingly more reclusive. At this point I had also been fired from my job at Queen¿¿s Residences as a front desk clerk due to poor attendance. Over the following three years at Queen¿¿s, I sporadically attended counselling sessions when I was feeling desperate, but very little progress was made, primarily due to my stubbornness and inability to really try to help myself recover mentally. Somehow it wasn¿¿t until the end of my fifth year attending Queen¿¿s that I was asked to withdraw for a minimum of three years.
Moving back home after five years of University that were unsuccessful was very disheartening and it was a wake-up call that I was in dire need of. I immediately booked an appointment with my family physician, who I was more comfortable speaking with concerning my mental health and academic struggles. I was prescribed Cipralex, a SSRI to help me cope with anxiety and depression. I immediately made it a priority to start helping myself get my life back on track, and soon enough I was employed part-time, receiving a promotion to a full-time supervisor role within eight months of employment. The accountability and responsibility that was expected of me helped me to develop better habits, routines, and time management skills. Since mid-2010 I have been a productive and focused individual with a renewed sense of self-worth.
Being promoted from a part-time employee to a full-time supervisor and eventually a management position at Future Shop was a life-changing opportunity that allowed me to learn to function on a high level again, a feeling that I had not entirely felt since my days in high school. At this point I¿¿m very enthusiastic to return to studies to prove to myself once again how capable I truly am. I have spoken to an academic advisor in regards to taking a light course load of online courses through Continuing and Distance Studies to readapt to student life. I understand that I may have to retake some prerequisite courses in order to progress further towards a degree, but I view that as a stepping stone rather than an obstacle. This will allow me to gauge my progress and determine how quickly I can increase my course load for subsequent terms. I intend to continue to see my family physician on a regular basis to ensure I avoid any relapses back towards the symptoms that plagued me during my initial Queen¿¿s tenure.
I proved myself once by establishing high school grades that were viewed as good enough to be granted admission to Queen¿¿s, now I would like the opportunity once again to prove that I am a Queen¿¿s-caliber student who can accomplish what I originally set out to do. The goals that I had set for myself through my early years at Queen¿¿s were sabotaged by nothing other than my inability to cope in new environments and adapt to new challenges. Those same goals still exist, however not only do they feel attainable now, I feel unbelievable motivation to achieve them. Please consider my request to be re-admitted to Queen¿¿s and allow me to finish my degree and leave Queen¿¿s University and a graduate and alumnus.
Sincerely,
Cody Clarke
5307038
5cc16
Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services, Dunning Hall
Queen¿¿s University, Kingston
Dear Dr. Bénard, Associate Dean (Studies),
I¿¿m writing to request to be re-admitted to Queen¿¿s University after my requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years has lapsed and I feel I am now in a position to achieve success. In the six years that have passed since the requirement to withdraw was presented to me, I have implemented some much-needed positive change in my lifestyle that will be conducive to attaining my educational goals that remain unchanged. I have acquired and held two full-time jobs over this time period, and excelled in both instances. My employment opportunities included supervisor and management roles that have presented me the opportunity to develop a necessary sense of responsibility and accountability. I have improved my time management skills, and am now able to complete tasks within timelines and focus on maintaining organization in both my professional and personal lives.
When I first attended Queen¿¿s University in September 2005, I immediately found myself out of my element. As an only child who grew up in the same household from birth, attending schools with the same group of friends from primary grades through high school graduation, it was quite shocking to move away from my comfort zone. I understand that in reality the majority of students attending Queen¿¿s likely endure the same changes during this transitional period; however I overestimated my ability to adapt and flourish in my new environment. Within my initial four months, I noticed some significant changes in my disposition, most significantly symptoms of anxiety and depression that I was unable to correctly identify within my entire first year. I became somewhat agoraphobic, and as a result I developed moderate reclusiveness and did not leave my residence room very frequently. It wasn¿¿t until my second year that I sought assistance to help me understand the symptoms that were significantly hindering my ability to attend classes, or even enter a public space without feelings of anxiety and panic.
I attended Queen¿¿s Health Services to speak with a counsellor regarding the difficulties that had developed in my daily life. It wasn¿¿t long before the counsellor explained that my symptoms were those of anxiety and depression, and I was instructed to carry out a series of behavior-modifying techniques over the following week, and recording my feelings when attempting to attend classes. I attempted to follow the directions provided to me for about two weeks, however I personally felt that the attempted cognitive-behavioural therapy efforts were futile, and I ceased my visits to Queen¿¿s Health Services. Instead I elected to self-medicate myself with alcohol and marijuana, which of course only worsened the symptoms I had and made me increasingly more reclusive. At this point I had also been fired from my job at Queen¿¿s Residences as a front desk clerk due to poor attendance. Over the following three years at Queen¿¿s, I sporadically attended counselling sessions when I was feeling desperate, but very little progress was made, primarily due to my stubbornness and inability to really try to help myself recover mentally. Somehow it wasn¿¿t until the end of my fifth year attending Queen¿¿s that I was asked to withdraw for a minimum of three years.
Moving back home after five years of University that were unsuccessful was very disheartening and it was a wake-up call that I was in dire need of. I immediately booked an appointment with my family physician, who I was more comfortable speaking with concerning my mental health and academic struggles. I was prescribed Cipralex, a SSRI to help me cope with anxiety and depression. I immediately made it a priority to start helping myself get my life back on track, and soon enough I was employed part-time, receiving a promotion to a full-time supervisor role within eight months of employment. The accountability and responsibility that was expected of me helped me to develop better habits, routines, and time management skills. Since mid-2010 I have been a productive and focused individual with a renewed sense of self-worth.
Being promoted from a part-time employee to a full-time supervisor and eventually a management position at Future Shop was a life-changing opportunity that allowed me to learn to function on a high level again, a feeling that I had not entirely felt since my days in high school. At this point I¿¿m very enthusiastic to return to studies to prove to myself once again how capable I truly am. I have spoken to an academic advisor in regards to taking a light course load of online courses through Continuing and Distance Studies to readapt to student life. I understand that I may have to retake some prerequisite courses in order to progress further towards a degree, but I view that as a stepping stone rather than an obstacle. This will allow me to gauge my progress and determine how quickly I can increase my course load for subsequent terms. I intend to continue to see my family physician on a regular basis to ensure I avoid any relapses back towards the symptoms that plagued me during my initial Queen¿¿s tenure.
I proved myself once by establishing high school grades that were viewed as good enough to be granted admission to Queen¿¿s, now I would like the opportunity once again to prove that I am a Queen¿¿s-caliber student who can accomplish what I originally set out to do. The goals that I had set for myself through my early years at Queen¿¿s were sabotaged by nothing other than my inability to cope in new environments and adapt to new challenges. Those same goals still exist, however not only do they feel attainable now, I feel unbelievable motivation to achieve them. Please consider my request to be re-admitted to Queen¿¿s and allow me to finish my degree and leave Queen¿¿s University and a graduate and alumnus.
Sincerely,
Cody Clarke
5307038
5cc16