Academic Plan
With regards to an academic plan, I have several ideas with which I think I can make a successful change in my academic success in the future.
First, with regards to my courses and plan, I believe that I need to leave the idea of being a biochemistry student behind. This guided my course selection and hurt me academically. Because of this, I need to switch not only to a more realistic plan, but to more realistic courses, in which I know I can succeed. Additionally, I wish to retake the courses that I failed previously, in order to improve my knowledge and standing in those courses.
Second, I would like to limit my courses to four a semester, and try to include one online class every semester. I found that with online class work, I was more able to accommodate my extenuating circumstances. Cutting down, as well as taking more realistic classes, will help me to achieve academically. I also think having an academic counsellor or a personal counsellor required for weekly meetings would also be beneficial, as they can check on my progress and it forces me to share my personal issues, instead of trying to overcome them on my own. Finally, I believe that setting a goal GPA with my counsellor would be beneficial, and should I not reach that GPA, I believe I should then be forced to withdraw, should I go through these efforts and not succeed.
Taking a longer time to graduate, based on this schedule, is something I am willing to do, as I am willing to dedicate more time and money towards my undergraduate education.
Third, I believe that I need to withdraw from intramurals and co-curricularand solely focus on academics. This will allow me to get back on track.
Finally, I think that I need to seriously redevelop how I handle stress and anxiety as well as loss. Because of this, I will continue going to therapy and taking my medications for depression and anxiety, as well as seeking a personal academic tutor/advisor on my own budget. I believe that having a person to help me structure my academics on a personal side, coupled with partnership or information from my doctor, will help me to overcome the obstacles I have had in the past.
Ultimately, I know I can succeed in classes with which this structure is prevalent, given my lab grades, and grading in classes such as Pharmacology 100, History 263 and Abnormal Psychology. Finding someone to help me establish my own structure with accountability will help me to overcome these issues, and become the student I know I can be. Requiring me to withdraw however, will leave me completely unstructured, and will simply delay this change that needs to happen for me to overcome these extenuating circumstances.
These tools however, cannot simply go away, and I believe I should keep them in place for the remainder of my time at Queen¿¿s, in order to continue upwards on my academic journey.
First, with regards to my courses and plan, I believe that I need to leave the idea of being a biochemistry student behind. This guided my course selection and hurt me academically. Because of this, I need to switch not only to a more realistic plan, but to more realistic courses, in which I know I can succeed. Additionally, I wish to retake the courses that I failed previously, in order to improve my knowledge and standing in those courses.
Second, I would like to limit my courses to four a semester, and try to include one online class every semester. I found that with online class work, I was more able to accommodate my extenuating circumstances. Cutting down, as well as taking more realistic classes, will help me to achieve academically. I also think having an academic counsellor or a personal counsellor required for weekly meetings would also be beneficial, as they can check on my progress and it forces me to share my personal issues, instead of trying to overcome them on my own. Finally, I believe that setting a goal GPA with my counsellor would be beneficial, and should I not reach that GPA, I believe I should then be forced to withdraw, should I go through these efforts and not succeed.
Taking a longer time to graduate, based on this schedule, is something I am willing to do, as I am willing to dedicate more time and money towards my undergraduate education.
Third, I believe that I need to withdraw from intramurals and co-curricularand solely focus on academics. This will allow me to get back on track.
Finally, I think that I need to seriously redevelop how I handle stress and anxiety as well as loss. Because of this, I will continue going to therapy and taking my medications for depression and anxiety, as well as seeking a personal academic tutor/advisor on my own budget. I believe that having a person to help me structure my academics on a personal side, coupled with partnership or information from my doctor, will help me to overcome the obstacles I have had in the past.
Ultimately, I know I can succeed in classes with which this structure is prevalent, given my lab grades, and grading in classes such as Pharmacology 100, History 263 and Abnormal Psychology. Finding someone to help me establish my own structure with accountability will help me to overcome these issues, and become the student I know I can be. Requiring me to withdraw however, will leave me completely unstructured, and will simply delay this change that needs to happen for me to overcome these extenuating circumstances.
These tools however, cannot simply go away, and I believe I should keep them in place for the remainder of my time at Queen¿¿s, in order to continue upwards on my academic journey.