Academic Plan
My plan for return is to get help from a professional (psychiatrist, psychologist and/or counsellor) at home in Switzerland and learn the tools I need to create and maintain a healthy mental state so I can focus on my studies. When I return to Kingston I will continue to see a professional, ideally in person, to maintain the tools I have as well as gain new ones to help as my situation changes and evolves. This will be a key part of succeeding during my time at Queen's University. Ideally, in the upcoming 3-4 months of summer, I will work with a professional and with my parents to not only identify my areas of weakness, but learn and use the tools to improve my mental health. With their support and my determination, my plan is to start a very limited workload in January and focus on healthy study habits in a less stressful environment which would allow me to see what works best for me while not being under the stress and pressure of a full workload. It will also allow me to be in a social environment again and reinforce the friendships that will be so important to me in returning to a full workload. By October 2022, with the help of my counsellor and family, I will assess whether or not I feel ready to return to classes in January 2023 or if I feel I will be more successful in returning in May or even September 2023.
When I return to campus, I will access study help resources such as SASS to develop healthy study habits and refine skills such as time management and how to effectively revise for exams. These resources will further help me stay on track and understand how I can help myself. Another key to succeeding will be to talk to my professors and arrange weekly check-in meetings to hold myself accountable and have a set time to ask questions and get help when I am struggling. I will also apply for QSAS so that I can have people at Queen's to help advocate for me and with me when I am struggling so that I can get the help I need. Additionally, I will use the academic advisors to create a degree plan for myself that will show me what courses I need to take (including retaking courses) over what time period in order to create a workload that will set me up to be successful.
When I return to campus, I will access study help resources such as SASS to develop healthy study habits and refine skills such as time management and how to effectively revise for exams. These resources will further help me stay on track and understand how I can help myself. Another key to succeeding will be to talk to my professors and arrange weekly check-in meetings to hold myself accountable and have a set time to ask questions and get help when I am struggling. I will also apply for QSAS so that I can have people at Queen's to help advocate for me and with me when I am struggling so that I can get the help I need. Additionally, I will use the academic advisors to create a degree plan for myself that will show me what courses I need to take (including retaking courses) over what time period in order to create a workload that will set me up to be successful.