Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 2862
Submitted: December 3, 2016 at 11:34:59 PM
First Name: Cody
Last Name: Clarke
Student Number: 5307038
Email: 5cc16@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BA
Plan: PSYC
Level of Study: 2
Petition Letter
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
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: 3 December 2016
If granted permission to return to Queen¿¿s to continue my studies, I intend to continue pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. I have investigated completing the degree online through Continuing and Distance Studies. I would like to resume my studies with a partial course load, starting with two or three courses. I would like to begin with PSYC 251 ¿¿ Developmental Psychology as well as PSYC 241 ¿¿ Social Psychology. These are two courses that I have taken in the past, but I would like to retake in order to raise my grades. I would also consider supplementing these two with a third course, an elective that I have not yet decided upon conclusively. I would be willing to take courses through the Spring and Summer terms as well to facilitate a constant pace of continuing my studies and to make up for the lighter course load. I have also considered registering for PSYC 100 during the Spring/Summer term in order to refresh myself on some of the introductory course material.
I have spent the past six years working full-time, but in 2017 I intend to scale that back to part-time employment in order to allow ample time to complete a partial course load successfully. Any difficulties I have I will immediately reach out for assistance and ensure I comprehend all expectations with clarity. I will set aside a portion of every day to accomplish some course work, and avoid procrastination by reminding myself that I have endured some tough issues, and if given a second chance to succeed I will not let myself down again. If I am able to continue my studies through Continuing and Distance Studies, I will have the support of my fiancée to help me stay positive and focus on my education.
During my tenure at Queen¿¿s, there were times that I was making good progress with the course content. However, the ability to focus and concentrate was often fleeting and as a result my grades reflected my poor preparation. I plan to retake some of the core courses that are prerequisites of upper-year classes in order to ensure my understanding of the material is accurate and fresh. I will begin with a light course load in order to ease my way back into studies, and if I find myself having difficulties of any kind, I will pursue assistance rather than ignore the issues as I had done in the past. Through my full-time employment over the past six years, I have developed excellent time management skills which allow me to maximize my productivity and achieve desirable results within deadlines. Since being asked to withdraw from Queen¿¿s, I have taken leadership and management courses through my place of employment that have allowed me to enhance my study skills and exam techniques. I have also had the opportunity to give several presentations which has boosted my confidence and helped alleviate some of the anxiety that used to hinder my social output.
I found the subject matter in all of my psychology courses to be very stimulating. I initially came to Queen¿¿s to study History and English, however my passion for Psychology began immediately during my first term with the introductory PSYC 100 courses I was enrolled in. I still find myself captivated by articles in the fields of psychology and sociology, and I look forward to returning to studies in order to further my knowledge. My failure to attend classes and complete coursework was not a result of a disinterest in the content; instead it was a consequence of anxiety and depression that created an agoraphobic mentality in which I had difficulty escaping. The six-year break from post-secondary studies has proven quite fruitful. I have been able to stabilize my mental health through the help of my family and the assistance of my family doctor, as well as regain my productivity and self-confidence in my abilities.
When I first attended Queen¿¿s at the age of 18, I felt I was ready to tackle the world. In reality, the world unpredictably had tackled me. In the eleven years since I began university, I have experienced some extreme low points in my life, but I have become much stronger of an individual and learned a lot from any mistakes. Anxiety and depression no longer dictate the path of my life. I¿¿m motivated, driven to succeed and have excelled in the professional field of retail management as a result. I have saved money over the past few years and I am financially prepared to reintegrate myself into Queen¿¿s and complete my degree.
The anxiety that I experienced during my tenure at Queen¿¿s was crippling at the time. I experienced paranoia and agoraphobia when I ventured outside of my residence or house, and I was incapable of dealing with crowds of people. This caused me to become reclusive and live a lifestyle of avoidance, which was not conducive to attending classes. Feeling incapable of leaving the house to interact with the outside world worsened the depression I was experiencing, and it felt like a downward spiral. I failed to heed the advice of counsellors, and instead chose to self-medicate myself with alcohol and marijuana, which helped me to feel more capable of being social, but left me incapable of completing school-related tasks.
Once I left Kingston and returned home, I began to change my lifestyle and mend the issues I was experiencing. A visit with my family doctor allowed me to get some perspective on how poorly I was dealing with my issues. I was prescribed SSRIs to help me overcome my anxiety and depression.
Once I became employed, I used the fresh start as an opportunity to redirect my energy towards doing the best I could and prove my capability. I was promoted to full time within 8 months and again promoted to a supervisor role within my first year. This was an extreme confidence boost and I was once again able to face situations that would have left me anxiety-stricken a mere year prior.
I have redeveloped my responsibility and accountability that were lost during the majority of my time at Queen¿¿s. I have developed and strengthened skills through my occupation as a retail supervisor/manager that will be vital towards succeeding in my studies going forward. I have established admirable interpersonal skills and leadership ability, and no longer feel anxiety above and beyond what would be considered typical. I am asking to be granted this opportunity to prove myself of one day being able to hold the honour of being a Queen¿¿s alumnus.
If granted permission to return to Queen¿¿s to continue my studies, I intend to continue pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. I have investigated completing the degree online through Continuing and Distance Studies. I would like to resume my studies with a partial course load, starting with two or three courses. I would like to begin with PSYC 251 ¿¿ Developmental Psychology as well as PSYC 241 ¿¿ Social Psychology. These are two courses that I have taken in the past, but I would like to retake in order to raise my grades. I would also consider supplementing these two with a third course, an elective that I have not yet decided upon conclusively. I would be willing to take courses through the Spring and Summer terms as well to facilitate a constant pace of continuing my studies and to make up for the lighter course load. I have also considered registering for PSYC 100 during the Spring/Summer term in order to refresh myself on some of the introductory course material.
I have spent the past six years working full-time, but in 2017 I intend to scale that back to part-time employment in order to allow ample time to complete a partial course load successfully. Any difficulties I have I will immediately reach out for assistance and ensure I comprehend all expectations with clarity. I will set aside a portion of every day to accomplish some course work, and avoid procrastination by reminding myself that I have endured some tough issues, and if given a second chance to succeed I will not let myself down again. If I am able to continue my studies through Continuing and Distance Studies, I will have the support of my fiancée to help me stay positive and focus on my education.
During my tenure at Queen¿¿s, there were times that I was making good progress with the course content. However, the ability to focus and concentrate was often fleeting and as a result my grades reflected my poor preparation. I plan to retake some of the core courses that are prerequisites of upper-year classes in order to ensure my understanding of the material is accurate and fresh. I will begin with a light course load in order to ease my way back into studies, and if I find myself having difficulties of any kind, I will pursue assistance rather than ignore the issues as I had done in the past. Through my full-time employment over the past six years, I have developed excellent time management skills which allow me to maximize my productivity and achieve desirable results within deadlines. Since being asked to withdraw from Queen¿¿s, I have taken leadership and management courses through my place of employment that have allowed me to enhance my study skills and exam techniques. I have also had the opportunity to give several presentations which has boosted my confidence and helped alleviate some of the anxiety that used to hinder my social output.
I found the subject matter in all of my psychology courses to be very stimulating. I initially came to Queen¿¿s to study History and English, however my passion for Psychology began immediately during my first term with the introductory PSYC 100 courses I was enrolled in. I still find myself captivated by articles in the fields of psychology and sociology, and I look forward to returning to studies in order to further my knowledge. My failure to attend classes and complete coursework was not a result of a disinterest in the content; instead it was a consequence of anxiety and depression that created an agoraphobic mentality in which I had difficulty escaping. The six-year break from post-secondary studies has proven quite fruitful. I have been able to stabilize my mental health through the help of my family and the assistance of my family doctor, as well as regain my productivity and self-confidence in my abilities.
When I first attended Queen¿¿s at the age of 18, I felt I was ready to tackle the world. In reality, the world unpredictably had tackled me. In the eleven years since I began university, I have experienced some extreme low points in my life, but I have become much stronger of an individual and learned a lot from any mistakes. Anxiety and depression no longer dictate the path of my life. I¿¿m motivated, driven to succeed and have excelled in the professional field of retail management as a result. I have saved money over the past few years and I am financially prepared to reintegrate myself into Queen¿¿s and complete my degree.
The anxiety that I experienced during my tenure at Queen¿¿s was crippling at the time. I experienced paranoia and agoraphobia when I ventured outside of my residence or house, and I was incapable of dealing with crowds of people. This caused me to become reclusive and live a lifestyle of avoidance, which was not conducive to attending classes. Feeling incapable of leaving the house to interact with the outside world worsened the depression I was experiencing, and it felt like a downward spiral. I failed to heed the advice of counsellors, and instead chose to self-medicate myself with alcohol and marijuana, which helped me to feel more capable of being social, but left me incapable of completing school-related tasks.
Once I left Kingston and returned home, I began to change my lifestyle and mend the issues I was experiencing. A visit with my family doctor allowed me to get some perspective on how poorly I was dealing with my issues. I was prescribed SSRIs to help me overcome my anxiety and depression.
Once I became employed, I used the fresh start as an opportunity to redirect my energy towards doing the best I could and prove my capability. I was promoted to full time within 8 months and again promoted to a supervisor role within my first year. This was an extreme confidence boost and I was once again able to face situations that would have left me anxiety-stricken a mere year prior.
I have redeveloped my responsibility and accountability that were lost during the majority of my time at Queen¿¿s. I have developed and strengthened skills through my occupation as a retail supervisor/manager that will be vital towards succeeding in my studies going forward. I have established admirable interpersonal skills and leadership ability, and no longer feel anxiety above and beyond what would be considered typical. I am asking to be granted this opportunity to prove myself of one day being able to hold the honour of being a Queen¿¿s alumnus.
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: Note from Doctor
Decision Letters
History
Originally submitted December 3, 2016 at 11:34:59 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Prepared for Review | Carrie Roosenmaalen | 2016-12-05 10:17:05 AM | |
| status | N/A | Prepared for Review | In Review | Spring Forsberg | 2016-12-05 1:53:00 PM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Granted | Haley Everson | 2016-12-15 9:11:10 AM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Sue Blake | Haley Everson | 2016-12-15 9:11:10 AM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Haley Everson | 2016-12-15 9:11:50 AM |