Petition Letter
Please accept this petition for consideration.
The trauma from the break in, man hiding in my car and the collision. All exhaserbated my health conditions that continued to decline.
Semester 2 Year 2 Fall 2023
The shock of my results in first semester, in hindsight, should not have been as I was mentally and physically a shell. In discussing my first semester results with my parents, just before returning to school in January as I avoided opening the results until days before returning I made several commitments that I expected would allow me to course correct. I committed to work with a psychotherapist, I set out a study plan that met with better practices, as laid out by Queens in the assistance to student section, I committed to execute on those practices and I committed to see our family doctor to get better support and understanding on what might be causing some of my issues.
I unrealistically expected that because I told myself ‘I would get it together’ it would happen. Aligning resources took more time than I expected, I wasn not able to start therapy until February and my family doctor in March. I started the semester with the issues I finished the first semester with but to an even greater extent. I struggled to focus, lacked motivation and generally was having difficulty engaging in school. I made an appointment to see my family doctor but could not get in until March. By the first of February I was able to start seeing a psychotherapist. I expected seeing her would net immediate improvements, I was wrong and the process to address my health issues is much longer. Although we met weekly and addressed an issue a week to try to bring me to a state of health, the work I needed to accomplish to return to the healthy me was substantial. Now six months into therapy I can state, I am being to become a healthier me. When I was able to see my family doctor her assessment was thorough and direct. She clearly outlined my issues and that both depression and anxiety had me in a very unhealthy state. At times this state had me contemplating very dark thoughts and my Doctor took several immediate steps to treat my conditions. These steps also take time to take hold and become active and effective. As a result, even though I was taking action to get myself to a level I can be my best self and achieve what I have been capable of in the past and I know I can in the future, those steps were slow to address my significant issues. In Late February, working with a therapist, with my Doctor, trying to apply myself academically, including close friends connecting with me to go to the library or create study times, I was struggling to engage. I was in so much pain, so bothered that at this time the pain I was experiencing consumed all my energy. My avoidance behavior, which is common with my health issues, clouded my recognition of where I was health wise and academically. All come to a head after my final exam, as I was still in Kingston I received a call from my father, who informed me he, and my mother, were just made aware of my challenges and were coming to take home. I hated this intervention, I had no idea how sick I was, and how my pain was holding me back. This event was a shock to my system, my parents were direct, and loving, but very direct on what was acceptable, what needed to change immediately, what I was expected to do and the needv to be an active productive partner in my recovery. I remained committed to both my doctor’s treatment and my therapy. As part of this process my Doctor and therapist identified that I may also have a learning disability. As a result I have engaged in testing to identify if this is an issue I need to address. The letter from my treating psycologist is attached for reference and I expect that this testing will be completed this fall. (my next testing date is Sept 8). I applied for and secured two jobs, one full time and one one to two shifts a week. Working with my therapist I began to gain a clear understanding of the path forward and also why I behaved how I did and how I can avoid a repeat of that damaging behavior in the future. I started to understand the underlying causes of some of the biggest areas I need to work on, like despondency, avoidance and disorganization, and how my conditions pre-expose me to these behaviors. I am not where I want or need to be but I am improving. With respect to school I still struggled (from April until now) physically/mentally to engage as actively as needed and was often unable to bring myself to check messages as I was riddled with anxiety. Recently, I feel, for the first time in years, that I am becoming better grounded. I still recognize the need to work on my issues. I regularly see my therapist, I am actively engaging in my family doctor’s treatment plan, I am engaging in healthy choices (from what I eat to making time to exercise). In the past I committed to actions that I knew were the right path to being my best but I was not in a position to make those happen, furthermore I did not have the capacity because of the past trauma and my health issues.
I am requesting that my courses empr 110, law 203, pols 212 and, pols 285 from 2023 second semester be approved to be dropped.
If my petition is granted and I am allowed to return to Queens for the 2023/2024 year I know the path that I have to take, the steps I have taken/results I have accomplished to date and my desire and abilities will ensure I perform to the academic standards required. Unlike in the past two years, because my health is finally improving (and I have the supports needed to stay on this healthy path) and I have clarity, the plan I am laying out is one I know I can commit to and accomplish. My first two years were not smooth and I faced difficult challenges, however I have finally turned the corner and those hard lessons I have learned will help me be a better student and Queens alumni.
My Plan Moving Forward - some of these steps can only be possible if my petition is approached and I can attend Queens in anyway in 2023/2024
1. Remained focused and commitment to my health treatment plan by:
● Continuing to work with my therapist
● Following my doctors treatment plan
● Remaining physically active
2. Develop a studying approach that best mitigates the challenges I have, by creating structure, accountability and supports for myself.
3. Take a reduced course load in Semester 1 2023, taking two or three courses remotely (if possible), continuing to work and living at home while I continue to engrain the health habits that I have incorporated in my life.
4. Return to a full course load in Semester 2 2024.
5. Complete the learning abilities assessment I commenced, but did not complete in March 2023 to identify and potential learning challenges so I can create the proper responses to meet those challenges before they impede my academic goals.
The trauma from the break in, man hiding in my car and the collision. All exhaserbated my health conditions that continued to decline.
Semester 2 Year 2 Fall 2023
The shock of my results in first semester, in hindsight, should not have been as I was mentally and physically a shell. In discussing my first semester results with my parents, just before returning to school in January as I avoided opening the results until days before returning I made several commitments that I expected would allow me to course correct. I committed to work with a psychotherapist, I set out a study plan that met with better practices, as laid out by Queens in the assistance to student section, I committed to execute on those practices and I committed to see our family doctor to get better support and understanding on what might be causing some of my issues.
I unrealistically expected that because I told myself ‘I would get it together’ it would happen. Aligning resources took more time than I expected, I wasn not able to start therapy until February and my family doctor in March. I started the semester with the issues I finished the first semester with but to an even greater extent. I struggled to focus, lacked motivation and generally was having difficulty engaging in school. I made an appointment to see my family doctor but could not get in until March. By the first of February I was able to start seeing a psychotherapist. I expected seeing her would net immediate improvements, I was wrong and the process to address my health issues is much longer. Although we met weekly and addressed an issue a week to try to bring me to a state of health, the work I needed to accomplish to return to the healthy me was substantial. Now six months into therapy I can state, I am being to become a healthier me. When I was able to see my family doctor her assessment was thorough and direct. She clearly outlined my issues and that both depression and anxiety had me in a very unhealthy state. At times this state had me contemplating very dark thoughts and my Doctor took several immediate steps to treat my conditions. These steps also take time to take hold and become active and effective. As a result, even though I was taking action to get myself to a level I can be my best self and achieve what I have been capable of in the past and I know I can in the future, those steps were slow to address my significant issues. In Late February, working with a therapist, with my Doctor, trying to apply myself academically, including close friends connecting with me to go to the library or create study times, I was struggling to engage. I was in so much pain, so bothered that at this time the pain I was experiencing consumed all my energy. My avoidance behavior, which is common with my health issues, clouded my recognition of where I was health wise and academically. All come to a head after my final exam, as I was still in Kingston I received a call from my father, who informed me he, and my mother, were just made aware of my challenges and were coming to take home. I hated this intervention, I had no idea how sick I was, and how my pain was holding me back. This event was a shock to my system, my parents were direct, and loving, but very direct on what was acceptable, what needed to change immediately, what I was expected to do and the needv to be an active productive partner in my recovery. I remained committed to both my doctor’s treatment and my therapy. As part of this process my Doctor and therapist identified that I may also have a learning disability. As a result I have engaged in testing to identify if this is an issue I need to address. The letter from my treating psycologist is attached for reference and I expect that this testing will be completed this fall. (my next testing date is Sept 8). I applied for and secured two jobs, one full time and one one to two shifts a week. Working with my therapist I began to gain a clear understanding of the path forward and also why I behaved how I did and how I can avoid a repeat of that damaging behavior in the future. I started to understand the underlying causes of some of the biggest areas I need to work on, like despondency, avoidance and disorganization, and how my conditions pre-expose me to these behaviors. I am not where I want or need to be but I am improving. With respect to school I still struggled (from April until now) physically/mentally to engage as actively as needed and was often unable to bring myself to check messages as I was riddled with anxiety. Recently, I feel, for the first time in years, that I am becoming better grounded. I still recognize the need to work on my issues. I regularly see my therapist, I am actively engaging in my family doctor’s treatment plan, I am engaging in healthy choices (from what I eat to making time to exercise). In the past I committed to actions that I knew were the right path to being my best but I was not in a position to make those happen, furthermore I did not have the capacity because of the past trauma and my health issues.
I am requesting that my courses empr 110, law 203, pols 212 and, pols 285 from 2023 second semester be approved to be dropped.
If my petition is granted and I am allowed to return to Queens for the 2023/2024 year I know the path that I have to take, the steps I have taken/results I have accomplished to date and my desire and abilities will ensure I perform to the academic standards required. Unlike in the past two years, because my health is finally improving (and I have the supports needed to stay on this healthy path) and I have clarity, the plan I am laying out is one I know I can commit to and accomplish. My first two years were not smooth and I faced difficult challenges, however I have finally turned the corner and those hard lessons I have learned will help me be a better student and Queens alumni.
My Plan Moving Forward - some of these steps can only be possible if my petition is approached and I can attend Queens in anyway in 2023/2024
1. Remained focused and commitment to my health treatment plan by:
● Continuing to work with my therapist
● Following my doctors treatment plan
● Remaining physically active
2. Develop a studying approach that best mitigates the challenges I have, by creating structure, accountability and supports for myself.
3. Take a reduced course load in Semester 1 2023, taking two or three courses remotely (if possible), continuing to work and living at home while I continue to engrain the health habits that I have incorporated in my life.
4. Return to a full course load in Semester 2 2024.
5. Complete the learning abilities assessment I commenced, but did not complete in March 2023 to identify and potential learning challenges so I can create the proper responses to meet those challenges before they impede my academic goals.