Academic Plan
Sending this appeal is more about giving me the option to decide if I am ready to go back to Queen's in September rather than having that door closed for a year. I would only consider going back to study at Queen's in the Autumn if I am feeling better and am ready to deal with all of the issues I have been experiencing over the past year and a half. I want to make sure that the steps I am taking to help myself are in place and are working.
Here is my proposed Academic plan:
1. Course of Study
I plan to not have my major in Philosophy as I do not believe it is an area I am interested in pursuing. I am going to arrange a meeting with an academic counselor to sort out what courses I need to become a History major in third year because that is my area of interest and I believe expertise. Therefore I would like to delay choosing my major until after the upcoming academic year and therefore need to discuss this with an academic adviser.
2. Full time versus Part Time Status
If I am allowed to return to Queen's I plan to take a reduced number of courses in the first term. I feel that by lightening my course load I will be more successful. I will be able to concentrate on the classes more and be able to devote more time to each course and not be overwhelmed when assignments are due and in particular at exam time. If all goes well I can then increase my course load for the second term. However, I may decide to continue to take no more than four courses per term and to focus only on obtaining a major. I plan to retake HIST 201 and HIST 250 because I believe they are core components of a History degree. If I am allowed to return to Queen's I plan to set up a meeting with a student counselor to discuss all of the issues I have had in the past and ask them for suggestions as to how I can ensure a successful year. I plan to meet with the student counselor on a regular basis to ensure my success. I was identified as Gifted LD when I was in grade 5. This diagnosis has been a challenge for me throughout my schooling. I do have my diagnosis on file with the Disability Services at Queen's but did not use many of the accommodations on offer. Therefore, I plan to go to the Health, Counselling & Disability Services when I return to Queen's and arrange a meeting to discuss my diagnosed Learning Disability in order to make sure that I use all of the accommodations that are available to me.
3. Strategies for Success
I believe my depression is the main reason why I have been unsuccessful in my studies at Queen's. I have taken many steps to improve this situation. I have seen a doctor and have been diagnosed with severe depression. My doctor has filled out the Off-Campus Physician's note with this diagnosis which I have attached to this appeal. I have now started taking medication and this has already started to make me feel better and more like my old self. I will also be seeing a Psychiatrist while I am at home this summer. If I return to Queen's in the fall I will begin by building a platform of both mental stability and motivation to succeed. I will start by consulting with Writing Centre tutors to help deal with my procrastination in addition to getting help with building stronger written assignments to hand in. My doctor has put me forward to be assessed for ADD/ADHD. If diagnosed I will be able to get additional help through my doctor. This may also help me with my concentration when doing assignments. Secondly I will seek medical help as soon as I return to Queen's. I will go to the Student Wellness Centre and arrange to see a counselor for my mental health issues. This will be necessary in order to make sure that I am continuing to take the right level of medication and to obtain psychological assistance. By seeking this help I will be able to ensure that my mental stability is consistently positive which in turn will greatly help my academic performance. It is my personal goal to make sure the demands that I have been dealing with will no longer be an issue by putting them in the past and by motivating myself to have a stronger more successful future. I will find study groups related to the course material that I am taking and will organize my life more consistently through the use of a calendar. I will also make sure I maintain a social life along with my studies as I believe this is important for my mental well-being. In fact I was able to find a group of friends through joining Queen's Model UN last year. I believe this group was the one positive part of this past difficult year for me at Queen's. It has take me until the end of second year to truly find friends that I am comfortable spending time with and can also study with. Because of these positive relationships I have developed, I now hope that this will propel me to a stronger academic future. Being a part of Queen's Model UN has helped me to build better relationships with my peers and has also allowed me to concentrate on something that I love doing. Being a member of this group has helped me to build stronger friendships as well.
After reading my appeal I hope you will consider giving me the opportunity to have the choice to return to Queen's this coming Fall. I believe that by following my Academic Plan above I will have a more successful year. Continuing my academic learning is important to me and I hope you will allow me to achieve this goal. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Thomas Clifford
Here is my proposed Academic plan:
1. Course of Study
I plan to not have my major in Philosophy as I do not believe it is an area I am interested in pursuing. I am going to arrange a meeting with an academic counselor to sort out what courses I need to become a History major in third year because that is my area of interest and I believe expertise. Therefore I would like to delay choosing my major until after the upcoming academic year and therefore need to discuss this with an academic adviser.
2. Full time versus Part Time Status
If I am allowed to return to Queen's I plan to take a reduced number of courses in the first term. I feel that by lightening my course load I will be more successful. I will be able to concentrate on the classes more and be able to devote more time to each course and not be overwhelmed when assignments are due and in particular at exam time. If all goes well I can then increase my course load for the second term. However, I may decide to continue to take no more than four courses per term and to focus only on obtaining a major. I plan to retake HIST 201 and HIST 250 because I believe they are core components of a History degree. If I am allowed to return to Queen's I plan to set up a meeting with a student counselor to discuss all of the issues I have had in the past and ask them for suggestions as to how I can ensure a successful year. I plan to meet with the student counselor on a regular basis to ensure my success. I was identified as Gifted LD when I was in grade 5. This diagnosis has been a challenge for me throughout my schooling. I do have my diagnosis on file with the Disability Services at Queen's but did not use many of the accommodations on offer. Therefore, I plan to go to the Health, Counselling & Disability Services when I return to Queen's and arrange a meeting to discuss my diagnosed Learning Disability in order to make sure that I use all of the accommodations that are available to me.
3. Strategies for Success
I believe my depression is the main reason why I have been unsuccessful in my studies at Queen's. I have taken many steps to improve this situation. I have seen a doctor and have been diagnosed with severe depression. My doctor has filled out the Off-Campus Physician's note with this diagnosis which I have attached to this appeal. I have now started taking medication and this has already started to make me feel better and more like my old self. I will also be seeing a Psychiatrist while I am at home this summer. If I return to Queen's in the fall I will begin by building a platform of both mental stability and motivation to succeed. I will start by consulting with Writing Centre tutors to help deal with my procrastination in addition to getting help with building stronger written assignments to hand in. My doctor has put me forward to be assessed for ADD/ADHD. If diagnosed I will be able to get additional help through my doctor. This may also help me with my concentration when doing assignments. Secondly I will seek medical help as soon as I return to Queen's. I will go to the Student Wellness Centre and arrange to see a counselor for my mental health issues. This will be necessary in order to make sure that I am continuing to take the right level of medication and to obtain psychological assistance. By seeking this help I will be able to ensure that my mental stability is consistently positive which in turn will greatly help my academic performance. It is my personal goal to make sure the demands that I have been dealing with will no longer be an issue by putting them in the past and by motivating myself to have a stronger more successful future. I will find study groups related to the course material that I am taking and will organize my life more consistently through the use of a calendar. I will also make sure I maintain a social life along with my studies as I believe this is important for my mental well-being. In fact I was able to find a group of friends through joining Queen's Model UN last year. I believe this group was the one positive part of this past difficult year for me at Queen's. It has take me until the end of second year to truly find friends that I am comfortable spending time with and can also study with. Because of these positive relationships I have developed, I now hope that this will propel me to a stronger academic future. Being a part of Queen's Model UN has helped me to build better relationships with my peers and has also allowed me to concentrate on something that I love doing. Being a member of this group has helped me to build stronger friendships as well.
After reading my appeal I hope you will consider giving me the opportunity to have the choice to return to Queen's this coming Fall. I believe that by following my Academic Plan above I will have a more successful year. Continuing my academic learning is important to me and I hope you will allow me to achieve this goal. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Thomas Clifford