Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (Studies),
I am writing to you to request to return to studies after a requirement to withdraw for three years.
I had previously gone through a few requirements to withdraw at Queens between 2012 through 2016. While I had awareness of an impact to my mental health, I didnt have the resources and understanding to seek guidance on what was best to help me move forward. I do believe the time away from my academics has helped me resolve the issues that affected my previous academic progress.
Since my completion of the Summer 2016 term, I returned to my hometown. I began working full-time in March 2017. In May 2018, I began working for a tech company and continue to earn a comfortable wage which has allowed me to solidify my personal finances. I cleared all of the consumer debt I had, received health insurance to help subsidize costs for a therapist and built up sinking funds to pay for my schooling without relying on more student loans.
During the 30 months at the current company, I have received two promotions, have earned the Presidents Club award in the most recently completed fiscal year and have drastically improved my applicable technical skills. I was able to explore possible career paths in the tech industry which opened up my interest beyond the software engineering role I was previously considering. I completed a program in Product Management through an in-person course with BrainStation in March 2020. I also dedicate time in my role to work under a Product Manager to apply my training towards an entry level role. This has provided me with a career that I know matches both my interests and skills I can progress.
Beginning at the end of 2018, I sought out assistance to help me cope with the parts of my life that provide stress; in particular with relationships. I regularly see my current therapist since mid-2019 and have also completed a course on Mindfulness in March 2020 to further improve my ability to cope with times of unease. They have been able to provide me strategies to reduce the level of stress and burden I place on myself which was one of the issues I faced during my academic studies at Queens.
While the pandemic has hindered some of my hobbies this year, I continue to make time to socially (physically-distanced) and learn new skills through classes such as salsa dancing and pottery lessons. I also continue to make great friendships with those I met at my time in Kingston and am very close with my two sisters.
The company I work for is flexible and accommodating to helping me achieve my goals such as completing my academic studies at Queens. They would allow me to take courses that might be offered during the day or in the evening with an understanding and provide me with a regular schedule that I can build my studying sessions around. In my last term at Queens I was working three jobs to make ends meet and I am incredibly fortunate to be in a place where thats not required.
I am confident that I have the knowledge and strategies to excel at Queens and hope you feel the same to allow for my return.
Regards,
Geeth Sriharigalan
I am writing to you to request to return to studies after a requirement to withdraw for three years.
I had previously gone through a few requirements to withdraw at Queens between 2012 through 2016. While I had awareness of an impact to my mental health, I didnt have the resources and understanding to seek guidance on what was best to help me move forward. I do believe the time away from my academics has helped me resolve the issues that affected my previous academic progress.
Since my completion of the Summer 2016 term, I returned to my hometown. I began working full-time in March 2017. In May 2018, I began working for a tech company and continue to earn a comfortable wage which has allowed me to solidify my personal finances. I cleared all of the consumer debt I had, received health insurance to help subsidize costs for a therapist and built up sinking funds to pay for my schooling without relying on more student loans.
During the 30 months at the current company, I have received two promotions, have earned the Presidents Club award in the most recently completed fiscal year and have drastically improved my applicable technical skills. I was able to explore possible career paths in the tech industry which opened up my interest beyond the software engineering role I was previously considering. I completed a program in Product Management through an in-person course with BrainStation in March 2020. I also dedicate time in my role to work under a Product Manager to apply my training towards an entry level role. This has provided me with a career that I know matches both my interests and skills I can progress.
Beginning at the end of 2018, I sought out assistance to help me cope with the parts of my life that provide stress; in particular with relationships. I regularly see my current therapist since mid-2019 and have also completed a course on Mindfulness in March 2020 to further improve my ability to cope with times of unease. They have been able to provide me strategies to reduce the level of stress and burden I place on myself which was one of the issues I faced during my academic studies at Queens.
While the pandemic has hindered some of my hobbies this year, I continue to make time to socially (physically-distanced) and learn new skills through classes such as salsa dancing and pottery lessons. I also continue to make great friendships with those I met at my time in Kingston and am very close with my two sisters.
The company I work for is flexible and accommodating to helping me achieve my goals such as completing my academic studies at Queens. They would allow me to take courses that might be offered during the day or in the evening with an understanding and provide me with a regular schedule that I can build my studying sessions around. In my last term at Queens I was working three jobs to make ends meet and I am incredibly fortunate to be in a place where thats not required.
I am confident that I have the knowledge and strategies to excel at Queens and hope you feel the same to allow for my return.
Regards,
Geeth Sriharigalan