Dismissal, I Am Writing to You Now

¶ … dismissal, I am writing to you now to outline the personal reasons behind the decline in my academic progress during the past few months, and to request that you reconsider the decision to dismiss me, i.e., for you to consider to re-admit me to the organization, for me to resume my course of study.

Firstly, I would like to point out that I have previously had a good academic record, and that the present situation is one that I can turn around if only given the chance. I decided to undertake this course of study as something positive for my life, for my future, and were it not for the fact that recent events have forced the present behavior, I would be continuing along my normal path i.e., producing consistently good performances.

A few months ago, my best friend died. I have subsequently found it extremely difficult to cope with my shock and grief at this completely unexpected event. The death was sudden, and since then, I have had difficulties with my concentration, with managing my anger and emotions, and have consequently found it extremely difficult to focus on my coursework, and to give my studies the necessary attention.

In addition to this, and during the same period, in order to be able to continue with my course of study, I have had to find a job, to be able to support myself financially. The only work I could find was out of town, and the job I found meant that I had to be away for one week at a time, for three weeks. I would not normally have missed three weeks of classes, but under the circumstances, had I been able to do anything else, I would certainly not have chosen to miss classes. This is an extremely stressful situation for me: I need to make money to be able to support myself throughout my course, but the only job I was able to find was out of town and entailed me missing the course I was working to pay for. Under the circumstances I was in, I was unable to take any other option, and decided to miss three weeks of classes, rather than having to drop out of the course completely.

In terms of changing my behavior, in view of being readmitted to my course of study, I am currently undergoing counseling, and if readmitted, I will seek support from the organization's counselors, in terms of bereavement counseling, to help me cope with the range of difficult emotions that my grief has stirred in me. With this support from the organization's counselors, I feel that I could make progress with my grief, and be able to return to a more normal state of behavior, which would then allow me to return to my normal way of working, and to be able to cope with the requirements of my chosen course of study.

This is my main aim in my life in the moment: to be able to return to some degree of normality in my emotions, so that I can reclaim my life, and move forward, to overcome the delay in my studies, and to once again begin to undertake my studies earnestly and with my full concentration and devotion.

In terms of my need to take work to support myself financially, I have already given up the out of town job, and I am currently seeking a more local job, which will be out of course hours, and for only a limited number of hours per week, such that I will be able to be present for all classes, and will also have the necessary time to be able to catch up on the work from the missed classes, and work with the necessary dedication for my course from this point on. In the meantime, whilst I find such work, I am looking for sources of funds, for example, hardship funds, from the organization, and also from other sources, so that I can keep up with my current expenses whilst I find an ideal job.