I’ve always had a difficult time figuring out what I wanted to do and even to this day I am still unsure. It took me 2 1/2 years to get out of community college (3.9 GPA) then transferred to a state school because that is all I could afford and I feared the costs of the UC’s/Privates. The program I transferred into was a 5 year BFA program, which none of my CC courses articulated. I was essentially starting as a freshman again, but I decided to stick with it since I’ve wasted so much time already. After completing 4 years of the 5 year BFA program, I got into trouble off campus and off hours when finals were just about over, which resulted in a one year suspension effective December 2019.
Although the suspension is a year, to finish the BFA I would need to wait almost 2 years because the senior thesis class only starts in Fall semester and ends in Spring semester. I am allowed back on campus Spring 2021, which was supposed to be my original graduation date.
I decided to change my major because I have been in school for almost 7 years just trying to achieve a 4 year degree. Now I only require 1 more upper div GE course to graduate now that I’ve changed my major to the BA version of the BFA degree.
I have completed all the requirements for re-entering school within 4 months although they give you a year to complete–2 essays, anger management, education revolving substance abuse, and restitution for the vandalism that took place (a broken side-view car mirror). I even went a few steps ahead and voluntarily saw a therapist every week for 4 months. I’ve been reading books, taking free online courses, and applying for jobs in the meantime. Given the current state of the world, it’s been really difficult finding a job that would push me closer to my career. I got an offer with Whole Foods, but I live with elderly parents and I didn’t want to put them at risk so I declined.
Is there any advice on how I could show the school the actions I’ve taken in hopes they shorten my suspension and allow me to just take one online class this Fall so I can graduate this year instead of waiting? I know this sounds selfish of me because the school is following their protocol, but I was a dean’s scholar before this mistake and think about that night almost every day with regret.