I am writing this letter to appeal for admission to the Smith School of Business. First, I accept my failure to secure a sufficient GPA was the reason for my subsequent withdrawal from the University. However, I have taken great efforts to rectify my drawbacks and improve my grades, and I am now determined and in the right mindset to achieve these targets. I have always been a shy person with low self-esteem and being away from my family I felt alone and isolated and developed depression and social anxiety within my freshman year. It soon became hard for me not only to leave my house but to have simple conversations and even to seek help for my mood disorder. Instead, it was easier to stay at home and try to distract myself from my issues, and I soon lost my desire to attend the University and withdrew fall of 2011.
January of 2011 I felt I had hit rock bottom, I moved back in with my family and with their help I met a therapist and got diagnosed with social anxiety and depression. Throughout the year, I met with many therapists and psychiatrists who helped lessen the symptoms with medication and practical techniques. However, it is my mentor and church friend Jonga Roberts who has helped me the most. Through his friendship, teachings and encouragement, I gained stability and control over my emotions. Furthermore, for the past year and a half, I worked to support myself at CVS pharmacy. Working and dealing with people has given me confidence to go outside and has greatly boosted my self-esteem. The friendships of my coworkers have opened me up, and I no longer feel alone and isolated. My time at CVS has also allowed me to rethink my withdrawal. CVS has reignited my desire to earn a degree as I know I can do and be more with a bachelor's degree from the university.
I am truly thankful for my job because it helped me afford to pay for Howard Community College myself. I enrolled at Howard to prove to both the university, and me that I am ready and capable of returning. The most important thing that I learned at the community college was proper study habits. Every week throughout the semester I met with a tutor who taught me effective study methods and habits to form. At Howard, on average I studied three to four hours each day. I also formed a study group with fellow business students whose drive to do well has pushed me to succeed. Furthermore, I was never late and only missed two days of classes when I was sick. I also changed my study area. I moved my study materials into a small-office room on the bottom floor of my home. The area is neat, organized, and completely free of distractions. Using my new skills and focus I earned a 3.75 GPA while taking 12 credits. Two of the four classes I took were Principles of Accounting II and Macroeconomics where I earned an A and a B at Howard respectively but failed in at UMD. I am proud to say that I never earned less than a B on any of the assignments I was given.
I hope you reconsider my dismissal as I have learned and corrected my past mistakes. I now know that whatever is going on in life my studies should be first because it is my future. I am happier and more self-assured. Most importantly I matured into a better person and student and am finally achieving the grades that I know I can. The focus that I showed at Howard Community College will follow me into the University. I will never miss a class just like at Howard, and I will continue to meet with my tutor weekly for study help. In addition, instead of moving I will stay at home and use my office space, which helped me succeed at Howard. Though my job means a lot to me, school means more, and I have already limited my hours at work, so I can place more time into studying. Finally, I will put my new study skills to use and internalize the information taught to me in order to achieve my educational goals.
