These stories reflect common experiences that many students report having in the program promotion process at Mohawk College.
"My first year at Mohawk, I was so busy with class, work, and family responsibilities. My grades tanked, especially in my second semester. Even though I knew my grades were low, the compulsory withdrawal letter was still a huge shock for me. I didn’t realize I had let my grades get so out of hand that I wouldn’t be able to continue in my program. I was ashamed and embarrassed. How did I let this happen? After talking with my Program Coordinator, though, I felt a little better. Eventually, I saw that compulsory withdrawal is Mohawk’s way of making sure that everyone is doing okay and has what they need to do well in school and be happy with their program. The experience made me aware of policies and expectations, but it also connected me with people who helped me figure out what to do next. Now, graduation is around the corner, and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished at Mohawk."
"Coming to Mohawk hit me like a ton of bricks. I’d done well in high school but I just wasn’t prepared for the way college works, how many assignments some instructors assign, or the kind of language some people use. When I got the email that I was in probation, I felt like a failure, like I didn’t belong. After a while, I finally reached out to my Student Success Advisor like the email suggested. After talking with them, I realized that being in probation didn’t define me as a person or limit my potential as a student. Yes, I struggled, but it wasn’t that I couldn’t do the work. I just needed to learn how to ‘do’ college. It took some time, but I tried to take advantage of as many resources as I could: I enrolled in Keys to Success, took a class that I failed through Continuing Education, and started spending more time at the library to study. Now, I’m on track to graduate and I know that I deserve to be here just as much as anyone else."
"A few semesters ago, I was struggling with some mental health issues. I felt like I was barely holding it together. I couldn't focus on my studies, so it didn't come as a surprise that I didn't make good academic standing. Finally, I broke down, and admitted that I didn't know how to deal with everything. A friend in my program suggested that I talk to a counsellor. They helped me learn how to manage my mental health better—to take care of myself and get support when I need it. I'm doing better mentally and academically now and I've learned how to get through stress and hard times more effectively when they come up."
"I love Mohawk—the experiences I’ve had, what I’ve learned, and the people I’ve met. I wouldn’t trade them for anything. But a while back, I made some poor choices and my grades suffered. On top of all of that, I had some challenges at home. At first, I ignored the problems. I hoped they would just go away. Of course they didn’t. Not getting promoted with good standing was really hard for me because I knew I could do better. So, I set up a meeting with my Student Success Advisor. He clearly understood people sometimes make mistakes but can learn from what happened and improve and grow. We strategized and made a plan for how I could get back into good academic standing. To be honest, it’s been tough. But I’ve done it. And that gives me confidence that I can handle whatever other challenges the future holds for me."