Today I had my meeting with the Dean of Student Affairs. I had been directed to her by my faculty who said if I objected to her unilateral ruling regarding my absence during module, I was to take it up with the Dean.

The Dean was very helpful, she listened and I left feeling heard. She told me what process I will have to go through in order to appeal the decision.

By Friday I am to write up a letter of appeal stating what events happened, providing as much factual information as possible. Then in the same letter I can offer what I think would be an appropriate solution. Lastly, I can address my feelings regarding the decision that had been deemed, as well as affirm my commitment to the program.

My letter of appeal is submitted to the head-honcho of the LIOS program. He will review my letter of appeal as well as speak to the faculty (with the Dean present). He will then render a decision. His decision will be final for the most part. The only way I could appeal above his decision is if factual errors are discovered in how he renders his judgment.

I am feeling hopeful that the decision can be reversed or at least modified. Even if he agrees with the disciplinary action and I am to repeat Module 7 in October and then join the Winter track, I will feel heard through this process and that I've had my say and input into the matter.

I still need to secure an internship, and I have found the agency I'd love to do my training at, and by all the powers that I have, I shall do my best to submit an impressive application packet. The only clinker is I need 3 letters of recommendation. I just hope that my letters will sufficiently sing my praises. After the holiday I need to contact people ASAP for those letters, and have my transcripts sent. I'm to submit all transcripts of graduate level work. Well, I don't know if they really care to see I was a bio grad student for a year, and ND student for a quarter, and took a year's worth of web development classes (if I pay the $50 it would be a grad level certificate), but I shall comply.

Oh, and I get to write an essay explaining why I want the position and what my goals are. The usual type of flaming hoop they want you to jump through. If only I could just be blantanly honest and say, "I'd lke this position because out of all of the places I've been to, this place has it's act together and I really think that this is where I could train to become the type of therapist I see myself being."

At this site not only would I see clients, but I'd have the opportunity to facilitate groups and if there is an interest, I could even be the creator of a group! I'd love to get into that type of work because I could then hold weekend workshops and supplement my income. Seeing clients privately is something established over time, and before I'd have a full schedule, one way to make up for it is to have short-term intensive sessions with groups of people.

If you've ever looked into attending a self-improvement weekend workshop you then know how much they charge for two days! Even the nobody therapists charge a hefty amount. The famous ones charge into the thousands, not just the hundreds.

I think for awhile I would like to work at an agency and get real sick and tired of it, all the while slowly working toward a private practice. The reason being for working at an agency is to have a reliable income. I need that for a couple of reasons. One, pay down students loans, second, show that I have income so I can then apply for a business loan. Other reasons include that at an agency, you get a lot of good experiences. Also, while being at an agency, I can work toward my supervised hours for licensure. If I did it all on my own I'd have to pay for my hours to be supervised and it's freakin' unreal how expensive supervision costs!

My ultimate long-term goal is to get into a doctoral program. I may be in my 50s before I can arrange for it, but I'm patient. Everything happens all in good time.