I posted a few weeks ago about getting caught using AI on my essay. I was terrified. I thought my academic life was over. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, couldn't look at myself in the mirror. 
Today I met with the academic integrity committee. I want to write down what happened, partly to process it and partly in case someone else is going through the same thing.
I went in expecting to be expelled. I had prepared a statement explaining how sorry I was, how stressed I'd been, how my language struggles had pushed me to a terrible decision. I practiced it in front of my roommate a dozen times. I had tissues ready. I was a mess.
But the committee... they were different than I expected. There were three people — two professors and one advisor. They didn't look angry. They looked tired. Like they'd seen this before. Like they didn't enjoy being there.
They asked me questions. Not accusatory questions, just... questions. Why did I do it? How was my semester going? Had I used the writing center? Did I know about the language support services?
I answered honestly. Told them about my struggles with English, my stress, my terrible decision. I cried. Couldn't help it. The advisor handed me tissues without saying anything.
After about 20 minutes, they asked me to wait outside. I sat there for what felt like hours (probably 10 minutes). When they called me back in, they told me their decision: I fail the assignment. I have to complete an academic integrity workshop. I'm on probation for the rest of the year. But I'm not expelled. I can stay.
I broke down crying again. The advisor came over and put a hand on my shoulder. She said "We're not here to destroy students. We're here to help them learn. Make sure you learn from this."
I will. I promise I will. I've never been so grateful for a second chance in my life.
Today I met with the academic integrity committee. I want to write down what happened, partly to process it and partly in case someone else is going through the same thing.
I went in expecting to be expelled. I had prepared a statement explaining how sorry I was, how stressed I'd been, how my language struggles had pushed me to a terrible decision. I practiced it in front of my roommate a dozen times. I had tissues ready. I was a mess.
But the committee... they were different than I expected. There were three people — two professors and one advisor. They didn't look angry. They looked tired. Like they'd seen this before. Like they didn't enjoy being there.
They asked me questions. Not accusatory questions, just... questions. Why did I do it? How was my semester going? Had I used the writing center? Did I know about the language support services?
I answered honestly. Told them about my struggles with English, my stress, my terrible decision. I cried. Couldn't help it. The advisor handed me tissues without saying anything.
After about 20 minutes, they asked me to wait outside. I sat there for what felt like hours (probably 10 minutes). When they called me back in, they told me their decision: I fail the assignment. I have to complete an academic integrity workshop. I'm on probation for the rest of the year. But I'm not expelled. I can stay.
I broke down crying again. The advisor came over and put a hand on my shoulder. She said "We're not here to destroy students. We're here to help them learn. Make sure you learn from this."
I will. I promise I will. I've never been so grateful for a second chance in my life.