I don’t know how to go back to school after 1 year absent
I went through my entire study abroad experience being depressed. I have finished all of my mandatory courses and only needed to finish thesis. I was suppsed to be graduated in 2021, but I crumbled hard to the point that I told my supervisor that I had a depression and I would like to work on my thesis from my home country because I needed my family support.
Fast forward I didn’t do anything at home. There was a presentation I had to make on February this year about my thesis progress. I forced myself to go, even though that day I got a strong panic attack, puking every 10 minutes, etc. Since then, my situation just got worse. I attempted to end my life, and I abandoned my thesis altogether. I went MIA without telling anyone in my uni.
But now, I feel better and I hope to really get my degree. I see it as my way out of this stagnancy that only prolong my deteriorating mental health. With that degree I may have a better chance at building my life through a good career. But I want to pull off from my old thesis project because I’m traumatic then I want to start a new topic. But I don’t know how to do so? I’m still quite scared to inform my professor of my comeback and I don’t know how to explain my absence all these times. I really don’t know what to write in my email.
Please, I need help.
Hmm.. it depends on how much you want to reveal from the reasons of your absence. You could simply say that the past year, you've been dealing with some mental health problems and needed a break from school to recuperate. Now you are better and is ready to continue where you last left off with. Then, you could ask for some guidance to help Kickstart your comeback. You could then show your sincerity in wanting to finish the thesis, and that you will put in the necessary effort to complete it.
Whether you want to start a new topic or not, maybe ask your Prof for their advice. See if there are other options in choosing a topic that you have interest in, that will make the work feel less straining.
Sometimes, we don't need to tell others in detail when explaining our absences, especially when it has to do with our mental health. It is part of our personal growth, when we are feeling better and healing. It's like, when you call in sick from work, saying you have a personal matter to attend to, your employer has no right asking you what that personal matter is. So, same with school, if you don't want to reveal all the details in regards to your absence, then just put it in simple, broad form. Or if you feel your Prof is understanding and needs to know more details to explain your absence, then you may say more than what's on the surface.
Either way, do end the email with how you are feeling better now, and is ready to tackle working on your thesis again. Hoping that you can graduate afterwards and start a career in the field. That you're ready to take on this challenge.