Second chances and how to ask for them

So it’s a bit of a complicated story, but two years ago I was a part of a conservation organization doing backcountry trail work. It’s a five month, government funded program and it was a relatively small crew. I had to leave the season about a month in because family issues were taking over my mind and heart and I couldn’t be out in the wilderness with no way to contact them for days. I left in a shitty way, in the early morning before anyone woke and I didn’t tell anyone I was going. I emailed my program manager to let him know after the fact. I’m wanting to go again now that those issues have been resolved and I feel I can focus on the program again. I want to email the program manager and ask him for a second chance, but it is a ways away before the next program starts and it’s an application process to get in so I could be rejected anyways. I just don’t know how to proceed. I want to get it off my chest and ask to be considered again but I don’t know if I should.

If I were you, I'd send an email sooner than later since there's still time before the next program to fix your relationship. Make sure you apologize in your email, and be brief and clear. Don't send a book filled with rambling details. And then let him know you're still very interested in the program and you're doing whatever you can you can to get back into it; any help he can provide would be appreciated. The worst that can happen is he says no or just doesn't reply. But at least you get this off your chest and can move on knowing you tried to make things right. You might have to work up some courage but it'll be worth it in the long run.