Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: March 28, 2024

Dear Dean Stephenson:

I had a terrible Winter term in 2023. I did badly in all my courses and did not seek help. I was able to do much of the course work, but in the end I was not in a position to complete all the requirements successfully. I did hire a tutor for BIOL 334 which helped a little, something I will keep in mind in the future.

I want to be honest and share that I was dealing with mental health issues and physical pain. My first step after that was to take a Field Biology course in May, which I really enjoyed, and I did not work the rest of the summer. I focused on exercising regularly, and I volunteered in a local elementary school.

Shortly after, my family doctor ordered an MRI and referred me to the Pain Clinic of the KOPI Wellness Centre. I am now taking care of myself through healthy eating, physiotherapy, exercise and volunteering. I have a counsellor and I have had an intake meeting at the Pain Clinic.

I believe I have a clear plan to take care of myself and be successful in school again. I registered for three courses in the fall and four courses in the winter (I had to drop one when I was infected with mono the week before reading week), and I am committed to getting a degree in Biology.

An example of how much better I have been able to handle adversity is how I dealt with a severe throat infection and an eventual diagnosis of mono this winter. This happened for three weeks, including reading week. I saw my family doctor twice, and when the antibiotics were not working I went to urgent care twice, at which point it was determined that I had mono. In spite of all of this, I was able to recover with rest and care, and I informed my professors of my situation in a timely manner. I did drop one course before the deadline as I felt I had fallen too far behind in it. I am doing well in the remaining three courses.

As supporting documentation, I will submit a letter from my counsellor. My family doctor is Dr. Goldstein (Loyalist Family Health Team 613 389 1619). Unfortunately, he will not be able to complete the off-campus physician note because he feels that I have not seen him enough in the last year. I however am feeling positive because he did help me get into the Pain Clinic. Additionally, he helped by recommending me for counselling a year ago after we had a private phone call regarding my mental state.

I have been suffering with chronic neck and back pain for the past 4 years. In the beginning, it was very hard to deal with and affected my mental health and productivity. I have gone to physiotherapy to help deal with the pain. This year I have started going to the KOPI Pain Clinic which helps find solutions to dealing with debilitating pain. I hope that as I continue to go to more appointments, I can better deal with my pain issues, allowing me to be more productive and more free of stress.

The last thing I would like to talk about is my experience with counselling. After being recommended by my family doctor to seek therapy, I have been attending sessions with a therapist to help talk about my mental health. I have talked about current mental health issues I am struggling with and past events in my life that I have struggled to talk about. Overall, it has been a positive experience, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to connect with someone who can listen to me talk with kindness and compassion.

My goal for this petition is to be given a better chance at finishing my Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree. I believe that I am in a better mental state compared to a year ago, and my issues with chronic pain are also improving for the better. When comparing this year's winter term to last year’s, I have improved by scoring higher on tests and assignments, and more importantly, finding a passion for my studies. If I am given the chance to be approved for an aegrotat standing, I will be able to obtain a higher GPA while also being able to finish my degree next year. I will also be able to apply for teacher's college, a future goal of mine, as I have gathered a passion for helping others and teaching Science. I believe that I can make genuine change in the world, and that my struggles are learning experiences that will help me with important challenges and decisions in the future.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and I look forward to hearing from you,
Sincerely,
Sebastian (Sebi) Candela