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Petition Type: New
ID: 11833
Submitted: May 2, 2024 at 3:23:41 PM
First Name: Abbey
Last Name: Giancoulas
Pronoun: She/Her
Student Number: 20268504
Email: 20ag72@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: HLTH
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: PSYC 340
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean of Academics Dr. Jenn Stephenson,
Please consider this letter as my formal request to petition for late course drop for the Winter 2024 academic term at Queen's University. My name is Abbey Giancoulas (she/her/hers) and I am a rising 4th year BAH student majoring in Health Studies and minoring in Psychology, I am petitioning to drop PSYC 340 (Winter 2024).
I would like to provide a clear and concise explanation of my extenuating circumstances, which have significantly impacted my academic performance. In May of 2023, I experienced a personal medical emergency which led to me collapsing in my bathroom while getting ready for work. This incident brought forth several unforeseen medical challenges as my doctors found polyps in my abdomen during treatment. Despite taking active steps to address my medical needs, the next several months were challenging as I encountered a series of unforeseen personal events beyond my control.
In December of 2023, my father began experiencing immense challenges with his mental and physical health. Though this was not an unusual occurrence due to the severity of his illnesses, his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) began to progress, which challenged me to navigate family medical responsibilities that demanded a considerable amount of my time and attention. Over the course of the Winter 2024 term, I traveled from Kingston to Milton regularly to assist my parents and attend to my father's medical needs as well as my own. These responsibilities arose suddenly and necessitated my immediate involvement, thereby disrupting my academic routine.
When in Kingston, I work two jobs, both within Queen's Athletics and Recreation. This also challenged me as my time was limited in regards to my academics. Though I understand it is my responsibility as a student to prioritize academics, as the sole contributor to my education and livelihood, reducing working hours was not an option. Throughout this time period, my mental health challenges, which have been particularly acute during certain periods, heightened and significantly affected my ability to focus and perform academically. As a student registered with QSAS for both my ADHD and mental health diagnoses (including GAD, MDD, and OCD), these circumstances have been serious and, at times, severe, leading to missed classes, deadlines, and a decline in the quality of my work. Despite these challenges, I have taken proactive steps to address them. I have sought professional help from healthcare providers and counselors - including psychologists, physiatrists, the respiratory team at Hotel Dieu, and primary care physicians - to manage my mental health and personal issues. Additionally, I have communicated with my professors and academic advisors to inform them of my situation and have attempted to mitigate the impact of my circumstances as best as possible. Despite my efforts, these challenges have significantly affected my academic performance in the courses I am petitioning. Upon review of my transcript, you will notice that I previously dropped PSYC 251 from the same term due to the circumstances at hand. Though during my meeting with SKHS Academic Advisor Vanessa McCourt we pondered the idea of dropping both PSYC 251 and PSYC 340, I remained optimistic with hopes of working my hardest to at least achieve a pass in PSYC 340. Leading up to the final exam date, I worked effortlessly to catch up on missed content and truly achieve the learning outcomes of the course; sadly falling short of success.
Looking forward to next year, I am committed to improving my academic performance. I plan to continue seeking support from healthcare professionals and counselors to manage my health challenges effectively. Additionally, I will work on better time management strategies to balance my academic workload with my family responsibilities and work commitments. I understand that my academic shortcomings in this particular case do not reflect my dedication and efforts as a student, and I am determined to demonstrate my capabilities in the upcoming academic year. I truly appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
Abbey Giancoulas (she/her/hers)
Please consider this letter as my formal request to petition for late course drop for the Winter 2024 academic term at Queen's University. My name is Abbey Giancoulas (she/her/hers) and I am a rising 4th year BAH student majoring in Health Studies and minoring in Psychology, I am petitioning to drop PSYC 340 (Winter 2024).
I would like to provide a clear and concise explanation of my extenuating circumstances, which have significantly impacted my academic performance. In May of 2023, I experienced a personal medical emergency which led to me collapsing in my bathroom while getting ready for work. This incident brought forth several unforeseen medical challenges as my doctors found polyps in my abdomen during treatment. Despite taking active steps to address my medical needs, the next several months were challenging as I encountered a series of unforeseen personal events beyond my control.
In December of 2023, my father began experiencing immense challenges with his mental and physical health. Though this was not an unusual occurrence due to the severity of his illnesses, his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) began to progress, which challenged me to navigate family medical responsibilities that demanded a considerable amount of my time and attention. Over the course of the Winter 2024 term, I traveled from Kingston to Milton regularly to assist my parents and attend to my father's medical needs as well as my own. These responsibilities arose suddenly and necessitated my immediate involvement, thereby disrupting my academic routine.
When in Kingston, I work two jobs, both within Queen's Athletics and Recreation. This also challenged me as my time was limited in regards to my academics. Though I understand it is my responsibility as a student to prioritize academics, as the sole contributor to my education and livelihood, reducing working hours was not an option. Throughout this time period, my mental health challenges, which have been particularly acute during certain periods, heightened and significantly affected my ability to focus and perform academically. As a student registered with QSAS for both my ADHD and mental health diagnoses (including GAD, MDD, and OCD), these circumstances have been serious and, at times, severe, leading to missed classes, deadlines, and a decline in the quality of my work. Despite these challenges, I have taken proactive steps to address them. I have sought professional help from healthcare providers and counselors - including psychologists, physiatrists, the respiratory team at Hotel Dieu, and primary care physicians - to manage my mental health and personal issues. Additionally, I have communicated with my professors and academic advisors to inform them of my situation and have attempted to mitigate the impact of my circumstances as best as possible. Despite my efforts, these challenges have significantly affected my academic performance in the courses I am petitioning. Upon review of my transcript, you will notice that I previously dropped PSYC 251 from the same term due to the circumstances at hand. Though during my meeting with SKHS Academic Advisor Vanessa McCourt we pondered the idea of dropping both PSYC 251 and PSYC 340, I remained optimistic with hopes of working my hardest to at least achieve a pass in PSYC 340. Leading up to the final exam date, I worked effortlessly to catch up on missed content and truly achieve the learning outcomes of the course; sadly falling short of success.
Looking forward to next year, I am committed to improving my academic performance. I plan to continue seeking support from healthcare professionals and counselors to manage my health challenges effectively. Additionally, I will work on better time management strategies to balance my academic workload with my family responsibilities and work commitments. I understand that my academic shortcomings in this particular case do not reflect my dedication and efforts as a student, and I am determined to demonstrate my capabilities in the upcoming academic year. I truly appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
Abbey Giancoulas (she/her/hers)