Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 1249
Submitted: June 17, 2015 at 8:38:20 PM
First Name: Ninya
Last Name: Stein
Student Number: 10039151
Email: 11nhs@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BA
Plan: JWST
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline, Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses, Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Code: PSYC 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2015
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Jill Atkinson
Code: PSYC 235
Term: Summer
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean (Studies),
I am appealing to request to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year, to request to drop a PSYC 235 (2014) after the drop date, and to request CR standing in PSYC 100 (2014/2015).
Starting in the spring of 2014, I began to undergo a series of unanticipated events within my family and personal relationships that affected and have continued to affect my academics and day to day well being. These trials included taking on the responsibility as a primary support system for my significant other, who was and continues to undergo a battle with severe depression and anxiety. This included acting as a primary support during times of suicidal ideation, depression, and barrage of bouts of severe anxiety. While I am currently working with a counsellor to better manage my boundaries within this relationship, because of the responsibilities of the position I was in this past academic year have taken up much of my time as well as emotional and physical resources, and has left me feeling exhausted and a difficulty to focus on academics. One of most significant events during this relationship related strife occurred in June of 2014, during the weeks leading up to and during the date to drop courses without academic penalty, during which time my significant other was in the apex of their struggles with suicidal ideation and and I was in a situation where my time and efforts were put towards caring for their mental health. This continued into the fall and early winter of 2014/2015, during which time I had my midterm for PSYC 100, the negative academic result of which affected greatly impacted my final grade in the class. In addition, my family struggles, which are outlined below, affected my ability to prepare for my midterm exams, and also affected my abilities to attend labs for this course, which also negatively affected my final grade in this course.
During the late summer months of 2014, my family also started the process of undergoing financial strife with regards to interfamily management of finances and an unforeseen burden of the payment of a large line of credit being placed on my mother. This unanticipated large financial burden caused a large amount of immediate family conflict and stress as I acted as a liaison between members of my family during the fall and winter of 2014/2015 which was compounded with the fact of the previous divorce of my parents. The day to day struggles also included acting as a communication aid between my family and the seeking of legal advice and support. This in addition to the nature of the problem caused large amount of anxiety and emotional draining on a day to day basis, resulting in a loss of sleep and motivation surrounding my academic duties.
During the spring of 2015, I sought out professional counselling through Whitney Babcock and Arunima Khanna in HCDS at Queen's. They have helped me understand the boundaries I need to maintain in my personal and familial relationships, including helping me understand that the care of my significant other lies with their family. As well, they have helped me formulate strategies to manage my anxiety and stress that have affected my academic success. Further strategies that I have implemented and plan to implement are outlined in my academic plan which is attached.
Thank you so much for your time,
Ninya Stein
I am appealing to request to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year, to request to drop a PSYC 235 (2014) after the drop date, and to request CR standing in PSYC 100 (2014/2015).
Starting in the spring of 2014, I began to undergo a series of unanticipated events within my family and personal relationships that affected and have continued to affect my academics and day to day well being. These trials included taking on the responsibility as a primary support system for my significant other, who was and continues to undergo a battle with severe depression and anxiety. This included acting as a primary support during times of suicidal ideation, depression, and barrage of bouts of severe anxiety. While I am currently working with a counsellor to better manage my boundaries within this relationship, because of the responsibilities of the position I was in this past academic year have taken up much of my time as well as emotional and physical resources, and has left me feeling exhausted and a difficulty to focus on academics. One of most significant events during this relationship related strife occurred in June of 2014, during the weeks leading up to and during the date to drop courses without academic penalty, during which time my significant other was in the apex of their struggles with suicidal ideation and and I was in a situation where my time and efforts were put towards caring for their mental health. This continued into the fall and early winter of 2014/2015, during which time I had my midterm for PSYC 100, the negative academic result of which affected greatly impacted my final grade in the class. In addition, my family struggles, which are outlined below, affected my ability to prepare for my midterm exams, and also affected my abilities to attend labs for this course, which also negatively affected my final grade in this course.
During the late summer months of 2014, my family also started the process of undergoing financial strife with regards to interfamily management of finances and an unforeseen burden of the payment of a large line of credit being placed on my mother. This unanticipated large financial burden caused a large amount of immediate family conflict and stress as I acted as a liaison between members of my family during the fall and winter of 2014/2015 which was compounded with the fact of the previous divorce of my parents. The day to day struggles also included acting as a communication aid between my family and the seeking of legal advice and support. This in addition to the nature of the problem caused large amount of anxiety and emotional draining on a day to day basis, resulting in a loss of sleep and motivation surrounding my academic duties.
During the spring of 2015, I sought out professional counselling through Whitney Babcock and Arunima Khanna in HCDS at Queen's. They have helped me understand the boundaries I need to maintain in my personal and familial relationships, including helping me understand that the care of my significant other lies with their family. As well, they have helped me formulate strategies to manage my anxiety and stress that have affected my academic success. Further strategies that I have implemented and plan to implement are outlined in my academic plan which is attached.
Thank you so much for your time,
Ninya Stein
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: COURSE OF STUDY
My current degree program is a General Arts Degree in Jewish Studies, however should my requirement to withdraw for one year be waived I am planning to attempt to change my major to a Bachelor of Arts General or Honours Degree in Psychology in the upcoming academic year.
FULL TIME VS PART TIME STATUS
Due to my conditions of entrance at Queen¿¿s University I am currently under Part time status with Queen¿¿s University taking a maximum of 3 courses per term. This has worked out well in also allowing me to undertake a part-time job in order to provide more financial resources to pay for my schooling, however I plan to take on less hours in order to devote more time with school, and also allow more flexibility to improve my ability to deal with external stressors.
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
During the previous Academic Year (2014/2015), I realized that some reasons leading to my less than adequate performance in addition to my extenuating circumstances were due to my lack of learning strategies, specifically time management and study skills, as well as focusing on the wrong subjects of studies for my interests and strengths. To remedy this, in the upcoming year I am going to attend the on campus workshops provided by the Learning Commons as well as meeting with a Peer Learning Assistant in order to focus on my specific issues. As previously mentioned, I also am currently in the process of attempting to change my degree to that of a Psychology degree, and this is because my previous course of study was not attuned to my strengths or interests. I have changed my current goal to a Degree in Psychology as this subject is of great interest to me, and I feel motivated towards succeeding in this field.
PERSONAL RESOURCES
In terms of mental health resources, starting in mid/late winter of 2015, I have maintained a personal counsellor within the Health Counselling and Disability Services, however last year and continuing into this year I faced personal situations that affected my academic performance, and for which I felt as though I didn¿¿t have adequate professional support. Because of this, this year I plan to/have begun to see my counsellor more frequently and focus on strategies to better manage my boundaries within my relationships both family and personal, and also coping strategies to manage my anxiety and resulting depressive feelings in order to have adequate psychological and emotional support.
SITUATIONAL
In the 2014/2015 academic year, I faced a couple of family and relationship emergency and extenuating circumstances that greatly impacted me, which have continued into this year. My current family and relationship situation continues to impact my academic abilities, however I am confident I am able to overcome any roadblocks caused by my extenuating circumstances with the resources available to me through the university, including the aforementioned supports for academics as well as my counsellor, and support from my peers through the aforementioned strategies.
My current degree program is a General Arts Degree in Jewish Studies, however should my requirement to withdraw for one year be waived I am planning to attempt to change my major to a Bachelor of Arts General or Honours Degree in Psychology in the upcoming academic year.
FULL TIME VS PART TIME STATUS
Due to my conditions of entrance at Queen¿¿s University I am currently under Part time status with Queen¿¿s University taking a maximum of 3 courses per term. This has worked out well in also allowing me to undertake a part-time job in order to provide more financial resources to pay for my schooling, however I plan to take on less hours in order to devote more time with school, and also allow more flexibility to improve my ability to deal with external stressors.
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
During the previous Academic Year (2014/2015), I realized that some reasons leading to my less than adequate performance in addition to my extenuating circumstances were due to my lack of learning strategies, specifically time management and study skills, as well as focusing on the wrong subjects of studies for my interests and strengths. To remedy this, in the upcoming year I am going to attend the on campus workshops provided by the Learning Commons as well as meeting with a Peer Learning Assistant in order to focus on my specific issues. As previously mentioned, I also am currently in the process of attempting to change my degree to that of a Psychology degree, and this is because my previous course of study was not attuned to my strengths or interests. I have changed my current goal to a Degree in Psychology as this subject is of great interest to me, and I feel motivated towards succeeding in this field.
PERSONAL RESOURCES
In terms of mental health resources, starting in mid/late winter of 2015, I have maintained a personal counsellor within the Health Counselling and Disability Services, however last year and continuing into this year I faced personal situations that affected my academic performance, and for which I felt as though I didn¿¿t have adequate professional support. Because of this, this year I plan to/have begun to see my counsellor more frequently and focus on strategies to better manage my boundaries within my relationships both family and personal, and also coping strategies to manage my anxiety and resulting depressive feelings in order to have adequate psychological and emotional support.
SITUATIONAL
In the 2014/2015 academic year, I faced a couple of family and relationship emergency and extenuating circumstances that greatly impacted me, which have continued into this year. My current family and relationship situation continues to impact my academic abilities, however I am confident I am able to overcome any roadblocks caused by my extenuating circumstances with the resources available to me through the university, including the aforementioned supports for academics as well as my counsellor, and support from my peers through the aforementioned strategies.
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: Letter from Arunima Khanna, Couselor at HCDS