Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Subject: Petition for PHYS 115 Fall 2024 Semester

Dear Associate Dean,

I am writing to petition to drop PHYS 115 due to extenuating circumstances that significantly affected my academic performance. I hope to provide clarity on the challenges I faced and how they affected my ability to completely coursework successfully.

On Monday, November 18, at 5:25 PM, my grandmother passed away. This event profoundly impacted my emotional well-being. The grief I experienced, combined with the pressure of academic responsibilities, severely hindered my ability to focus on my coursework. On top of my own grief, I was also deeply worried about my father, as this was his mother who had passed. Earlier that same year, my uncle who was my father's brother had also passed. Since my parents are separated, I was frequently concerned for my father as he was grieving two losses alone, which added to the emotional weight I was already carrying.

During this period, it became very difficult to keep up with lectures, assignments, and exam preparation in PHYS 115. The course's structure and fast-paced content made it especially difficult to recover once I fell behind. I found it hard to grasp new material without having a solid understanding of the previous weeks. I missed participation opportunities and underperformed on evaluations, despite putting in effort when I could. Even when I attempted to re-engage with the course, the emotional exhaustion I was carrying made it incredibly difficult to regain momentum.

I have attached screenshots of text messages between my father and me, as well as conversations with a friend. I recognize that this may not be the most formal documentation, however these screenshots show the emotional distress I was going through and the difficulty I faced in balancing my grief with my academic responsibilities. I have also included screenshots of an email sent by me requesting an extension on an assignment for BCHM 102 during this period.

I recognize the deadlines for dropping courses have passed. However, at the time, I did not feel emotionally ready to make a formal petition or request to drop the course. I was still processing my loss, and I felt uncomfortable using my grandmother's death as a justification. Looking back I now realize that delaying this decision only made things more difficult.

Since then, I have taken steps to ensure I do not find myself in such an overwhelmed state again. I have reached out for emotional support from peers and I plan to be more proactive in communicating with instructors and support staff if personal challenges ever arise again. I have learned the importance of asking for help and addressing issues early, rather than waiting for them to escalate. These changes will help me stay on track and allow me to succeed in future terms, both academically and personally.

I am committed to my education and want to move forward in a healthier, more stable way. Given the emotional toll this period has taken, I believe that dropping PHYS 115 represents a fair and reasonable resolution. I hope that my request will be received with understanding and I am willing to provide additional information if needed.

Thank you for considering my petition.

Sincerely,

Angela Dong
20473258
23cj61@queensu.ca