Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Petition Letter – Extenuating Circumstances (MATH 121, Section 002)
Student Name: Adchaiyan Asokkanth
Student Number: 20540723

To the Faculty of Arts and Science Petitions Committee,

I am writing to request academic consideration to withdraw from MATH 121 (section 002) due to significant extenuating circumstances that were beyond my control and that had a direct, measurable impact on my academic performance throughout the term.

Early in the semester, I experienced the unexpected passing of one of my closest friends. This event occurred suddenly and required me to be away from campus for more than a week to attend the funeral and associated cultural ceremonies. During this time, I was unable to attend lectures, keep up with assigned work, or engage meaningfully with course material. However, the more serious impact occurred after I returned to campus. The emotional shock and grief continued well beyond the initial event, and I found myself unable to concentrate, retain information, or complete work at my usual academic level.

The effects of this loss extended into every area of my life. As a member of the Queen’s Men’s Varsity Soccer Team, I was frequently unable to train or compete because I was not in a stable emotional or mental state. There were days where I could not leave my residence due to the intensity of the grief. This directly affected my academic routine as well, as I missed classes, fell behind on assignments, and struggled to regain the academic momentum I had before the loss.

Although I made attempts to catch up—including reviewing missed lectures, reworking my study schedule, and seeking informal support from peers—the cumulative impact of the time lost and my reduced mental capacity during that period made it extremely difficult to maintain progress in MATH 121. The course relies heavily on continuous practice and understanding of sequential concepts, and the time away created a gap that I was unable to recover from despite significant effort.

This difficulty has persisted throughout the semester. As the final exam approaches, it has become clear that I am not in a position to succeed. I have been preparing for the exam, but the required foundational understanding was compromised during the weeks following my friend’s passing. Based on my performance in the course and my current level of preparedness, attempting the exam would almost certainly result in a failing grade. I am deeply concerned about having this outcome on my transcript when the circumstances leading to it were exceptional and outside my control.

During the semester, I attempted to manage the situation by focusing on my mental health, reducing unnecessary commitments, and consulting my coach regarding my athletic participation. These efforts helped me stabilize gradually, but they were not enough to overcome the academic consequences already set in motion during the initial period of grief. At the time, I did not fully understand the option to petition or request formal consideration, which is why I am making this submission now.

Given the nature and duration of these extenuating circumstances, and the direct impact they had on my academic performance in MATH 121, I respectfully request approval to withdraw from the course without academic penalty. I believe this is the fairest and most accurate reflection of my situation this term.

Thank you for taking the time to review my petition and for considering my circumstances. I am willing to provide any additional documentation or clarification if required.

Sincerely,
Adchayan Asokkanth
Student Number: 20540723