Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter:

I am writing to address the circumstances surrounding my academic performance this past school year. During the fall term, I struggled with the transition of moving away from home, adjusting to the new workload, as well as personal difficulties involving my family. These factors made it challenging to focus on my schoolwork, which ultimately took a toll on my mental health.

Being off campus made it difficult for me to socialize and make friends with those who live on campus, and making food every day became a struggle since I wasn’t familiar with the kitchen. I struggled when attending my classes and labs, as I slowly started losing interest and energy for my studies. As the weather got colder, it became increasingly difficult for me to perform daily tasks, focus on my schoolwork, and attend my classes.

When my first semester grades were released, it only worsened my mental health. I was disappointed in and embarrassed by myself and the situation I had put myself in. I felt like I owed it to my mom to get good grades, and telling her I had failed my semester would only disappoint her, which I was afraid of. I didn’t know who to turn to or how to express my situation without feeling embarrassed, so I tried to deal with everything on my own.

As the second semester continued, I continued to struggle with my mental health and schoolwork, which ultimately led me to have no social life, become distant from others, and lose overall motivation. When I returned home after exams, I asked my mom to take me to the doctor because I knew what I was feeling was not normal. I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. Since then, I have been receiving the help I should have gotten earlier.

Moving forward, I plan to switch into arts and take a lighter workload to better balance my studies. I will no longer hesitate to ask for help, as I now understand that there is no shame in doing so. I may not be the brightest in the room but I am trying my best to shine in a dark room.

Thank you for your consideration