Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello,

I would like to submit an appeal for a course that I have failed due to an extreme bout of depression following a dear friend¿¿s suicide attempt. This semester, I have failed ARTH 260. During one week of the course that a major project was due, a friend of mine revealed to me that he had attempted suicide after I declined his request to go out for the night. I was devastated, and completely convinced that his actions were my fault. For a week thereafter, I slept through most of the day, stopped going to class, and let all my responsibilities fall by the wayside. I drank far too much in an effort to forget what he had done, and make me pass out before I thought to much about it. This lead to a few complications in other courses as well, but thankfully, I was able to pull up my marks enough to pass, or get an incomplete in the course until I finished the work over the summer.

However, even after that, I was in complete denial of needing help, or that there was anything wrong with me. I ignored all of my friends pleas for me to seek therapy, and pretended that everything was completely fine with my academics. My parents were not aware of what I was doing, and I thought if I just ignored the issues with myself, I would eventually be fine. During a meeting with a professor I had had a complete break down and panic attack as I could no longer maintain the mask of competence that I had put up. Thankfully, she forced me to go to counselling.

In the past few months, I have received counselling from the Queens Counselling service and this has drastically improved my mental health. I understand now that my friend's attempt was not my doing. I ask now, that I may appeal this course, so that I can retake it later on, and have this mark not reflect my ability to succeed academically.

Thank you,

Elizabeth Patti