Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 2964
Submitted: January 12, 2017 at 8:06:46 PM
First Name: Danielle
Last Name: Palmer
Student Number: 10113290
Email: 13dp6@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BSH
Plan: LISC
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: PHGY 170
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To: Associate Dean (Studies)
The request:
I am appealing to drop PHGY 170 (Fall, 2016) after the academic deadline.
Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:
I am appealing to drop PHGY 170 past the academic deadline due to extenuating circumstances, beyond my control, such as my mental health. I do want to note that I suffer from severe-refractory Crohn¿¿s Disease as well as Attention Deficit Disorder (inattentive type), which can both be confirmed in the Queen¿¿s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) where I do have a letter of accommodation. Since December 2013, I have also been under the treatment for Major Depression.
In late August, I started noticing my depression becoming clinically worse. In September, right before I signed up for a class, I was extremely depressed but thought I could just bite the bullet and take a class regardless of my mental health. A few days later, I signed up for PHGY 170.
In September 2016, I decided to register for PHGY 170 approximately three weeks after the class had started. Before I had registered for the term, I was contemplating taking the semester off to pursue other interests, such as the performing arts, while living in New York City. However, after much contemplation and decision making with my parents, I concluded this was not the most appropriate option for me or my academic goals.
In September and October 2016, although my depression waxed and waned, it was severe and crippling. On another note, I was on the same ADHD medication since the third grade and it stopped working for me this Fall. Although I did get an 88 on the midterm for PHGY 170, academic work started becoming more difficult to accomplish during this time. Starting in October 2016, I tried a new medication for my ADHD (Adderall). After telling my psychiatrist time and time again that I have been experiencing tremendous anxiety since January 2016, it went in one ear and out the other for him, and he put me on the worst possible medication for someone not being treated for anxiety. As a side-effect from the Adderall, I ended up having paresthesia¿¿s and I felt numb on the left side of my body. However, in early November, I had a breakdown and decided to spend the rest of the semester with my parents (my dad is a psychiatrist). I was in such bad shape when I came up to visit that I was almost put into an inpatient psychiatric unit. While visiting my parents, I switched psychiatrists in late November, which led to the conclusion of a misdiagnosis of my depression and I began treatment for Bipolar Depression (I now take Latuda) as well as an anxiety disorder (now treated with Clonazepam). Of note, it does take at least 4-6 weeks to see any clinical improvement from a psychotropic drug such as Latuda.
In late November, there was a death in the family which also impacted my studying. Despite my extenuating circumstances, I still wanted to take the PHGY 170 final exam in December 2016. However, after several serious discussions with both my family and the professors of PHGY 170, we decided it would be best for me to drop the course and retake it as I was simply too far behind in both learning the material and with the assignments needed to be completed.
Future plan:
As a future plan, I would like to retake PHGY 170 and complete the course successfully with a grade of at least a B. I want my GPA to only improve. Just because I have anxiety and bipolar depression, does not mean I cannot be an accomplished student. I will also remain compliant with my new medication regimen and I will continue to see my new psychiatrist on a regular basis.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Danielle N. Palmer
The request:
I am appealing to drop PHGY 170 (Fall, 2016) after the academic deadline.
Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:
I am appealing to drop PHGY 170 past the academic deadline due to extenuating circumstances, beyond my control, such as my mental health. I do want to note that I suffer from severe-refractory Crohn¿¿s Disease as well as Attention Deficit Disorder (inattentive type), which can both be confirmed in the Queen¿¿s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) where I do have a letter of accommodation. Since December 2013, I have also been under the treatment for Major Depression.
In late August, I started noticing my depression becoming clinically worse. In September, right before I signed up for a class, I was extremely depressed but thought I could just bite the bullet and take a class regardless of my mental health. A few days later, I signed up for PHGY 170.
In September 2016, I decided to register for PHGY 170 approximately three weeks after the class had started. Before I had registered for the term, I was contemplating taking the semester off to pursue other interests, such as the performing arts, while living in New York City. However, after much contemplation and decision making with my parents, I concluded this was not the most appropriate option for me or my academic goals.
In September and October 2016, although my depression waxed and waned, it was severe and crippling. On another note, I was on the same ADHD medication since the third grade and it stopped working for me this Fall. Although I did get an 88 on the midterm for PHGY 170, academic work started becoming more difficult to accomplish during this time. Starting in October 2016, I tried a new medication for my ADHD (Adderall). After telling my psychiatrist time and time again that I have been experiencing tremendous anxiety since January 2016, it went in one ear and out the other for him, and he put me on the worst possible medication for someone not being treated for anxiety. As a side-effect from the Adderall, I ended up having paresthesia¿¿s and I felt numb on the left side of my body. However, in early November, I had a breakdown and decided to spend the rest of the semester with my parents (my dad is a psychiatrist). I was in such bad shape when I came up to visit that I was almost put into an inpatient psychiatric unit. While visiting my parents, I switched psychiatrists in late November, which led to the conclusion of a misdiagnosis of my depression and I began treatment for Bipolar Depression (I now take Latuda) as well as an anxiety disorder (now treated with Clonazepam). Of note, it does take at least 4-6 weeks to see any clinical improvement from a psychotropic drug such as Latuda.
In late November, there was a death in the family which also impacted my studying. Despite my extenuating circumstances, I still wanted to take the PHGY 170 final exam in December 2016. However, after several serious discussions with both my family and the professors of PHGY 170, we decided it would be best for me to drop the course and retake it as I was simply too far behind in both learning the material and with the assignments needed to be completed.
Future plan:
As a future plan, I would like to retake PHGY 170 and complete the course successfully with a grade of at least a B. I want my GPA to only improve. Just because I have anxiety and bipolar depression, does not mean I cannot be an accomplished student. I will also remain compliant with my new medication regimen and I will continue to see my new psychiatrist on a regular basis.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Danielle N. Palmer
Documentation
Professional Letter: supporting documentation for dropping PHGY 170.docx