Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hi,
My name is Jenelle Hogarth, I am in first year at Queen¿¿s in the arts and science program. I am requesting an appeal so that I can drop the course French 150 without academic penalty. The professor is Donald Sackey. I was not able to drop the course before the deadline on the 7th because of medical conditions and a recent death. I¿¿ve had severe panic disorder for my whole life but for the past 6 years I have been on the anti-depressant Co-citalopram (40mg) for my attacks. My attacks do not typically come at specific time they can be random where I can not control my heart rate. I get dizzy and overheat resulting in my vision failing. Usually when I am having an attack it is as if I leave my body completely so faint. If I do not collapse and I am speaking to someone I become unconscious, they will be speaking and they can tell I am not there anymore listening I just get silent and stare. Only family member and my closest friends would be able to tell why I am looking around lost and confused no longer replying. I forget who my family members and best friends are during an attack.
Before coming to Queen¿¿s my disorder did get much I no longer collapse at random times but when I got back specifically this semester it has gotten bad again. Not only my panic disorder contributing to attacks but also anemia. The fatigue got very bad, I was sleeping at night for hours I would sleep between classes and after too. It came to point where I have been sleeping for more hours in a day than being awake. I have been on the supplements Fera Max for almost 3 years now but my levels do not raise easily so I began taking needles. Nothing was working and the fatigue and the disorder has made it difficult for me to even make it to all classes and study after. There are times where I can not control how weak my body becomes so I go back to sleep. I started going to the Student Wellness Center since last semester and Elizabeth Nguyen has been helping me try to find what happens to my brain in these situations but can not yet find anything. She decided to put me on the anti-depressant Act-buperopion extra large (300 ml) for depression to elevate me so I could possibly stay awake for more hours and increased my dosage of my other anti-depressant.
It hasn¿¿t been working well. I was then recommended to the Sleep Study Center in Kingston to run test on my brain and why I am weak. My study will be on April 25th. Until then, I have to go to therapy. I get nauseous and dizzy when I am awake, I take the medication but it does not work. At times, I work in the dark because when I see light it gets worst. I am easily irritable and when I get panic attacks I stay inside away from people. I recently went back to the hospital on Monday March 13th because of anxiety and bladder issues. They are still performing test for answers. My anxiety has been bad because of the stress of school, being in a new environment with new people but it got worst when one of my best friends Albert Suhamer died 3 weeks ago, from a drug overdose. I have been trying to get through everyday, to make it to classes. It is hard for me to even wake up but I try my best. In my French class I have only missed 2 all year but I am behind in the language than most of the students, especially because I was only in French extended. I thought the course would be a lower level than it is right now but I did not switch out earlier because I tried my best regardless. I study for every test for hours but I still get low marks on my tests which worsens my anxiety. My teacher only recently spoke to me about the exam and my mark being lower than the average. Now when I am in the class my anxiety gets bad, I overheat, begin spinning because I get confused/upset that I can not understand. I know the deadline has passed but I want to request to drop the course without any academic penalty. I have been attempting to drop it but my conditions, and friend¿¿s death has been bad making it difficult to continue my studies I lose motivation to go outside. I was unable to make it to an academic advisor because there are times when my body is physically weak. I had to go to the hospital and many appointments that I at times would miss because of weakness/fatigue.
Please, I would like to drop French. It makes my condition worse, it is my lowest mark, realistically I cannot pass the exam. I can get documentation from the hospital, from the Student Wellness Center, from the Sleep study or from my family doctor information about my previous depression, panic disorder and anemia. Also, if there is information about the death needed I can try to get documents as well.
Thank you for your consideration,
Jenelle Hogarth