Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 3214
Submitted: April 3, 2017 at 5:02:32 PM
First Name: Eric
Last Name: Dunsworth
Student Number: 10196866
Email: 15ewjd@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BSH
Plan: LISC (Spec.)
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: CHEM 282
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Johanne Benard,
I am appealing to drop my course CHEM 282: Organic Chemistry due to medical reasons. While I understand that I have missed the official date to drop a course, I hope that you will consider my medical disability and grant me an exception for this single course due to extenuating circumstances. As per my attached medical certificate, I was formally diagnosed with anxiety disorder by my family physician who has known me since birth. Although I struggle with anxiety, I do go through extended periods where it is under control, and does not interfere with my studies or work. However, due to a series of recent family crises, my anxiety has caused me to become overwhelmed, which is why I am requesting to withdraw from Organics Chemistry at this time.
Recently, there have been three (3) deaths in my small family. This has been compounded by the fact that my single mother is facing surgery. Additionally, since she had to go on disability due to her accident, our family is facing financial issues, which impacts my finances at university. All of this really upset me and caused my anxiety to flare. To provide more context, in 2015 while I was writing my mid-term Physics exam, I received a grade of 30. My mind went blank while writing the exam. This was immediately after my mother and brother were rear-ended in a car accident, while going to visit my grandmother who had just been admitted to Emergency in the hospital. During the recent Organic Chemistry mid-term my went blank. I spent money to attend the course cram, but my mind still went blank as I have ben anxious over the afore-mentioned (family deaths, financial problems, and mother facing surgery). My family physician had advised that anxiety disorder is extremely dangerous, and stress should be avoided as much as possible, which is what I am attempting to do by requesting to drop CHEM 282.
Since I am unable to retain information when the anxiety and stress kicks in, my defense mechanism is to do nothing. I try to study, but am unable to retain the information, which is uncharacteristic of me as I have a photographic memory. I have tried strategies, such as: sitting at the front during lectures, and taking notes. However, I was unaware until this past week, that Queen¿¿s offers support services. Moving forward, I will reach out to these support services to help me cope with, and to, overcome anxiety that may be overwhelming. With the availability of these support services, I hope to proactively manage my stress so that it does not become debilitating in the future. Once I get through this semester, my family circumstances should settle down, as the deaths will be behind me, and my mother will be over her surgery. I am confident that if I can drop this course at this time, my anxiety will be greatly reduced, and I can be successful in the rest of my current course load.
Thank you for your kind consideration of my request.
Sincerely yours,
Eric William Jacob Dunsworth
I am appealing to drop my course CHEM 282: Organic Chemistry due to medical reasons. While I understand that I have missed the official date to drop a course, I hope that you will consider my medical disability and grant me an exception for this single course due to extenuating circumstances. As per my attached medical certificate, I was formally diagnosed with anxiety disorder by my family physician who has known me since birth. Although I struggle with anxiety, I do go through extended periods where it is under control, and does not interfere with my studies or work. However, due to a series of recent family crises, my anxiety has caused me to become overwhelmed, which is why I am requesting to withdraw from Organics Chemistry at this time.
Recently, there have been three (3) deaths in my small family. This has been compounded by the fact that my single mother is facing surgery. Additionally, since she had to go on disability due to her accident, our family is facing financial issues, which impacts my finances at university. All of this really upset me and caused my anxiety to flare. To provide more context, in 2015 while I was writing my mid-term Physics exam, I received a grade of 30. My mind went blank while writing the exam. This was immediately after my mother and brother were rear-ended in a car accident, while going to visit my grandmother who had just been admitted to Emergency in the hospital. During the recent Organic Chemistry mid-term my went blank. I spent money to attend the course cram, but my mind still went blank as I have ben anxious over the afore-mentioned (family deaths, financial problems, and mother facing surgery). My family physician had advised that anxiety disorder is extremely dangerous, and stress should be avoided as much as possible, which is what I am attempting to do by requesting to drop CHEM 282.
Since I am unable to retain information when the anxiety and stress kicks in, my defense mechanism is to do nothing. I try to study, but am unable to retain the information, which is uncharacteristic of me as I have a photographic memory. I have tried strategies, such as: sitting at the front during lectures, and taking notes. However, I was unaware until this past week, that Queen¿¿s offers support services. Moving forward, I will reach out to these support services to help me cope with, and to, overcome anxiety that may be overwhelming. With the availability of these support services, I hope to proactively manage my stress so that it does not become debilitating in the future. Once I get through this semester, my family circumstances should settle down, as the deaths will be behind me, and my mother will be over her surgery. I am confident that if I can drop this course at this time, my anxiety will be greatly reduced, and I can be successful in the rest of my current course load.
Thank you for your kind consideration of my request.
Sincerely yours,
Eric William Jacob Dunsworth
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: submitted