Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Assoicate Dean of Studies,

My names is Alexander Birt and I am writing this appeal in an attempt to drop POLS 385 before this academic year ends. I am attempting to drop this course due to the fact that I am in fear of failing the course, which would reflect badly on my GPA as a whole. The reason I am not doing as well as I would like is due to the fact that both my mental health and home life are in jeopardy. Over the past year and a half my family has experienced two major deaths in the family that have left scars on not only myself but my family as a whole. As a result, I have had to travel to and from Oakville several times over the course of this semester. I have had to do so because both my parents and sister have been in a constant flux of fighting which has taken a bigger toll on me than I care to admit . To be more specific, with being the youngest son, I have had to witness my parents fighting constantly. It has gotten to the point that they are on the brink of separating. The premise of a separation does not sit well with either my sister or myself and causes me high amounts of anxiety and sadness. Furthermore, a part of me feels guilty to leave my sister in this environment ( she still lives at home) therefore I devote a large amount of time to my family. One aspect specifically that causes me the most stress is the fact that my father has lost his job within the last month. This job loss added more fuel to the fire in a sense even worsening my levels of anxiety. The amount of time that has been allocated to both my mental health and family troubles have been reflected in my overall performance this past semester. I am not doing as good as I would have hoped in the majority of my courses but POLS 385 is the course that I am worried about. Therefore given my high anxiety and depleting family life I would like to drop POLS 385. I understand that appeals require some form of proof to validate and make the appeal more legitimate. Personally, I do not see how I would be able to show this legitimacy given the circumstance. I do not feel comfortable asking one of my family members to provide some form of proof because I do not want them to know it is affecting as much as it is. Worrying my parents in the midst of the current circumstance would not be the most ideal for myself or my family members. I can attempt to provide some form of proof if it is needed for my appeal I would just appreciate not to involve my parents. In all, regarding my future plan I am going to attempt to visit the wellness centre for guidance on how to handle my troubles at home. Regarding the course itself, I am going to attempt to retake it next year due to the fact that it is a requirement for my major. But the bigger reason why I am going to retake the course is due to the fact that I know I can do better if I am not plagued by high levels of anxiety. Attempting to handle these levels over the summer prior to the next academic year will allow me flourish in my academics. I have already visited the academic's office this week to seek guidance and I have taken what they have suggested into my plan. With both a lighter course load and imploring the proper techniques for my mental health next year, I will be able to flourish as a Queens Student. Therefore, I hope that given my extenuating circumstances and my drive to succeed academically that this appeal fits the needs of the requirements needed to drop a course. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my appeal and I am looking forward to any future communication we may have regarding my appeal

Sincerely,
Alexander Birt