Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,

Hello, my name is Cody Smith and I am submitting an academic appeal to drop GEOLOGY 106, as well as request a credit standing in POLITICS 110 and RELIGION 131.

Last year I received the grade F in GEOLOGY 106 and D-range grades in POLITICS 110 and RELIGION 131. This letter is meant to try to give some clarity as to how these grades don¿¿t represent my character or knowledge, but instead an unfortunate situation. Near my birthday (January 31st) of last year I started to feel overwhelmed by the workload and being away from home accelerated that anxiety. This drove me to the point where I couldn't handle it anymore by myself and decided to reach out for some help. I met with the Guidance Counsellor in Victoria Hall named Freeman Woolnough who helped me through this difficult time. I also made frequent trips to Toronto to meet with my Family Doctor, a Naturopathic Doctor, and to spend time with my family who were worried about me as well. During this time, I missed crucial lectures and found no time to catch up on material due to this anxiety problem. During the summer I discovered I am able to appeal the grade I received due to extenuating circumstances, to me this was an extenuating circumstance. During my time in second semester of first year I found myself being unable to focus on material and depressed, feeling this way ultimately led to the failing grade in GEOLOGY 106 and poor marks in the POLITICS 110 AND RELIGION 131. As I was planning on submitting my appeal in the summer I wasn't in the right head space to do so as I was in the midst of deciding with my parents if it was a good decision to return to Queens this year. When I decided to stay at Queens for this year I attempted to get the academic accommodations I didn't receive the year before, this was because I used them in high school and didn't feel I needed them in university. During the first semester of this year I had been granted academic accommodations which has lead me to my next task of finishing the year and filing an appeal. I have grown as a person because of this and am now in control of my anxiety without the use of medication. Looking back at GEOLOGY 106, POLITICS 110, and RELIGION 131 I realize that I wasn't in the right space to succeed, but with anything I have learned how to manage my time and not fall into the same overwhelming pattern I felt in Winter Term of last year. This new approach I have taken has led to my GPA constantly increasing each semester since first year.

I hope you take the time to read this and grant me my wish of this academic appeal. Last year was very difficult however I am happy to say I have found a balance in my work and emotions going forward. This year I proved to myself I am able to keep up with key dates and handle a decent course load, I have also considered taking 4 courses per semester again next year as I did this past year. Although my letters specifically address GEOLOGY 106, the circumstances affected all three courses I am appealing for, if you need specific documents I will provide them. I am more grateful for this than reluctant because of the lessons it has taught me and attitude it has given me to go no where but forward in my life. I just ask to not be punished for an incident that helped me grow into the man I am today.

Thank you and have a great day,

Cody Smith

10188109