Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean of Studies,

I am writing to drop two courses I took last year, Biology 201 and Physiology 214.
I have been suffering from anxiety and depression for the last few years. Last year, I experienced both anxiety and depression the worst I ever have. Most days it was impossible to leave the house let alone my bed. The idea alone of seeing people would be enough to cause a panic attack. I always attempted to try and go to class but once I got to class I would become extremely overwhelmed and would need to leave the situation immediately. Days like these made it difficult to keep up-to-date with lectures so most of my learning was done using a textbook. Even so, certain days I couldn¿¿t find it in myself to move let alone read a textbook or do anything.

The anxiety and depression worsened during examination periods because I was behind from the regular classes so I had to catch up with missed readings and while studying for upcoming examinations and the stress would become unbearable.

The stress and anxiety eventually resulted in physical health complications when I had to be brought to emergency at KGH from severe abdominal pains. This occurred roughly around midterms in second semester, which affected my academics in all of my classes, especially physiology because the exam was around the period of time. The pain had continued and occasionally would become ore severe so I was in and out of doctor¿¿s offices during that time to find out what was wrong. No one could find any physical symptoms and it was ruled as most likely stress.

Towards the end of this year I came in contact with Maureen Roe, who is a registered psychotherapist. I had seen her regularly all summer and am currently in the process of finding someone closer to see now that I am back at school. While seeing Ms. Roe, we have worked on cognitive behavioural therapy and I personally feel as though the counseling has greatly helped me.

If granted my appeal to drop my courses, I wish to take classes at Laurentian University in Sudbury so friends and family may surround me while I continue to move forwards on my journey.

Thank you for your time to review my application.

Sincerely,

Jessica Letourneau-Sonier