Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Melissa Stire
Student: 10144500
17 Van Order Drive, Building 9, Suite 303
Kingston, Ontario K7M 1B5


April 22, 2018

Sue Blake, Assistant Dean (Studies), Student Services
99 University Ave,
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6



RE: APPEAL for ¿¿NG¿ Status on SOCY 344 & HLTH 200

Dear Sue Blake, Assistant Dean (Studies), Student Services:

I am appealing to both have my final grades in SOCY 344 and HLTH 200 to be changed to ¿¿NG¿ status and for the ability to appeal due to extenuating circumstances. I am appealing on the grounds that I was struggling with severe GAD without medical or financial support for the entire semester fall semester. Had I left and not completed my semester without the supporting documentation, I risked not getting any financial support at all in the future to finish my degree. GAD is a special kind of mental illness which involves extreme amounts of fear which is felt in my body. It took months for the Chaplin to work with me (without scaring me more) to understand that my fears were not real. It a ton of effort on her part (she came with me to the hospital because she knew that I was very scared) and on mine to get myself admitted into the hospital where I received an assessment and treatment. This whole experience has had me understand mental health in a whole new light. I don¿¿t get to decide when the disorder presents and because of this, I didn¿¿t realize that it had happened to me. Since getting treatment and support, there has been a marked difference in my academic success. To be entirely honest with you. My anxiety was so high that I could read at most points last semester, nor do I remember most of what I learned. I did very well in Indigenous Law because this is my background. You can¿¿t forget what you grew up around.
Being OSAP means that if I take time off, I will have to make a loan payment until I return to school. I as well as my supports know that I will not be able to afford that loan payment until I receive my degree because it changes my ability to earn income. As a mature student, I know that grades have a direct impact on my future. While I know this, part of my therapy was focusing on the present and not worrying about the past or the future. So, in this way, I was unable to complete this appeal within the given 21 days because it impacted my treatment and took me away from focusing on the present and the positive. I¿¿m happy to report that I¿¿m doing much better and am 1 year away from completing my degree.

Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,
Melissa Stire
Encl.