Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello,

I am appealing to receive accommodations for HIST 252 - Africa in the Modern World , due to mental/physical obstacles that prevented me from excelling academically.My name is Hisham Yusuf and I am a second year student at Queens University, with intentions to graduate with a political science degree along with an economics minor. During the Winter-term, mid-February, I suffered from a peritonsillar abscess in which I could not breathe and would cough up blood, along with a lack of appetite and energy. I visited the doctor at Hospital Adieu numerous times to get the abscess drained. These circumstances prevented me from attending lectures and classes, the situation worsened during reading week when I flew back to British Columbia, I spoke to a doctor who told me that I will most likely need to remove my tonsils as they have been affecting me quite often. The doctor in Kingston had also reiterated to me that I would need to get them removed should they recur. Unfortunately, they have been recurring and I will get them removed during the summer. My throat pains persisted in March and, with the lack of appetite, I was very weak and unable to undertake any academic obligations. Professor Awet Weldemichael was very accommodating during this time telling me that I could take all the time I need to recover. It was also during this time, early March, that a brotherly friend with whom I had attended high-school with had tried to take his own life. It was extremely difficult for me and along with my illness, made me feel depressed and extremely isolated. My mother flew in from British Columbia to be with me in this difficult time, along with my siblings who were on spring break at this time for the entire month of March. I took a break from my academics during March, including assignments from other courses with professors who were more than willing. I needed to recover physically and mentally, and needed to be there for my friend. I would make frequent visits to Toronto and would, along with my family, visit him and his family to see how he is keeping. Furthermore, on March 27, the professor had emailed me inquiring about when I will rewrite my midterm paper and book report. Unfortunately on April 1, my best friend tried to take his life again and was fighting for his life in hospital. This caused a whirlwind of emotions that made my life feel significantly harder and more pressurized in more ways than one, academically, physically and socially. It put such a significant strain on my mental health that I could not think of anything else and only prioritized his health and what I could do to be there for him.It is a very worrisome reality that looms as I am still unsure of his well-being.

I submitted the assignments required around the time of my final exam. The professor communicated with me that I would need to contact the Faculty of Arts & Science to see what can be done in regards to my assignments. He has been very accommodating per our emails sent in the last week in which he said I can take as much time as I need in regards with this appeal and he will let me re-do the assignments at any time as soon as he gets confirmation. In order to fully restore my health to a level that can adequately perform with the given challenges of a university degree, I will be taking the time to visit a councillor to discuss my mental health and wellbeing, specifically in dealing with the feelings which I attained and currently possess in regards to the hardships that have recently unfolded, involving my best friend. I do not want these mental and physical obstacles to affect my mark as they were beyond my control. This course holds significant value to me as I was born in Africa, I don't want these issues to taint my performance within the course.
Thank you for the time and consideration.

Kind regards,

Hisham Yusuf