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Petition Letter: Dear Arts&Science Associate Deans, I am appealing to drop Music 104 (Winter, 2019)

I sincerely think that continuing study Music 104 is going to worsen my anxiety. This semester I took Music 104, it first attracted me because a lot of my friends said the professor is nice and the content is not hard to pick up for someone who never studied an instrument before. This was also how I originally felt about this course, but soon after the 1st test things started to get harder. I found that the way the professor teaches is just read through the textbook and assume we all know already. I know a lot people in that class have learned an instrument before and all these are just review for them, but for me it isn¿¿t. A lot people say university is about self-study, but in this course I did all I can in order to reach academic success, I still found myself really struggle with the content.

I¿¿ve been dealing with anxiety since last summer and I have to admit it¿¿s not going well. When I opened Onq and saw that 26 on my 3rd test, I honestly think I can¿¿t make it till the end. The previous two tests were also very hard for me to mentally go through. It¿¿s the feeling that I work really hard and still receive nothing makes me feel extremely anxious. I know it¿¿s still just half way through the semester, but I don¿¿t think I have any passion and desire to support me finish this course. This course makes me feel bad about myself and I don¿¿t like that feeling. Maybe I chose a not so smart track to learn this course and that¿¿s why I received bad marks, however, right now by just going to that class makes me feel very anxious. Last week after I wrote the 3rd test, which I studied a whole weekend and got an F, I saw people were still calmly taking notes, I just felt I couldn¿¿t do it anymore.

I wanted to drop this course since the second test, but I always thought next test I could do better. I was really indecisive at the drop-course deadline because I still had some hope for the 3rd test grade, that¿¿s why I missed the deadline. However, at this point I just want to stop encountering with this course because I don¿¿t want to keep making myself feel depressed and I think it¿¿s not a smart choice to continue this course.

I¿¿m doing well on all my other major courses, maybe the marks are normal, but at least I can see a reward for my work. For Music 104, I¿¿ve made up my mind firmly. If I can successfully drop this course, I will spend more time on my major courses and extracurricular hobbies. To make up the 3 credits I miss, I will take a summer course in China.

Failure is a normal thing happens on the way to success. I believe wisely choose to not go through some failures contributes to the development of a better mental health.

Thanks for reading my appeal letter and hope you can help me drop this course