Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 5464
Submitted: March 22, 2019 at 11:20:15 AM
First Name: Alex
Last Name: Birt
Student Number: 10137414
Email: 13ab149@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: POLS
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: HIST 243
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean of Studies,
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Alexander Birt, and I am currently a student that is facing quite the situation in my personal life that is having a severe effect on both my mental health and my academics. I am currently enrolled in only one course at Queens, in an attempt to bring up my GPA that would allow me to apply to post-secondary opportunities after I leave Queens at the end of this academic year. However due to two recent events, one being a reoccurring distress and one being very sudden, my personal mental health has been throw into distress. I will attempt to go into more depth on these subjects below.
For the past 11 months, I have been working full time for the Alma Mater Society, in an attempt to gain valuable experience and have a viable source of income that would allow me to pay for my academics and my expenses as a student that is not financial secure. With the recent cuts in the Provincial government, post-secondary institutions have had to make financial cuts to many sectors in an attempt to stay afloat. The Alma Mater Society had to face a harsh reality as well with the Student Choice initiative, that now allows students to opt out of certain fees. With this impending hardship, the Alma Mater Society was forced to make tough decisions and let go of several employees to ensure their financial position. Being let go from this job, due to circumstances that were out of anyone¿¿s control, has sent me spiralling into a realm of disarray and confusion making my anxiety flare up quite significantly. I already have a large line of credit which I have been using to pay for my undergrad and I was depending on this job to help ease that massive financial burden. It is to the point where I must request money from my older siblings, and retired parents in an attempt to have money to pay for the basic necessities of living as a student on my own. This financial situation is bringing me a large amount of stress and anxiety, which is being translated to both my academics and everyday life.
Another reoccurring problem that has been plaguing me as of recently, has been my home life. Growing up, my father always struggled with addiction and it has gotten progressively worse as of recently. As a result of this, both my mother and sister who still live with my father for financial sustainability, have been dealing with this situation while I am away at school. I attempt to help them cope with this problem through many different forms of communication, but it is not the same as being with them in person. Given the situation, I have had to sporadically go back to my hometown in an attempt to assist my family with their emotional wellbeing, alongside my own as well. Having the additional challenge of dealing with my own emotional hardships on this matter, having to burden the rest of my families emotional states is also taking a large toll on my mental health.
Therefore, I am looking to drop this course after the academic drop date due to the fact that these two circumstances are having a massive toll on my mental health. This toll is halting my drive to do anything outside of worry and focus on this issues that are right in front of me, therefore my academics have the potential to take a toll. In the past, I have had to seek medical support in an attempt to help with my anxiety so I am going to do the same again. I have already attempted to make an appointment with Student Wellness Services in an attempt to get professional help/ advise on this matter. Moreover, I have been using the Peer Support Centre quite frequently in an attempt to get advice from my peers who might also be going through similar problems.
Thank you again for taking the time to read over this letter, and I look forward to your response on this matter as a whole. Even if I am unsuccessful in my attempt to drop the course, I would appreciate any advise or suggestions you may have on resources that Queens offers that I may utilize.
All the best,
Alex Birt
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Alexander Birt, and I am currently a student that is facing quite the situation in my personal life that is having a severe effect on both my mental health and my academics. I am currently enrolled in only one course at Queens, in an attempt to bring up my GPA that would allow me to apply to post-secondary opportunities after I leave Queens at the end of this academic year. However due to two recent events, one being a reoccurring distress and one being very sudden, my personal mental health has been throw into distress. I will attempt to go into more depth on these subjects below.
For the past 11 months, I have been working full time for the Alma Mater Society, in an attempt to gain valuable experience and have a viable source of income that would allow me to pay for my academics and my expenses as a student that is not financial secure. With the recent cuts in the Provincial government, post-secondary institutions have had to make financial cuts to many sectors in an attempt to stay afloat. The Alma Mater Society had to face a harsh reality as well with the Student Choice initiative, that now allows students to opt out of certain fees. With this impending hardship, the Alma Mater Society was forced to make tough decisions and let go of several employees to ensure their financial position. Being let go from this job, due to circumstances that were out of anyone¿¿s control, has sent me spiralling into a realm of disarray and confusion making my anxiety flare up quite significantly. I already have a large line of credit which I have been using to pay for my undergrad and I was depending on this job to help ease that massive financial burden. It is to the point where I must request money from my older siblings, and retired parents in an attempt to have money to pay for the basic necessities of living as a student on my own. This financial situation is bringing me a large amount of stress and anxiety, which is being translated to both my academics and everyday life.
Another reoccurring problem that has been plaguing me as of recently, has been my home life. Growing up, my father always struggled with addiction and it has gotten progressively worse as of recently. As a result of this, both my mother and sister who still live with my father for financial sustainability, have been dealing with this situation while I am away at school. I attempt to help them cope with this problem through many different forms of communication, but it is not the same as being with them in person. Given the situation, I have had to sporadically go back to my hometown in an attempt to assist my family with their emotional wellbeing, alongside my own as well. Having the additional challenge of dealing with my own emotional hardships on this matter, having to burden the rest of my families emotional states is also taking a large toll on my mental health.
Therefore, I am looking to drop this course after the academic drop date due to the fact that these two circumstances are having a massive toll on my mental health. This toll is halting my drive to do anything outside of worry and focus on this issues that are right in front of me, therefore my academics have the potential to take a toll. In the past, I have had to seek medical support in an attempt to help with my anxiety so I am going to do the same again. I have already attempted to make an appointment with Student Wellness Services in an attempt to get professional help/ advise on this matter. Moreover, I have been using the Peer Support Centre quite frequently in an attempt to get advice from my peers who might also be going through similar problems.
Thank you again for taking the time to read over this letter, and I look forward to your response on this matter as a whole. Even if I am unsuccessful in my attempt to drop the course, I would appreciate any advise or suggestions you may have on resources that Queens offers that I may utilize.
All the best,
Alex Birt
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC