Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I am appealing for the faculty¿¿s decision for credit standing in SOCY 210 (Fall 2017), SOCY 227 (Winter 2019), and SOCY 211 (Winter 2019). My extenuating circumstances started back in the summer of 2017, when I went through a traumatic experience that ended with me in the hospital countless times under suicide watch and being in the psych ward. As a result, I was barely able to get through fall of 2017, only taking two courses that I did fairly poorly in (SOCY 210). The Fall of 2017 was a very hard time for me, I found that I was not able to get out of bed to even go to class or find the motivation to try and work hard. I did not want to leave my room because I hated who I was and was scared of people judging me. I was overdosing on sleeping pills which was also directly affecting my grades for fall 2017, but it was an accumulation of having panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, depression, self-harm and much more. A frame for reference was my academic advisor, Spring Forsberg who I came to in 2017, knew I was contemplating of dropping out and we would see each other a few times to discuss my options. As well my family Doctor, Dr. Battel who has been on the entire journey with me and prescribed me my medication. I am then asking for credit standing in SOCY 210 (Fall 2017) based on the extenuating circumstances and decimation I provided. I somehow completed the fall term 2017 but due to not being able to make it lectures and tutorials, being in and out of the hospital, and struggling to find the will to live, I succumbed to the emotional trauma and decided to take the term of winter 2018 off.

During my time off, my focus was to take proactive steps from counselling and family who were supporting me to get better. I was on various types of anxiety and depression medications and found that they were not benefiting me, however I still took them. I was also seeing a family psychologist once a week where I would be learning to deal with my emotions, I still see her once a month in 2019. In the winter term of 2018, I also decided to workout due to losing a tremendous amount of weight in the fall of 2017 from not eating. I was getting better and, in the fall of 2018, I felt confident that I could return to classes. However, I was not suicidal at the time but still dealing with my anxiety and depression that lead me to only taking one course in the fall of (2018). With many of the reoccurring problems due to my mental illness and struggling to get out of my room, I was still having a hard time attending lectures and tutorials consistently which lead me to drop all remaining courses and be enrolled with one left. To make matters worse, not only was I dealing with many of the same emotional trauma I experienced, I also was struggling with a serious condition with my eye called a retinal tear. I got treated for my retinal tear in 2016 but in 2018 going for my yearly checkup they found more tears in both of my eyes and it required me to get 4 laser eye surgeries. Not only has this affected my vision, but it added to my anxiety as I was constantly worrying if I will have to get more treatment. My vision problems and the possibility of going blind has affected my self-worth, anxiety, and depression tremendously. Going into winter of 2019 these extenuating circumstances carried over and affected my grade in SOCY 227 & 211. My final grade in 227 being C- and final grade in 211 being a D+, moreover the fact I did very poorly in the other remaining course I took. I was dealing with depression, severe panic attacks about my eye problems, feeling of being alone and not good enough, and just overall found it really hard for me to go to class. My ability to do well in both these classes was due to my anxiety and depression. Both of these classes were particularly effected as I would get panic attacks in lectures, get really anxious not understanding the content, as well my vision not being able to see the same. Furthermore, SOCY 211 and 227 reminds me of the struggles I had to go through that year, and I do not think I would be able to go through that emotional trauma again, I get really anxious and uneasy, starting to feel sick to my stomach. I am asking for credit standing for SOCY 211 and 227 because they are some of the lowest marks I have gotten and it is a mandatory course for my major, where I need a GPA of 2.6 in SOCY 210, 211, 226, 227. These extenuating circumstances are still severe and exist today, which is why I am only taking two courses this semester. I find it hard to go to class as I am still struggling with depression and anxiety, but I am trying hard to force myself to go to class and do the work. I am asking for the opportunity on receiving credit standing which will tremendously help me progress in my undergraduate program, rather than going backwards as I can only handle a few courses a semester.

In the fall term of 2019, I have made small personal adjustments such as taking a lighter course load, getting accommodations from student wellness provide by Meg Hall, and seeking medical professional help from my doctor and psychologist. I am grateful for the opportunity Queen¿¿s University has given me as I do not want to stop going to school here. My plan is to slowly use the resources given to me from Queen¿¿s University and outside components to keep getting better and hopefully be able to achieve my degree in sociology regardless of how long it takes for me.
Thank you for reading my appeal,
Gianluca Venditti