Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing today to appeal my ability to drop a summer course past the drop deadline due to the recurrence of a self-perpetuating mental health distress during an essential period of the course. The course in question is FILM260.

This summer I attempted to take two summer courses to speed up my program and make up for lapses in the past. However, sometime in mid-July I contracted a physical illness that, although not serious, was painful enough to keep me bedridden and prevent me from eating many solid foods for two weeks. I have also historically struggled with depression that varies in severity depending on other factors, and the stress of those two weeks impacted me as well as causing me to miss some medicine doses. I submitted a short-term accommodation request at that time, hoping to be able to plug the hole, but the overlap of my two courses (one finishing while the other beginning) was confusing to navigate and I was forced to focus my efforts on the other course's approaching exam.

I have reached out to Queen's Wellness regarding my mental health issues, seeking an appointment with a psychiatrist or counsellor, or recommendation letters from a doctor here so I can find my own that is covered by insurance. Often, I'm told that the best they can do is for me to call in every morning to see if there are appointments available. However, the very nature of the problem I'm trying to solve prevents me from doing this. It is also the reason I require an exception to the drop class deadline for this course. I took this course in good faith, with good intentions, and an excitement to complete it, but my circumstances over this very difficult summer for everyone paralyzed me both physically and mentally to the point where I have had no energy to properly care for myself, let alone be able to complete my obligations, and have been unable to withdraw from the course in time.

Writing this appeal, I recognize that this is as far as I can go denying the severity of my illness and the stress and problems it has caused me. In the past, I have missed deadlines for projects or essays, but this incident proves to me that I need to seek regimented, regular, professional help. Thank you for considering my appeal.

Jerry (Yiran) Yang
20061196