Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am appealing, ARTH 120, MUSC 104, WRIT 120, PHIL 218. The extenuating circumstances beyond my control included but are not limited to; my diagnoses of generalized anxiety heightened by COVID-19, a learning disability, online school, along with lack of finical support. With COVID-19 causing a lockdown I was forced to return to my parents home due to being laid off from my employment. I am fancily depended when being laid off the realization of not being able to pay my schooling and living had a strong effect on my mental statue. I normally spend my summers working as much as I can and saving to pay the following years tuition. I take great pride in knowing I am finically depended. In moving to my hometown, both my parents and I were 'working' from home. Living in the country, my wifi is not trustworthy. At some points, I was not able to login to attend my classes from lack of internet. As for the effect COVID-19 it created a mental strain. I have a grandparent with blocked arteries causing strokes. With the pandemic, I was not able to visit. This was only one issue caused by the pandemic. In being forced to live with my parents I was used to having independence, which was taken away from me. Mentally this caused me a stress. With my recently diagnosed of a learning disabling and generalized anxiety it caused more stress towards online learning.

These circumstances had an effect on my academic performance due to my inability to force on my studies. With a global pandemic, all of my plans were changed, my anxiety was in high effect and I was not able to learn the way I need to. I took the summer courses to allow me to be back on track with my graduation plan. I was under an animus amount of stress not allowing me to see how much I was struggling until it was too late. I feel I could have done so much better if COVID-19 did not change my lifestyle and add to my anxiety.

In a normal situation, the actions I would have taken to prevent my struggles would be maintaining employment. I would have also been able to stay in Kingston so the internet would not have been an issue. As for COVID-19, there is nothing in my power I could do to prevent the mental and emotional strain caused by a global pandemic. I have worked very hard to maintain my GPA, I take great pride in my academics and feel I could have done much better if I was able to maintain my regular lifestyle.