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Petition Type: New
ID: 729
Submitted: January 29, 2015 at 2:35:04 PM
First Name: Shannnen
Last Name: Oxley
Student Number: 10022149
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: SOCY
Level of Study: 4

Petition Categories

Petition Categories: Add a course after the academic deadline
Code: MATH 124
Term: Winter
Year: 2015
Petition Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor's Name: Alan Ableson

Petition Letter

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Deans,

I am writing to you today in the hope of receive permission to be enrolled late into Math 124. I have directly contacted the Undergraduate Chair of the Mathematics Department; Gregory Smith, first in order to get this matter resolved briefly, however due to my academic record, Mr. Smith believed me to be an unfit candidate for enrollment. Therefore, I address you today in the hope that you will feel differently than Mr. Smith, and allow me to be enrolled into Math 124. I have listed below why my previous performance last year lacked my usual success due to extenuating circumstances, and why I believe I will be a perfect candidate to be enrolled into Math 124.
Last year was a difficult year for me for two main reasons. Firstly, I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder. My first year away form home caused many stressors for me. However, I continued to try and push through by trying to focus on my studies, and find a s support system and psychologist at Queens. During my second year my anxiety slowly began to get worse. I was unable to find a psychologist I could connect with and began to fall behind in school. In third year, I was consumed. I had trouble leaving the house, meeting deadlines, and doing daily tasks that seemed so easy to accomplish in the past. As Midterms, exams, and Christmas got closer, my anxiety got worse. Not only was I dealing with my own anxiety, but also being at school with students who were also high stress caused me to be extremely overwhelmed. I retreated to my apartment most days, and became very depressed. Then, two weeks before Christmas I got a phone call that someone very close to me passed away unexpectedly. I had to go home to help organize the funeral, wake, and precessions, as well as study for my final exams. My Professors where very understanding, but due to my inability to focus, I was unsuccessful to use their extra time to hand in, or do exams effectively. I did not understand what was going on until I went back home to Ottawa to see my Doctor. This is when I was diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder. I got connected with a psychologist in Ottawa who I could talk to on the phone, as well as joining the Children Survivors of Sexual Assault here in Kingston. I was starting to get back on track slowly, but still continued to demonstrate struggles in my daily life. I eventually went on anxiety medication in February. The medication, mixed with a support system, as well as tools to deal with my anxiety helped me tremendously. However, this alteration came too late for me to succeed in school.
During my first three years at Queen's, I was consumed with anxiety. However, I am now currently in my fourth year and am now living, with anxiety. I have come extremely far in the last year. I am more driven, I do not miss class, I am more organized, as well as having the tools to cope with my anxiety, which has been a life savor. Currently, I am attending Queen's University, as well as St. Lawrence. I am attending classes, receiving A's, enjoying life again, as well as living a balanced lifestyle. I believe that I am capable of achieving exceptional grades in Math 124. I have been attending classes in order to ensure success if I get accepted into the course, as well and going even if I do not get accepted to learn more, and become more knowledgeable in a course I struggled so much in last year. I waited to take courses at Queen's this year because I did fear that I was not ready to come back, which is why I have been taking courses at St. Lawrence. However, being at St. Lawrence had taught me that I strive for knowledge, and that I am ready to be back in a more competitive and fast paced environment. I have taken math courses at St. Lawrence last semester and this semester, and find myself seeking a more advanced curriculum, which is why I would like to be enrolled into Math 124. I have taken the time to rebuild myself, and I can say with a hundred percent that I am ready, and I am capable of handling a course like Math 124. Even if I do find myself running into difficulty, I will use my recourses that Queen's offers. However, I am finding the content of Math 124 extremely interesting, as well as in my knowledge range that I feel confident in stating that I will be more than successful.
I understand this decision is extremely hard to make. You are forced to make a decision based on someones merit and character. I would like to encourage you to have faith in me, because I am not a student who wants to take this math course as an elective. I am in fourth year, I would like to take this course in order to get into Sport Medicine, and therefore need to improve my math skills. I want to take this course to better myself, and therefore hope that you help me achieve my goal to succeed in Math 124 by standing behind my appeal for late enrollment.
I know you are extremely busy, and therefore, I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your day to ready my appeal with an open mind.

Sincerely,


Shannen k. Oxley
10022149

Academic Plan

Academic Plan: In the following, I have carefully laid out my academic as well as personal goals:

1-year plan:
Step 1) Achieve my credit in Math 124. I plan to achieve this credit in order to
Attain the pre-requisites I need in order to get into my future career goal. I also wish to take math, since it is a valuable amenity to help one achieve success throughout their life. Math is inevitably everywhere, and therefore, becoming more versatile in the subject is an asset; no matter the challenges accumulate with taking the course.

Step 2) Attaining my Pre-health certificate from St. Lawrence College this
April, along with, grades in the high 90's. I decided to take the 1-year pre-health program at SLC, since it gave me background knowledge into the sciences that I did not receive in high school, due to my belief that I wanted to remain in the Arts section, rather than the Sciences. I will be receiving my Pre-health certificate in June, and will use it to help me achieve success in the Science sector of University.

Step 3) Take summer courses in order to graduate Queen's University with a
Sociology Degree. This will allow me to finish my previous goals from grade 12, when I believed I wanted to gain this degree.

Step 4) Get into either Queen's University, or Ottawa University's Kinesiology
Program. I have already applied, and am now waiting to send my
Mid-term marks in, so that the schools can be review my marks, and I can be accepted into my program.

5-Year Goal:
Step 1) Graduate with Honours in Kinesiology
Step 2) Get accepted into physiotherapy (2 year program), or Medical School
(4-year program).


I indeed do have many goals I wish to achieve. However, I am now twenty-two years old, and have found my place. When starting at Queen's University, I was seventeen. I have a vague idea of my goals in the future, but nothing was ever set. As I attended Queen's, I started to expand my avenues by volunteering at the Respiratory Rehabilitation Centre located at St. Mary's on the lake, as well as other rehabilitation centre in Ottawa. I joined Queen's Varsity Triathlon, and even coached the team last year, as well as joining in on intramurals, kinesiology studies, motionball, and more. The atmosphere at Queen's University allowed me to participate in the activities I love, which ultimately lead me to my future career goal; Sports Medicine.

Documentation

Professional Letter Detail: I have also dropped off documentation to the Faculty office