Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 7393
Submitted: February 13, 2021 at 3:22:29 PM
First Name: Lucas
Last Name: Cmok Kehoe
Student Number: 10184750
Email: lucas.cmok@gmail.com
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: PHIL
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline, Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Code: PHIL 203
Term: Fall
Year: 2020
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Mark Smith
Code: Phil 445
Term: Fall
Year: 2020
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
My name is Lucas Cmok Kehoe. I am an undergraduate student in the final year of my philosophy program. I am filing this letter of appeal to seek permission to receive credit standing for Philosophy 203 and to drop Philosophy 445 past the drop deadline. Let me begin by providing some context to explain my circumstances.
During my time at Queen's, I have experienced recurring mental health problems and at times struggled with severe depression, which has caused crises that required intervention. Using available resources at Queen's and in Kingston, I have been successfully managing these challenges with counseling and lifestyle changes. I have learned that I need to establish clear structure and routines in my daily life to excel academically and manage mental health stressors. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, I was doing very well and had some of my strongest semesters in the past three years since switching my major to philosophy. My daily routine included leaving the house for in-person lectures, peer interactions, and regular study sessions at the library, all of which I looked forward to. I became involved in the Kingston community by joining two community choirs and working at the Isabel Bader Center, which gave me a sense of belonging and purpose.
When the pandemic hit, all of this structure that I had created for myself, and which is essential for me to thrive emotionally and academically, began to evaporate. I decided to temporarily return home to the US, where familial support enabled me to successfully complete my remaining Winter'20 courses in addition to three summer term courses. I returned to Kingston at the end of August because all my personal belongings remained in my rental apartment, the lease for which I was personally responsible.
Given my strong performance in the recent terms, I opted for a full course load hoping to complete my graduation credit requirements by the end of April'21. In retrospect, this decision was a mistake. As I was living alone, I increasingly felt extremely isolated due to the complete absence of in-person academic, peer and community interactions. I underestimated how dramatically my regular academic routines would be altered due to the pandemic, and the degree to which it would ultimately impact my emotional well-being. This last semester, which was supposed to continue my upward trajectory and become my strongest, threw me into a new crisis. It is extremely difficult for me to reach out for help in the midst of a crisis. Consequently, I felt increasingly overwhelmed and began to fall behind in my coursework, especially in Philosophy 445 and 203.
I understand that the deadline to drop fall term courses had been extended given the pandemic. Misjudging my coping skills, I still intended to complete all my courses, and therefore did not take advantage of this extended deadline. Additionally, in the two weeks leading up to the finals period, I was required to move to a different apartment due to an emergency plumbing issue in my unit. Given the circumstances, I chose to focus on the four courses I knew I could complete.
Going forward, I have taken various steps to avoid a repeat of last semester. I have opted for a lighter course load for the current winter semester and remain optimistic in my performance thus far. Additionally, I will be taking summer courses to complete my credit requirement and lighten the load on the current term. I am adjusting to the online-only academic environment by taking additional advantage of optional course resources and connecting with classmates online. Furthermore, to help combat the isolation during the Ontario stay-at-home order, I reconnected with a counselor, and I now schedule daily calls with friends and family for emotional support and to help set and meet short and long term goals. Finally, I have elected to apply to the Queen's Philosophy graduate program and look forward to hearing back from the department in March. In view of these new routines, optimistic outlook on my graduate application, and relocation to a nicer apartment, I have been feeling significantly better emotionally and academically empowered.
With this appeal, I kindly ask you to consider the possibility of dropping Philosophy 445 retroactively and to receive credit-standing in Philosophy 203. I sincerely appreciate your attention to my case.
Respectfully,
Lucas Cmok Kehoe
My name is Lucas Cmok Kehoe. I am an undergraduate student in the final year of my philosophy program. I am filing this letter of appeal to seek permission to receive credit standing for Philosophy 203 and to drop Philosophy 445 past the drop deadline. Let me begin by providing some context to explain my circumstances.
During my time at Queen's, I have experienced recurring mental health problems and at times struggled with severe depression, which has caused crises that required intervention. Using available resources at Queen's and in Kingston, I have been successfully managing these challenges with counseling and lifestyle changes. I have learned that I need to establish clear structure and routines in my daily life to excel academically and manage mental health stressors. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, I was doing very well and had some of my strongest semesters in the past three years since switching my major to philosophy. My daily routine included leaving the house for in-person lectures, peer interactions, and regular study sessions at the library, all of which I looked forward to. I became involved in the Kingston community by joining two community choirs and working at the Isabel Bader Center, which gave me a sense of belonging and purpose.
When the pandemic hit, all of this structure that I had created for myself, and which is essential for me to thrive emotionally and academically, began to evaporate. I decided to temporarily return home to the US, where familial support enabled me to successfully complete my remaining Winter'20 courses in addition to three summer term courses. I returned to Kingston at the end of August because all my personal belongings remained in my rental apartment, the lease for which I was personally responsible.
Given my strong performance in the recent terms, I opted for a full course load hoping to complete my graduation credit requirements by the end of April'21. In retrospect, this decision was a mistake. As I was living alone, I increasingly felt extremely isolated due to the complete absence of in-person academic, peer and community interactions. I underestimated how dramatically my regular academic routines would be altered due to the pandemic, and the degree to which it would ultimately impact my emotional well-being. This last semester, which was supposed to continue my upward trajectory and become my strongest, threw me into a new crisis. It is extremely difficult for me to reach out for help in the midst of a crisis. Consequently, I felt increasingly overwhelmed and began to fall behind in my coursework, especially in Philosophy 445 and 203.
I understand that the deadline to drop fall term courses had been extended given the pandemic. Misjudging my coping skills, I still intended to complete all my courses, and therefore did not take advantage of this extended deadline. Additionally, in the two weeks leading up to the finals period, I was required to move to a different apartment due to an emergency plumbing issue in my unit. Given the circumstances, I chose to focus on the four courses I knew I could complete.
Going forward, I have taken various steps to avoid a repeat of last semester. I have opted for a lighter course load for the current winter semester and remain optimistic in my performance thus far. Additionally, I will be taking summer courses to complete my credit requirement and lighten the load on the current term. I am adjusting to the online-only academic environment by taking additional advantage of optional course resources and connecting with classmates online. Furthermore, to help combat the isolation during the Ontario stay-at-home order, I reconnected with a counselor, and I now schedule daily calls with friends and family for emotional support and to help set and meet short and long term goals. Finally, I have elected to apply to the Queen's Philosophy graduate program and look forward to hearing back from the department in March. In view of these new routines, optimistic outlook on my graduate application, and relocation to a nicer apartment, I have been feeling significantly better emotionally and academically empowered.
With this appeal, I kindly ask you to consider the possibility of dropping Philosophy 445 retroactively and to receive credit-standing in Philosophy 203. I sincerely appreciate your attention to my case.
Respectfully,
Lucas Cmok Kehoe
Documentation
Professional Letter: Supporting Documentation-9.pdf