Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies),

This letter is in regards to the reason why I am appealing to have the courses that I have failed to be dropped.

With the school year of 2020- 2021 there were many extenuating reasons, beyond my control that I was not able to perform to the best of ability academically during my first semester. During the first semester, I was in a really tough situation as my housing situation mixed with my personal life made it difficult to cope with my stress. There were many reasons that impacted my life but mostly it is due to the mental stress that I was facing because it started with me getting a place with my ex- girlfriend. We moved in together in late August and moved out by the end of September. As myself and her were not able to live under the same roof because of our lifestyles were completely different. During the month we lived together, the police has been called, I have been kicked out of the house for some nights and had to stay in my car or even ask a friend to sleep at their house. Every day at the house it was getting harder because I just didn??t know what to do to be happy in an unsafe environment where I was paying rent for. Many arguments and fights were created there and September was a hard month. We eventually figured it would be best to move out and go back home and find a sublet. As there were 2 rooms in the apartment, she was able to find a sublet for one of the rooms and the individual was interested in taking the whole apartments rent by December so we both can be out of the lease. However, from October till November/ December, I was really sick and had to go back home as my parents can help me get better as I couldn??t be in that apartment anymore due to it feeling unsafe and not knowing who the new sublet will be. As the new sublet moved in November 1st, he created many issues with me because he assumed that I would be just living back at home. At this point, I am really stressed out because I am still paying for rent while my ex-girlfriend gave me her word that we would get out of the lease at the same time to ensure it would be fair. However, that did not happen but created even more problems for myself. While I was still stick I came back to the apartment near the end of November and the new sublet was verbally assaulting, trying to make me go home, finding new ways to get me upset, and pretty much bullying me because he realized that I would have to keep paying rent and he would not need to take over the lease agreement if I end up moving back home. I tried speaking to my landlord about it and she was not able to do anything because I signed an agreement. So it came to a point where, I did have to go home and take the time for myself but that made it worse because when I went back to the apartment after a week he had a friend sleeping in my bed, using my personal belongs, and even started to call me names and be aggressive with me because he thought it was okay with him. Some nights it used to get really bad that I wouldn??t be able to sleep or during the day I wouldn??t want to eat because there was always so much on my mind that I always started to overthink, and making it much harder on myself. As mentioned earlier, the sublet was supposed to take over the whole lease by December, yet he took over the agreement in March. From November to March it was really stressful fir me because I was paying for a place where I barely lived in, and when I was there it was a really unsafe environment. With this situation, from October to December, I was really depressed and had no motivation in life to get things done because I felt as I was small with the way my ex- girlfriend, the new sublet and even the landlord talking to me because I truly wanted to get out of the lease because it was not safe for me. This experience still has an effect on me, as this effected my school work, my personal life, my relationship with my family and mostly took a mental strain to cope every day and to find a purpose to keep going.

With myself speaking about the events to Student Wellness Centre once, and then finding other resources online, I was able to make the changes and showcase them in the second semester. I was able to learn more about myself and understand what I need to do differently to ensure I can be successful. As I am proud to say I overcame my problems and second semester I did not fail any courses and got the grades to keep moving forward. I hope my appeal for the course being dropped is accepted and I can be able to move forward with my studies as I had to undergo an unsafe environment in an household/ personal issues to understand what I have to do make the changes. With speaking with academic advisors, it was brought to attention that I can potentially finish my degree within an year. I am hoping this appeal is granted, I can take a full course load because I am more than ready to finish my degree because my mental state is better and I know I am almost at the finish line.

Thank you,
Ajeerthanan RIseenthiran
10146188