Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Oshawa Thursday, November 11th, 2021



Dear members of the committee;


I ask to drop the PSY 100 course. I don't know where to start as this is a series of unfortunate events. I had planned to study all summer to be able to advance in my classes. Unfortunately, in
early June, the health of a close family member worsened due to COVID; and on June 27, 2021, she
died of complications.

My partner and I were devastated because the person who died was the person closest to our hearts
(she was one of the people who sponsored me so that I could come to Canada). During the bereavement, my partner had to take care of certain details and I was left alone to run the business we run. It was very hard because some days I worked 9 to 12 hours a day. I worked and studied at the same time. Then, on July 8, someone broke into our house while my partner and I were away;
this event greatly increased our stress. I had already failed by mid-term but I continued with my lessons thinking that if I studied harder I could still make it through the finals. But as I was falling
behind, I was recommended to ask for academic considerations for the week of June 27 and July 11,
2021, which I did. But I still had to study for the modules I had missed and those for the week after.
My personal problem bothered me and it became impossible to catch up with my schoolwork.
Unfortunately, I had more on my plate because in mid-July my partner and I finally got an appeal for a court case that had been dragging on for months; because our tenants had not paid their rent and utilities for almost a year. The tenants never showed up and we had to pick up the pieces. At that point, I wanted to drop out of PSY 100 because I had missed three modules and about three lab assignments; unfortunately, I missed the deadline to drop out of the course. It was hard to catch up with everything in a six-credit-hour course when so much was going on. However, I was doing
??well? in the other WRIT 125 course which is a three-credit course.
In addition, at the end of July, my partner and I entered into a legal dispute with the company that installed solar panels on our roof; it was a never-ending problem that exhausted me. That same week I was diagnosed with infertility and recommended to undergo fertility treatment. Infertility is the result of surgery for an 11 LB tumor performed in 2020 that scarred my fallopian tubes. I
couldn't take it anymore, so I emailed Professor PSY 100 who advised me to ask for another academic consideration. I requested another academic consideration for PSY 100 on August 3,
2021; but I was afraid it would not be approved on time. I took the PSY 100 exam and failed.
Honestly, it's hard to explain all of this, but I had to.

In August, my family doctor suggested that I see a therapist; because I was experiencing symptoms of anxiety and repeated panic attacks. The therapy was a big help because it was helpful for me to
talk about my problems and make plans. I was able to take a course for the fall term; which I think
is better than just letting it go completely. My plan is to take one course at a time until next year or
until I improve.


Thank you for your time and your considerations.

Dayana Deschamps