Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,

My name is Holden Berry and I am writing this appeal in order to drop the following classes, Math 126 (Fall/Winter Semester), Econ 250, and a CR in the course Econ 231. Unfortunately this last September my father was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers, news that really hit hard and out of nowhere. I would be lying if I said it didn't impact me on more than just one level. When I was informed about my Father's condition it was on the ride up to school in September with my Mother and upon hearing the news I told her I didn't have it in me to go to school like this, I felt that I was abandoning him and my other siblings by not being with them and that I needed to be at home and not up at school. Due to the wishes of my parents I came regardless and I was determined to give everything I had towards my studies. However, I simply could not get the ball moving on early on these courses and wasn't able to get everything clicking the way I wanted to in terms of my marks. This fall was the the hardest, loneliest fall I've ever had to deal with, due to my father's high status in his company (which he is slowly working his way out of) I was unable to talk to anyone about what I was going through, and I couldn't handle it. Physically nothing looked wrong to outsiders, but mentally I couldn't take it and as much as I wanted to excel I couldn't grasp anything at all and my marks in these courses really fell as a result.


Traditionally quite simply put I am not and have not been a good exam/test taker, I have rarely been and I have been trying my very best since I have gotten to Queens to change that and that is something I do struggle with dearly as long as I can remember. In order to combat this I have gotten in touch with the learning studies here at Queens thanks to my meeting with Mrs. Haley Everson. I know that by taking the equivalent course Math 121 offered in the summer at home I know I can put all my effort into it as I really want to do well in this and don't take this lightly. This semester I have been doing everything that i possibly can to ensure that I can prove that I do have what it takes in my other classes, unfortunately because Math 126 is a full year course I am fearful that I would even be able to salvage that mark at this point. In regards to Math 126, It was my intention to wait to see how my marks were going to be in this prior to the last test (the week before reading week), however I subsequently did not as I was side tracked when I got back from reading week with other work and missed the all important deadline. As a result my marks suffered in the class and by the time I reached out to a tutor to get help before the winter break i found while I have found it has helped in some aspects I am still not always able to understand it all as I would like. I have really tried to stay on top of all my web work this semester however I am not always ending up at the right answer and thus missing out on marks. I am trying to pull myself back up but I feel that if I potentially do fail this course then I will be placed on academic probation, or to take a year off.


I know I am past the drop date for these courses, however I was wondering if by chance I could drop this course in order to pick up the summer version and fully turn my attention to it there. My family has never gone away on any sort of vacation, however when this news broke we took our first family trip over reading week, to Jamaica. My younger sisters got taken out of school, my older brother got time off work and so did my dad and it was a trip I can and will never forget. When I was on that trip I didn't have to think about anything else in the world, I just got to spend time with my dad, and make memories with him while he still can and needless to say I didn't exactly have school on my mind while with them all. Upon getting back in Canada I was so caught up in work, and looking for work for the summer that I lost track of time and subsequently the drop date. I have reached out to my academic advisor for Economics (my program), in addition to meeting with Mrs. Haley Everson and several other offices and I understand that appeals are not often granted, that being said I am asking you to please reconsider as I want to do well here at Queens. I want to be someone, I want to do something important with my life and I know I haven't helped myself in regards to this semester and the track record might not be there to show it, but I can promise that should I be granted this appeal I will do just that.



Thank you for taking the time to read my letter,


Respectfully,


Holden Berry