Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I would like to submit this appeal to drop BIOL 102 for your consideration. I realize that this submission is occurring after the deadline to drop fall courses of November 1, 2021. It was not my intent to drop this course until very recently which is why I am regretfully approaching you now with this request. I have made many efforts to maintain my health during this semester, including visits with the OT on campus, attempting to schedule an appointment with the campus psychiatrist, and have had virtual visits with my family physician.
I have Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensitivity registrations, anxiety, OCD and panic disorder. Periodically my mental health escalates, incapacitating me from daily function. I have worked very hard to try to avoid this from happening during this semester, however, my sleep pattern has been exceptionally poor and worsening, resulting in no more than 2 -3 hours per day. This has greatly impacted my ability to focus, altered my thoughts negatively and changed my typical eating patterns and routines. I currently find myself unable to leave my room without great effort, and am worried about eating items from the Queens Dining hall as I feel I can become sick from the poor cleanliness identified earlier in the term. I have trouble focusing for long periods and am so tired that sometimes I cannot move and just getting to the lecture halls feels like an impossible feat. I have had several panic attacks over the past weeks, during which I am challenged to breathe and have had to call the Mental Health Helpline, as I have not been able to gather a support group to help me through these and was ashamed to inform those around me of my struggles and inability to cope.
I do not feel like myself, I am physically and mentally exhausted and exasperated. I am worried that my health will worsen and that I may not be able to recover should I stay here. After my conversation with the hotline counsellor, I promised to reach out to my parents and when I did, a virtual visit was scheduled urgently with my mother and my therapist, who has been my provider since my hospitalization a couple of years ago. It was decided during this meeting that it is best to return home as soon as possible to try to prevent further worsening of my situation.
I sincerely wished and hoped that I could have completed a degree from Queens, but this does not seem likely. When I return home, I will have to see my psychiatrist to adjust my medication dosages, and commence weekly therapy to help me with what my therapist believes is the onset of depression. Once I am in a better place, I believe I will have to re-attempt my studies while living at home, near my support persons, familiar environment and family.
I hope you will consider what I have written, acknowledge that I made an effort to complete my semester and grant my appeal to drop the BIOL102 course I am currently enrolled in.