Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: The request:

I am appealing to late drop BIO 243 (Fall, 2021)

Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:
Sadly I have sustained several mental health problems that commenced in the last 2 weeks of the 2021 Fall semester, these complications were unlike anything I had experienced and took place after the passing of a close relative. Feeling out of choices, I seeked out to Queens Student Wellness Services for the first time, where I was provided much needed assistance and a short term accommodation which enabled me to defer any end of the year Assignments/ Exams- note, I chose to differ 3 of my Exams to write them at the beginning of the 2nd semester. Throughout the break I remained struggling and working on ways that I could feel better, such as adhering to a routine, reading and working out, in order to display any semblance of normality. However, when the first week of school arrived I became significantly busier having two exams and various applications to write, thus, after completing my work my mental health progress had taken a toll, lapsing to how I felt late November and early December period. Having to still write my BIO 243 (STAT) exam the following week, I chose to defer it, feeling incapable of reviewing the material while simultaneously having to begin a whole new semester. After reviewing the extent of how these dismal circumstances rendered my capacity to carry out school work such that, I incurred a nearly 10% grade drop in the last two weeks of class, simply because I was in no condition to properly complete the assigned work. Hence,I chose to appeal for a late drop, feeling that writing the exam would not be a prudent decision for my mental health and my academic standing. If my appeal is granted, I will take on summer classes that will alleviate my schedule for I to once again take BIO 243 in the 2022-2023 school year.

Future plan:
As I have experienced acute symptoms of a decaying mental health, I have reached out to counseling outside the school as well as within. At Queens I have reached out to an occupational therapist, who will help me develop skills to work with my learning disabilities alongside diverting from inflammatory tendencies. I have also reached out to peer support as well as Empower me, which have been both instrumental in my success. I understand change is slow but I do have the will to work on myself for I to feel able and willing once again.