Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello,

I am writing to you regarding the potential to drop my HIST 242 course. I am a Sociology Major and Psychology Minor and do not believe this course is contributing to either my future academic or professional career. I have been struggling with depression and anxiety since I was 14 and have been on and off medication and therapy to alleviate my diagnosis. My symptoms have been indisputably exacerbated by the university environment from both an academic and social perspective. Even with academic consideration, I find myself struggling with my courseload - especially that which is not integral to my degree. Due to a mental health scare early in the semester, I was unable to complete this first assignment which set the precedent for the subsequent course of action pertaining to HIST 242. I am also taking some of the most challenging core courses for my major and minor. These classes have been extremely time-consuming, lowering my GPA average and detrimental to my self-confidence in both an academic and personal sense. I have been trying to prioritize these fundamental courses, and in turn, have fallen behind in HIST 242. I got covid while home in BC during reading week, and due to my impaired immune system I got extremely ill and have been consistently sick since then - making me unable to attend most of my in-person classes where I learn best. Being sick and separated from school and social environments compounded with a challenging workload, I am the most anxious I have ever been. I feel the requirement to get back on antidepressant/antianxiety medication, which has given me adverse effects in the past and which I know will happen again. This worries me as I am about to take an exam for this course, and the courses pertaining to my major and minor - but I simply do not know what else to do. I'm spiraling and HIST 242 is a major contributing factor. My main academic concern regarding this class is that I have to maintain a certain average to keep my spot for international exchange in Leeds next year. I believe this my mark in this elective class will jeopardize this position while concurrently sending me into psychosis. I know that sounds overly dramatic, but it is how I'm feeling. I'm aware my current state is a result of an amalgam of factors in these past few months, but I'm using HIST 242 as a scapegoat because it is the most glaring issue in my life right now. I feel the obligation to focus on my core courses and feel as though I do not have the time or mental capacity to finish HIST 242. Exam season gives me unprecedented amounts of depression and anxiety, and this time last semester I nearly institutionalized myself. Instead of doing that, I got in contact with QSAS for emergency counseling and had to get my exams deferred and return to BC a few weeks early. I do not want to go through that process again and am trying to prevent the development of that mindset and its coinciding events. As I won't be receiving credit for this course if successfully dropped, I realize I will have to do either a summer course or take 6 classes in a semester. I am beyond willing to do this, as I believe I will do better when I am in a stable mindset and learning materials that are prevalent to my future. Regarding my mental health, I often find myself on helplines and using apps on my phone to try to curb my stress levels. I have also used Queen's Student Accessibility Services for counseling multiple times both this semester and last. That being said, I realize I need to get consistent professional help so I will book QSAS appointments for the rest of April and reconnect with my therapist in BC. I will submit a doctor's note and my prescription.