Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Letter of Appeal

I am seeking to appeal HIST 106: Modern Europe CLST 131: Intro to Archaeology II and HIST 108: Early Globalization, from my first semester. During the period I took these courses, September to December, I suffered significant obstructions to my academic ability and general well being. I struggle severely with a learning disability and mental health issues for which I am seeking in depth professional treatment. I did not have accommodations for these conditions. I was diagnosed with Dysthymia, a chronic depressive disorder, in 2016. As a result of my mental illness, I experience near constant low self esteem, as well as persistently low energy, impaired concentration and decisiveness, and difficulties with mood regulation. Throughout the time of these courses, my mental health worsened acutely and I experienced heightened symptoms. My condition was compounded by the rough transition into residence, where I no longer had the full time support of my parents and was disconnected from my previous friend group. I struggled to even get out of bed, to eat, to shower, to do laundry. I went days eating nothing. I felt completely hopeless and lost interest in life. Everything to do with living felt like work, so much so that doing even the bare minimum to take care of myself was an insurmountable challenge. At my worst, the time in which I took these courses, all I could think about everyday and every five minutes was how badly I didn??t want to exist. My favourite activity was fantasizing about disappearing and my existence dissolving into nothingness. Every night I dreaded waking up and having to be a person and do anything at all. The highlight of my day was lying in bed and imagining that my reality was actually a long and elaborate farce, and that I could will the atoms of my body to part and drift away. I also experienced an episode of self harm during this time. My disability, ADHD-PI, further negatively impacted my academic performance and exacerbated the difficulties with my mental health. I was diagnosed with ADHD-PI, an attention-concentration deficit with intensive attention and fatigue symptoms, in 2016. For this I was prescribed Vyvanse. Because of this condition, I struggle with sustaining attention and concentration on tasks, remembering important details, time management and organization. As per these afflictions, I had considerable difficulties with starting and finishing assignments. After facing these difficulties, I had a meeting with Student Wellness Services and am in contact with a psychiatrist.
Furthermore, the structure of the courses also contributed to my lack of success. I was unaccustomed to the importance placed on a small number of assessments. I immeasurably regret the outcomes of these courses. I am dedicated to coping with my conditions and striving towards increased academic success.