Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,
My name is Madeleine Smith. I am going into my fourth year as a Media and Performance Production student, and I am also completing the Certificate of Business. I pride myself on being an engaged and accomplished student, and I am extremely proud of my ability to achieve my academic goals despite obstacles such as COVID, mental health, and personal challenges.
This summer, I chose to stay in Kingston to engage with the community and opportunities to further my career and learning. I have worked three jobs over the course of the summer, taking on financial strains, time constraints, and other stresses that have impacted my ability to perform in one of my summer classes, CLST205 ?? Ancient Humour.
I understand the importance of discussing my circumstances for this appeal to be granted. I am not someone who lets my personal circumstances or mental health to impact my academic performance, so this is an unusual circumstance for me. I am wanting to drop the course in question not because I simply bit off more than I could chew, but rather that I convinced myself I could handle factors beyond my control that I could not.
My extended family has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction since before I was born. I am the oldest of three, and have two younger brothers, one of whom is on the Autism spectrum. Despite my parents?? best efforts to shield me from the scary realities of addiction in my family, I have been acting as a protector to them and my brothers since childhood.
In early June, I was performing well in CLST205, achieving a 90% on my first assignment. Shortly after, I visited my home in Toronto and went to visit my grandfather, and upon arrival at his home, I found that he had relapsed, fallen down the stairs and through glass. He had lost dangerous amounts of blood, and the scene was gruesome. I called for medical assistance and he was hospitalized. When in the hospital, he was in withdrawal and hallucinating, and said things to my mother and myself along the lines of suggesting I have no place on this earth and that I am a disappointment.
I returned to Kingston and threw myself into my work as a form of coping with my feelings of the circumstance I had just gone through. I was able to stay afloat at my internship but burnt myself our by not seeking help. I received a 68% on the second assignment I submitted for CLST205 and felt that what my grandfather had told me had some truth to it. Shortly after I became depressed, my GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) worsened, and I withdrew from my schoolwork, friends, and family.
The issues with my family are an ongoing struggle, but I have managed since to get myself back on track with my busy work schedule, balancing work and recharge time. I am happy with my performance so far in my other summer class, WRIT140, and am looking forward to my fourth year. I have also since discussed with my parents how I can distance myself from my relatives and understand addiction while healing from all I have witnessed.
Again, I am not a student who ever felt like I would need to drop a course soon before it closes because I withdrew from it, but I did. I am trying to give myself patience and grace as I navigate the hardships of life that keep popping up, independence, and achieving my goals. In this appeal, I am simply asking for a fresh start.
I thank you in advance for your understanding and appreciate the time you have spent to read over my letter and consider this decision. I eagerly await your decision, and I hope I am grateful enough to receive this help as I continue to seek my own.
, Madeleine Smith