Petition Letter
To whom it may concern:
I've had a difficult time mentally this academic year. I've struggled with more severe anxiety and depression than the previous years and therefore have seen my academic performance deteriorate month by month. I have found it extremely difficult to complete course work on time and focus most of the time as my depression often gives me brain fog. In the first semester, I powered through and tried to keep my head above water although I was having daily panic attacks relating directly to the fact that I was performing poorly in my classes. My anxiety is triggered by my extreme fear of failure therefore I was stuck in a viscous circle of anxiety and depression. Early in the year I even petitioned to have a grade from the Fall 2022 semester removed from my transcripts because it was a reflection of this anxiety. I was denied which then led me to spiral even further. I came to the realization that no matter the amount of effort I was putting, my mental health was not stable or strong enough to take on failure, rejection and the pressures that I felt taking my courses. In early March 2023 I dropped two courses to allow myself some breathing room to try to attempt to complete ENGL 100 AND ENGL 200 successfully however currently I am really struggling with my mental health to the point where It takes me days and weeks to gather my thoughts properly to do coursework. I acknowledge my privilege to be able to pursue a higher education and I am extremely grateful for that opportunity which is why i'm asking for permission to withdraw out of ENGL100 & ENGL200. I want to feel confident and proud of the work that i'm doing in my academic journey and at the moment, I am unable to do so. Seeing as how i'm performing so poorly I anticipate to be academically dismissed if I stay enrolled in these courses. I would prefer to withdraw on my own terms than to get academically dismissed for my poor performance. I understand that this is not ideal but would appreciate the consideration.
I've had a difficult time mentally this academic year. I've struggled with more severe anxiety and depression than the previous years and therefore have seen my academic performance deteriorate month by month. I have found it extremely difficult to complete course work on time and focus most of the time as my depression often gives me brain fog. In the first semester, I powered through and tried to keep my head above water although I was having daily panic attacks relating directly to the fact that I was performing poorly in my classes. My anxiety is triggered by my extreme fear of failure therefore I was stuck in a viscous circle of anxiety and depression. Early in the year I even petitioned to have a grade from the Fall 2022 semester removed from my transcripts because it was a reflection of this anxiety. I was denied which then led me to spiral even further. I came to the realization that no matter the amount of effort I was putting, my mental health was not stable or strong enough to take on failure, rejection and the pressures that I felt taking my courses. In early March 2023 I dropped two courses to allow myself some breathing room to try to attempt to complete ENGL 100 AND ENGL 200 successfully however currently I am really struggling with my mental health to the point where It takes me days and weeks to gather my thoughts properly to do coursework. I acknowledge my privilege to be able to pursue a higher education and I am extremely grateful for that opportunity which is why i'm asking for permission to withdraw out of ENGL100 & ENGL200. I want to feel confident and proud of the work that i'm doing in my academic journey and at the moment, I am unable to do so. Seeing as how i'm performing so poorly I anticipate to be academically dismissed if I stay enrolled in these courses. I would prefer to withdraw on my own terms than to get academically dismissed for my poor performance. I understand that this is not ideal but would appreciate the consideration.