Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Stephenson,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to request your consideration for a late course drop of PSYC100 from Summer 2024 due to ongoing extenuating circumstances stemming from my father's passing after a strenuous battle with pancreatic cancer in November 2023. My father, Kevin Connolly, passed away on November 13th, 2023, an event that has truly impacted my academic journey. As my father's only child, I experienced our relationship as uniquely close and irreplaceable. His passing created a void that significantly impacted my ability to maintain my academic focus throughout Fall 2023, leading me to temporarily step back from my academics. Prior to his passing, I had already made plans to retake PSYC100 in Summer 2024 to improve upon my previous C grade. I maintained this plan, holding my position in the course and believing that the short period between his death and the summer term would provide sufficient time to process my grief and manage my academic responsibilities effectively. It was also greatly driven by my desire to continue moving forward with my studies, something that had always been so important in our conversations together.
Having never experienced such a loss before, I failed to anticipate how deeply it would affect my academic abilities, especially in conjunction with my pre-existing issues with ADHD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety. While I successfully completed RELS131, PSYC100 presented challenges I couldn't overcome despite my best efforts. My extensive coursework in political studies and history had equipped me with strong writing skills that served me well in RELS131's essay based assessments. Yet PSYC100, with its compressed summer schedule, required a fundamentally different approach to learning--one that proved increasingly difficult to maintain as I continued to process my grief while managing my other conditions.
This accelerated pace meant covering the same volume of material in half the time, requiring intensive focus on scientific concepts and statistical information. While both courses presented challenges during my period of grief, RELS131 and PSYC100 differed significantly in their ability to accommodate my circumstances. RELS131's humanities based approach not only offered more flexible ways to engage with the material, but the instructor's willingness to grant extensions and adjust deadlines allowed me to manage the coursework alongside my personal challenges. In contrast, PSYC100's strict timeline and focus on scientific methodology required unwavering attention and regular progress that I simply couldn't maintain while grieving.
In response to these challenges, I have actively sought support through grief counseling at Wellspring, the cancer institution where my father received care, alongside individual therapy with Dr. Caroline Kiss. These support systems have helped me better understand how grief affects cognitive function and academic performance. Moving forward, I am committed to working closely with academic advisors, as well as Caitlin Bruce (my accessibility advisor) to create a more balanced and realistic course load that takes into account both the nature of different courses and their scheduling demands. I am currently progressing through my third year, during which I have implemented several effective academic strategies. These include maintaining consistent engagement through active participation in lectures, building strong relationships with instructors through regular attendance at professor and TA office hours, and developing a carefully structured daily routine. This routine not only supports my academic commitments but also incorporates dedicated time for processing grief-related emotions, ensuring I can approach my studies with clarity and focus while honouring my need for emotional well-being.
I have attached supporting documentation including confirmation of my father's passing from November 2023, his obituary, documentation from my mental health professional regarding its ongoing impact on my mental health, and a letter from his attending nurse at the time of his passing.
I deeply appreciate your consideration of these circumstances and am committed to making more informed decisions about my academic engagement moving forward. This experience has taught me many valuable lessons about recognizing my limits, and seeking appropriate support when needed.
Sincerely,
Cassandra Marciano-Connolly
20289876
BAH Political Studies, History
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to request your consideration for a late course drop of PSYC100 from Summer 2024 due to ongoing extenuating circumstances stemming from my father's passing after a strenuous battle with pancreatic cancer in November 2023. My father, Kevin Connolly, passed away on November 13th, 2023, an event that has truly impacted my academic journey. As my father's only child, I experienced our relationship as uniquely close and irreplaceable. His passing created a void that significantly impacted my ability to maintain my academic focus throughout Fall 2023, leading me to temporarily step back from my academics. Prior to his passing, I had already made plans to retake PSYC100 in Summer 2024 to improve upon my previous C grade. I maintained this plan, holding my position in the course and believing that the short period between his death and the summer term would provide sufficient time to process my grief and manage my academic responsibilities effectively. It was also greatly driven by my desire to continue moving forward with my studies, something that had always been so important in our conversations together.
Having never experienced such a loss before, I failed to anticipate how deeply it would affect my academic abilities, especially in conjunction with my pre-existing issues with ADHD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety. While I successfully completed RELS131, PSYC100 presented challenges I couldn't overcome despite my best efforts. My extensive coursework in political studies and history had equipped me with strong writing skills that served me well in RELS131's essay based assessments. Yet PSYC100, with its compressed summer schedule, required a fundamentally different approach to learning--one that proved increasingly difficult to maintain as I continued to process my grief while managing my other conditions.
This accelerated pace meant covering the same volume of material in half the time, requiring intensive focus on scientific concepts and statistical information. While both courses presented challenges during my period of grief, RELS131 and PSYC100 differed significantly in their ability to accommodate my circumstances. RELS131's humanities based approach not only offered more flexible ways to engage with the material, but the instructor's willingness to grant extensions and adjust deadlines allowed me to manage the coursework alongside my personal challenges. In contrast, PSYC100's strict timeline and focus on scientific methodology required unwavering attention and regular progress that I simply couldn't maintain while grieving.
In response to these challenges, I have actively sought support through grief counseling at Wellspring, the cancer institution where my father received care, alongside individual therapy with Dr. Caroline Kiss. These support systems have helped me better understand how grief affects cognitive function and academic performance. Moving forward, I am committed to working closely with academic advisors, as well as Caitlin Bruce (my accessibility advisor) to create a more balanced and realistic course load that takes into account both the nature of different courses and their scheduling demands. I am currently progressing through my third year, during which I have implemented several effective academic strategies. These include maintaining consistent engagement through active participation in lectures, building strong relationships with instructors through regular attendance at professor and TA office hours, and developing a carefully structured daily routine. This routine not only supports my academic commitments but also incorporates dedicated time for processing grief-related emotions, ensuring I can approach my studies with clarity and focus while honouring my need for emotional well-being.
I have attached supporting documentation including confirmation of my father's passing from November 2023, his obituary, documentation from my mental health professional regarding its ongoing impact on my mental health, and a letter from his attending nurse at the time of his passing.
I deeply appreciate your consideration of these circumstances and am committed to making more informed decisions about my academic engagement moving forward. This experience has taught me many valuable lessons about recognizing my limits, and seeking appropriate support when needed.
Sincerely,
Cassandra Marciano-Connolly
20289876
BAH Political Studies, History