Petition Letter
During my first year, I was faced with different challenges that created what some would call the perfect storm. My father had been struggling, in the past year, with a brain tumour and there were talks about an invasive surgery in the fall timeframe. It was exceptionally difficult for me because both my parents live in Egypt and I live alone in Canada. Being an only child I felt I had the responsibility to take care of my father, as my mother is busy taking care of my grandparents, especially my grandmother who has severe Alzheimer's. Increasing the pressure I felt about the situation, doctors said it would be an even more difficult surgery due to the position of the tumor and prior gamma knife surgery two years ago.
Unfortunately, my parents thought it would be more beneficial if they kept the surgery a secret from me, deciding not to tell me so that it would not affect my school work, specifically fall exams. That idea backfired, as I found out through my uncle that the surgery was not very successful. Even though the tumour was removed the surgeon damaged the 5th, 6th, and 7th nerves affecting my father's whole left side of his body. This did not just affect my father physically but psychologically as well, as he spiralled into severe depression due to the doctor not clearly outlining all the risks, saying that, The surgery is 95 successful and only 5 if the generator breaks down.Since the surgery, we've been fighting to get my father back on his feet, but it has been an uphill climb for all of us. While the tumor was removed we certainly don't consider the surgery a success.
Also making life difficult was the fact that I was constantly ill with either fever or colds. During reading week I had severe fever and was diagnosed by the La Salle Centre with Mononucleosis which lasted from midterms and through winter exams. To make matters worse I had severe tooth pain during exams for which I was prescribed codeine to deal with the pain and be able to focus on my exams. Clearly I was not at my best.
I believe that all the issues that occurred my first year significantly affected my academic performance overall and especially both physics and calculus. Those subjects require tremendous focus and time, both of which were affected by my situation. I am typically a very high achiever as can be seen by my high school grades, so it was very disappointing to me that I was not able to meet my own expectations my first year at university. I know that in the future I will regain my academic focus and excel at my studies as I am accustomed to do.
Thank you for your consideration of my request to change my letter grades in Physics and Calculus to a Credit Standing status. Please let me know if you have further questions about my situation. I would be happy to discuss anything further. Thank you, again.
Unfortunately, my parents thought it would be more beneficial if they kept the surgery a secret from me, deciding not to tell me so that it would not affect my school work, specifically fall exams. That idea backfired, as I found out through my uncle that the surgery was not very successful. Even though the tumour was removed the surgeon damaged the 5th, 6th, and 7th nerves affecting my father's whole left side of his body. This did not just affect my father physically but psychologically as well, as he spiralled into severe depression due to the doctor not clearly outlining all the risks, saying that, The surgery is 95 successful and only 5 if the generator breaks down.Since the surgery, we've been fighting to get my father back on his feet, but it has been an uphill climb for all of us. While the tumor was removed we certainly don't consider the surgery a success.
Also making life difficult was the fact that I was constantly ill with either fever or colds. During reading week I had severe fever and was diagnosed by the La Salle Centre with Mononucleosis which lasted from midterms and through winter exams. To make matters worse I had severe tooth pain during exams for which I was prescribed codeine to deal with the pain and be able to focus on my exams. Clearly I was not at my best.
I believe that all the issues that occurred my first year significantly affected my academic performance overall and especially both physics and calculus. Those subjects require tremendous focus and time, both of which were affected by my situation. I am typically a very high achiever as can be seen by my high school grades, so it was very disappointing to me that I was not able to meet my own expectations my first year at university. I know that in the future I will regain my academic focus and excel at my studies as I am accustomed to do.
Thank you for your consideration of my request to change my letter grades in Physics and Calculus to a Credit Standing status. Please let me know if you have further questions about my situation. I would be happy to discuss anything further. Thank you, again.