Petition Letter
21 February 2016
Dear Dr. Johanne Bénard,
My name is Zara Diab. I am an undergraduate student in my third year at Queen's University and I am working towards a BAH with a major in English Literature and a minor in Psychology. I am writing to appeal the 21-day appeal deadline, for a course that I took in second semester of last year (winter 2015), on the grounds that I experienced, and have been experiencing, serious extenuating circumstances that caused significant psychological distress.
I had been planning to appeal the grade in question since I received it because I received the poor grade due to other, unrelated significant circumstances that physically impaired me, and inhibited my ability to attend school or even simply study for three weeks during the duration of that course. During those three weeks, I was physically impaired - visually - and finally underwent a surgical procedure to fix the problem. I started attending classes and doing work again shortly before exams. I was able to pull through in my other courses because they are in my usual area of study, however the grade in question, ANAT 101, was an elective that did not count towards my major or minor, and therefore I was unfamiliar with the course material and my grade suffered. Due to the fact that I did not require that course for my degree, and the fact that I already had excess courses from taking a course in summer school, I decided it would benefit me to appeal the grade.
When I was planning to appeal the grade, I encountered another significantly distressing event. On June 3rd, I received an unexpected, but permanent, medical diagnosis. The shock and stress that I experienced at the time of the diagnosis, and since then, has put me under serious psychological distress. I found myself unable to focus on anything because my mind was consumed by the stress of the diagnosis and this sudden problem ate up a lot of my time and energy.
Due to this second, more permanent, medical problem, I did not do very well in this past semester (fall 2015), either. An Academic Advisor recommended that I also apply for Credit Standing in one of my half-year courses (PSYC 205), which I did abnormally poor on, from this past semester on the grounds of my psychological distress.
The majority of the courses I took this year are full-year courses, so I hope to get back on my feet, and finish with good grades. I have been visiting a psychiatrist who is helping my mental state a lot, and I am actively seeking positive and constructive outlets to minimize the stress, and maximize productivity, once more.
Although unrelated, both medical circumstances proved to be significantly debilitating to my physical and mental abilities, and interfered with my academics. I care deeply about my academic life, and do not want it or my GPA to suffer because of unfortunate circumstances that I had no control over.
I appreciate, and thank you for, your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Zara Diab
Dear Dr. Johanne Bénard,
My name is Zara Diab. I am an undergraduate student in my third year at Queen's University and I am working towards a BAH with a major in English Literature and a minor in Psychology. I am writing to appeal the 21-day appeal deadline, for a course that I took in second semester of last year (winter 2015), on the grounds that I experienced, and have been experiencing, serious extenuating circumstances that caused significant psychological distress.
I had been planning to appeal the grade in question since I received it because I received the poor grade due to other, unrelated significant circumstances that physically impaired me, and inhibited my ability to attend school or even simply study for three weeks during the duration of that course. During those three weeks, I was physically impaired - visually - and finally underwent a surgical procedure to fix the problem. I started attending classes and doing work again shortly before exams. I was able to pull through in my other courses because they are in my usual area of study, however the grade in question, ANAT 101, was an elective that did not count towards my major or minor, and therefore I was unfamiliar with the course material and my grade suffered. Due to the fact that I did not require that course for my degree, and the fact that I already had excess courses from taking a course in summer school, I decided it would benefit me to appeal the grade.
When I was planning to appeal the grade, I encountered another significantly distressing event. On June 3rd, I received an unexpected, but permanent, medical diagnosis. The shock and stress that I experienced at the time of the diagnosis, and since then, has put me under serious psychological distress. I found myself unable to focus on anything because my mind was consumed by the stress of the diagnosis and this sudden problem ate up a lot of my time and energy.
Due to this second, more permanent, medical problem, I did not do very well in this past semester (fall 2015), either. An Academic Advisor recommended that I also apply for Credit Standing in one of my half-year courses (PSYC 205), which I did abnormally poor on, from this past semester on the grounds of my psychological distress.
The majority of the courses I took this year are full-year courses, so I hope to get back on my feet, and finish with good grades. I have been visiting a psychiatrist who is helping my mental state a lot, and I am actively seeking positive and constructive outlets to minimize the stress, and maximize productivity, once more.
Although unrelated, both medical circumstances proved to be significantly debilitating to my physical and mental abilities, and interfered with my academics. I care deeply about my academic life, and do not want it or my GPA to suffer because of unfortunate circumstances that I had no control over.
I appreciate, and thank you for, your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Zara Diab