Petition Letter
To the Associate Dean of Studies,
I am appealing to waive the 21-day appeal deadlines for the Summer term of 2014 and the Summer term of 2015.
I am appealing because I have been experiencing psychological challenges that are beyond my control. I was formally diagnosed with depression in 2011, and continue to be heavily affected by it. I began seeing a psychologist in Kingston by the name of Dr. Catherine Leblanc during second semester of first year, and have been seeing her consistently since in an attempt to prevent my illness from impairing my ability to function. My symptoms include a low mood, constant fatigue, disordered sleep, low motivation, and problems concentrating. My illness has had a negative impact on my studies because it makes it extremely difficult to focus on any readings and assignments that need to be done, and also interferes with my ability to study for tests, midterms and final exams. My disordered sleep continues to make attending and being alert in classes difficult as well. I have not taken a full course load in the past three years of my studies in order to try to mitigate the negative impact of my illness on my academics. However, as a result it has been necessary for me to take courses in the summer terms in an attempt to keep up with the credits necessary for graduation.
In the summer of 2014, I tried to retake PSYC 370 online after being forced to drop it during the winter term due to my illness. However, I entered the summer term being extremely depressed and my condition deteriorated throughout the summer. This made completing my coursework nearly impossible and as a result of being unable to hand in important assignments, I received an F in the course despite my passing the exams. At this point it was late in the summer and I was extremely discouraged and overwhelmed. I was unable to address my academics until I was in a better state. This continued well into the next school year, and I spent the Fall term of 2014 struggling to keep up with my new courses and barely functioning. Ideally I would have been able to submit my appeal in the subsequent winter term, however I ended up having a fairly major hip surgery extremely early in the term and spent over 6 weeks on heavy painkillers recovering. My energy at that point was spent attempting to keep up with my winter courses, and I was still unable to file my appeal.
This brought me to the summer term of 2015; I once again felt like I had no option but to take a course in the summer in order to stay on track with graduating within 5 years. I chose to take BIOL 321 online. At the beginning of the summer I felt that I was in a slightly better state mentally and was hoping that I would be able to complete the course and earn the credit. Unfortunately, this was not the case. I learned that I needed a second hip surgery on my other hip, and spent the summer in a great deal of pain. The pain contributed to making my depressive symptoms worse, and my condition once again quickly deteriorated. Luckily, I was able to complete and pass all of my course work except for the final lab and two small discussion assignments before having my second hip surgery in August. I spent another 6 weeks rehabilitating, which cut into my fall term of studies.
Therefore, I am submitting a separate appeal for each summer term now, as it is the first time in an almost 2 year span where I have felt mentally capable and have not been recovering from a major surgery. Living with the effects of my depression, recovering from surgeries, and trying to keep up with current classes has been extremely difficult. I also still struggle to accept that idea that I need (and should accept) help regarding my academics as a result of my illness. In combination, these factors are the reason that I was not able to submit my appeals for a DR in PSYC 370 or for aegrotat standing in BIOL 321 within the 21-day deadlines.
Although I have had an extremely difficult time with my depression throughout my undergraduate studies, I continue to do my best to pursue treatment. I am currently taking medication and continue to go to psychotherapy. I have changed to a new antidepressant medication and am feeling much more myself, which luckily was reflected in my Fall term marks this year. I continue to be proactive and ask for help when I need it, and I remain optimistic that I will be able to graduate at the end of this year. I am committed to improving my well-being and I hope that this will ensure that I continue to function at a higher level in my current and future academic pursuits.
Sincerely,
Allison Hammond
I am appealing to waive the 21-day appeal deadlines for the Summer term of 2014 and the Summer term of 2015.
I am appealing because I have been experiencing psychological challenges that are beyond my control. I was formally diagnosed with depression in 2011, and continue to be heavily affected by it. I began seeing a psychologist in Kingston by the name of Dr. Catherine Leblanc during second semester of first year, and have been seeing her consistently since in an attempt to prevent my illness from impairing my ability to function. My symptoms include a low mood, constant fatigue, disordered sleep, low motivation, and problems concentrating. My illness has had a negative impact on my studies because it makes it extremely difficult to focus on any readings and assignments that need to be done, and also interferes with my ability to study for tests, midterms and final exams. My disordered sleep continues to make attending and being alert in classes difficult as well. I have not taken a full course load in the past three years of my studies in order to try to mitigate the negative impact of my illness on my academics. However, as a result it has been necessary for me to take courses in the summer terms in an attempt to keep up with the credits necessary for graduation.
In the summer of 2014, I tried to retake PSYC 370 online after being forced to drop it during the winter term due to my illness. However, I entered the summer term being extremely depressed and my condition deteriorated throughout the summer. This made completing my coursework nearly impossible and as a result of being unable to hand in important assignments, I received an F in the course despite my passing the exams. At this point it was late in the summer and I was extremely discouraged and overwhelmed. I was unable to address my academics until I was in a better state. This continued well into the next school year, and I spent the Fall term of 2014 struggling to keep up with my new courses and barely functioning. Ideally I would have been able to submit my appeal in the subsequent winter term, however I ended up having a fairly major hip surgery extremely early in the term and spent over 6 weeks on heavy painkillers recovering. My energy at that point was spent attempting to keep up with my winter courses, and I was still unable to file my appeal.
This brought me to the summer term of 2015; I once again felt like I had no option but to take a course in the summer in order to stay on track with graduating within 5 years. I chose to take BIOL 321 online. At the beginning of the summer I felt that I was in a slightly better state mentally and was hoping that I would be able to complete the course and earn the credit. Unfortunately, this was not the case. I learned that I needed a second hip surgery on my other hip, and spent the summer in a great deal of pain. The pain contributed to making my depressive symptoms worse, and my condition once again quickly deteriorated. Luckily, I was able to complete and pass all of my course work except for the final lab and two small discussion assignments before having my second hip surgery in August. I spent another 6 weeks rehabilitating, which cut into my fall term of studies.
Therefore, I am submitting a separate appeal for each summer term now, as it is the first time in an almost 2 year span where I have felt mentally capable and have not been recovering from a major surgery. Living with the effects of my depression, recovering from surgeries, and trying to keep up with current classes has been extremely difficult. I also still struggle to accept that idea that I need (and should accept) help regarding my academics as a result of my illness. In combination, these factors are the reason that I was not able to submit my appeals for a DR in PSYC 370 or for aegrotat standing in BIOL 321 within the 21-day deadlines.
Although I have had an extremely difficult time with my depression throughout my undergraduate studies, I continue to do my best to pursue treatment. I am currently taking medication and continue to go to psychotherapy. I have changed to a new antidepressant medication and am feeling much more myself, which luckily was reflected in my Fall term marks this year. I continue to be proactive and ask for help when I need it, and I remain optimistic that I will be able to graduate at the end of this year. I am committed to improving my well-being and I hope that this will ensure that I continue to function at a higher level in my current and future academic pursuits.
Sincerely,
Allison Hammond