Petition Letter
To Whom It May Concern,
I am appealing to acquire Credit for DRAM200 (Fall/Winter Terms 2016), ENGL200 (Fall/Winter Terms 2016) and DRAM205 (Winter Term 2016) and to late drop ENGL290 (Winter Term 2016) and ENGL200 (Summer Term 2016).
I suffer from anxiety and depression, during the Winter Term I found myself struggling more than usual with these issues. During the Fall Term of 2016 I began seeing Sarah, a councillor on West Campus, specific to students of Concurrent Education; over the Winter Term, however, I was unable to book many appointments as she was very busy. I saw a few other councillors on main campus but nothing stuck. In addition, I was in an unfavourable housing situation by being both too far from campus and from having a very tense relationship with my landlady. I sought out medication and from Dr. Elizabeth Nguyen at Queen¿¿s University, was prescribed Sertraline. After about four or six weeks of seeing no real change in my academic performance I sought a different prescription and was given Effexor. I was incapable of attending classes due to my mental health, even with the medications, and as such suffered academically.
I understand it was irresponsible to think I could do a summer class after having been incapable of successfully finishing the last half of the school year, but after moving to a new housing situation I thought I might be able to successfully completely the ENGL200 Summer class. Unfortunately, a family emergency (which involved the near-death of an immediate family member) occurred forcing me to be home during the month of May and aggravated my mental health issues, keeping me from doing classwork. Later in the summer (from late June to mid-July) I upped my dosage of Effexor and experienced no positive effects. I went to the hospital for increased thoughts of suicide and spent a night in Kingston General Hospital after a near-attempt. During this time, I was incapable of completing my ENGL200 work as I was both bed-ridden and keeping myself from committing suicide.
As someone who takes their education quite seriously, I do not wish for anything like this to happen again. As such, I have moved into a new house closer to campus and with much more agreeable housemates (moved in as of April 31st, 2016); I am also taking a reduced class load this year and quite possibly for the rest of my academic career in order to lessen the anxiety I feel (in addition, I am also looking into the possibility of taking five years to complete my BA); I have changed my major/minor from an English/Drama Medial to a Drama major and English minor; I am looking into the possibility of new medication and joining a group-therapy session through Kingston General Hospital which would ideally give me access to a psychologist and better care. Hopefully with these different outlets for my mental health and new living situation I will be in a much better headspace and therefore able to return to my regular academic performance. As for why I did not send the appeal earlier in the summer ¿¿ or at the very least, earlier in August ¿¿ I was very much paralyzed with anxiety over contacting anyone about my problems, fearing no one would believe me or take me seriously. I would like to take the time now, at this end of this letter, to apologize for leaving it so last minute.
Sincerely,
Islay Burgess (Lindsey)
Concurrent Education (Drama Major, English Minor)
10156196
I am appealing to acquire Credit for DRAM200 (Fall/Winter Terms 2016), ENGL200 (Fall/Winter Terms 2016) and DRAM205 (Winter Term 2016) and to late drop ENGL290 (Winter Term 2016) and ENGL200 (Summer Term 2016).
I suffer from anxiety and depression, during the Winter Term I found myself struggling more than usual with these issues. During the Fall Term of 2016 I began seeing Sarah, a councillor on West Campus, specific to students of Concurrent Education; over the Winter Term, however, I was unable to book many appointments as she was very busy. I saw a few other councillors on main campus but nothing stuck. In addition, I was in an unfavourable housing situation by being both too far from campus and from having a very tense relationship with my landlady. I sought out medication and from Dr. Elizabeth Nguyen at Queen¿¿s University, was prescribed Sertraline. After about four or six weeks of seeing no real change in my academic performance I sought a different prescription and was given Effexor. I was incapable of attending classes due to my mental health, even with the medications, and as such suffered academically.
I understand it was irresponsible to think I could do a summer class after having been incapable of successfully finishing the last half of the school year, but after moving to a new housing situation I thought I might be able to successfully completely the ENGL200 Summer class. Unfortunately, a family emergency (which involved the near-death of an immediate family member) occurred forcing me to be home during the month of May and aggravated my mental health issues, keeping me from doing classwork. Later in the summer (from late June to mid-July) I upped my dosage of Effexor and experienced no positive effects. I went to the hospital for increased thoughts of suicide and spent a night in Kingston General Hospital after a near-attempt. During this time, I was incapable of completing my ENGL200 work as I was both bed-ridden and keeping myself from committing suicide.
As someone who takes their education quite seriously, I do not wish for anything like this to happen again. As such, I have moved into a new house closer to campus and with much more agreeable housemates (moved in as of April 31st, 2016); I am also taking a reduced class load this year and quite possibly for the rest of my academic career in order to lessen the anxiety I feel (in addition, I am also looking into the possibility of taking five years to complete my BA); I have changed my major/minor from an English/Drama Medial to a Drama major and English minor; I am looking into the possibility of new medication and joining a group-therapy session through Kingston General Hospital which would ideally give me access to a psychologist and better care. Hopefully with these different outlets for my mental health and new living situation I will be in a much better headspace and therefore able to return to my regular academic performance. As for why I did not send the appeal earlier in the summer ¿¿ or at the very least, earlier in August ¿¿ I was very much paralyzed with anxiety over contacting anyone about my problems, fearing no one would believe me or take me seriously. I would like to take the time now, at this end of this letter, to apologize for leaving it so last minute.
Sincerely,
Islay Burgess (Lindsey)
Concurrent Education (Drama Major, English Minor)
10156196