Petition Letter
Dear Dean Bénard,
I am appealing to drop FILM 140 (Summer, 2016). I had chosen to take it on the premise that it began near the end of July, which would follow up with the end of another summer course I took, FRENCH 106, ending in late July. The fact is it started in mid-July and ended in mid-August. By the time that I realized the course was half-over without any of my input it was too late to drop the course or attempt to pass it. Therefore, I was not very surprised, but upset, when I checked my transcript earlier this fall to see that the course had a grade of F. If I¿¿d have only take the time to be more careful, I could have avoided the problem by dropping the course early on and avoided not noticing its commencement.
I admit, I had a rather difficult time this summer and that was partly why I have not been able to remind myself of a very important course load coming up. I was out of the country this summer to fill in a full-time co-op position, and because I was hoping for work load to be lighter in the school term I signed up for two summer courses as well. I thought I could handle the work load, and I still I think I could have, but throughout the summer there was also familial dispute between members of the family where I lived which greatly distressed me and I simply had to move out. The circumstances had me in the process of setting up internet connection for two weeks, which disrupted my focus on academic and work. I held email correspondence with my instructors for FILM 140 as soon as I realized my mistake (attached to this letter), and their advice to me was to drop the course. Naturally I was beyond the academic penalty deadline and I was not able to drop it or get a passing mark. Now I understand I should have sought for help sooner and communicated with advisers outside the department who would be more professionally trained to answer to dilemmas such as these (which I did not until early November to acquaint me with the process of appeal).
I love studying at Queen¿¿s and it would mean so much to me to give me a second chance, to allow me to continue to strive for excellence as I should have done as one of Queen¿¿s students. I have learned to weigh my abilities carefully to ensure I am not weighing myself with work that would be beyond what I can manage within the time frame; I will only take one summer course at most if I end up having to enter circumstances that would burden me outside of academics such as internship or family. I intend to meet regularly with academic/mental health advisers when possible to discuss if my course schedule that matches my abilities, academically or otherwise.
Please understand that the grade for that course does not indicate my ability as a student. I have always been looking to achieve the best grades for any courses I take, including FILM 140 if there was even the slightest possibility that I could pass the course rather than dropping it. I have performed very well in my other summer course FRENCH 106 (A+) because I was able to focus on that course, and I do believe my abilities would have also been applicable for FILM 140. I hope you will give me a second chance. Thank you for considering this appeal.
Sincerely,
Ashley Zhao
I am appealing to drop FILM 140 (Summer, 2016). I had chosen to take it on the premise that it began near the end of July, which would follow up with the end of another summer course I took, FRENCH 106, ending in late July. The fact is it started in mid-July and ended in mid-August. By the time that I realized the course was half-over without any of my input it was too late to drop the course or attempt to pass it. Therefore, I was not very surprised, but upset, when I checked my transcript earlier this fall to see that the course had a grade of F. If I¿¿d have only take the time to be more careful, I could have avoided the problem by dropping the course early on and avoided not noticing its commencement.
I admit, I had a rather difficult time this summer and that was partly why I have not been able to remind myself of a very important course load coming up. I was out of the country this summer to fill in a full-time co-op position, and because I was hoping for work load to be lighter in the school term I signed up for two summer courses as well. I thought I could handle the work load, and I still I think I could have, but throughout the summer there was also familial dispute between members of the family where I lived which greatly distressed me and I simply had to move out. The circumstances had me in the process of setting up internet connection for two weeks, which disrupted my focus on academic and work. I held email correspondence with my instructors for FILM 140 as soon as I realized my mistake (attached to this letter), and their advice to me was to drop the course. Naturally I was beyond the academic penalty deadline and I was not able to drop it or get a passing mark. Now I understand I should have sought for help sooner and communicated with advisers outside the department who would be more professionally trained to answer to dilemmas such as these (which I did not until early November to acquaint me with the process of appeal).
I love studying at Queen¿¿s and it would mean so much to me to give me a second chance, to allow me to continue to strive for excellence as I should have done as one of Queen¿¿s students. I have learned to weigh my abilities carefully to ensure I am not weighing myself with work that would be beyond what I can manage within the time frame; I will only take one summer course at most if I end up having to enter circumstances that would burden me outside of academics such as internship or family. I intend to meet regularly with academic/mental health advisers when possible to discuss if my course schedule that matches my abilities, academically or otherwise.
Please understand that the grade for that course does not indicate my ability as a student. I have always been looking to achieve the best grades for any courses I take, including FILM 140 if there was even the slightest possibility that I could pass the course rather than dropping it. I have performed very well in my other summer course FRENCH 106 (A+) because I was able to focus on that course, and I do believe my abilities would have also been applicable for FILM 140. I hope you will give me a second chance. Thank you for considering this appeal.
Sincerely,
Ashley Zhao