Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Atkinson,
I am appealing to write my PHGY210 exam at a later date than December 31st, 2017. I took PHGY210 as a Summer 2017 course, and had my exam deferred to December 8th due to mental illness. However, during Fall 2017 my mental illnesses presented as an ongoing struggle. I suffer from both major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and have been in the process (and am still in the process) of determining the appropriate treatment with my doctor and psychologist. This affected my academic ability in various ways: trouble focusing and concentrating, frequent emotional breakdowns, low motivation, and inability to function in everyday activities.
In addition to my mental health struggles, I have had to deal with various other extenuating circumstances this semester. My grandmother, whom I am very close with, has been suffering from an inoperable aortal dissection, and is currently in palliative care and living in house in Brampton. This situation has had large emotional, physical, and financial strain on my entire family. During the Fall semester, I frequently travelled home on the weekends to visit with my Nana and be with my family. The stressful and emotional environment of being home added to my personal struggles. Additionally, even while I was in Kingston, I experienced the stressful and emotional nature of the situation. While in the hospital, my grandmother also suffered from a severe case of pneumonia (which is especially dangerous for her because she received a double lung transplant 7 years ago). At this time, she was delusional and experiencing symptoms of dementia. The doctors at Toronto General were not sure what was happening and my family was constantly receiving new diagnoses and false updates, which were translated back to me in Kingston. This uncertainty and insecurity was emotionally draining and contributed to initiating symptoms of my depression and anxiety. While my grandmother was in the hospital, my grandfather suffered a heart attack. Additionally, on the same day, the verdict for the murder of one of my best friends was announced and the defendant was determined not guilty. My friend Jeremy Cook was murdered on June 14th, 2015. The case was covered heavily by the media, so there are many online news articles if more details are needed. Although I did take time to grieve, this is something that still undoubtedly has an effect on my mental health.
I attempted to work on my PHGY210 course throughout the Fall semester, but my mental illnesses and these additional circumstances have made it difficult to even keep up with my immediate responsibilities (i.e. current coursework). Through most of the month of December I was experiencing a depressive episode which made it extremely difficult to function, and thus, I had to defer all of my Fall term exams. I am realizing now that the deadline to for this appeal may have been December 31st. The reason that I am submitting this appeal late is because I have been experiencing a depressive episode. I have been working hard on things as seemingly simple as getting out of bed and preparing myself a meal. Addressing my academic situation has seemed incredibly out of reach over this last month. I am only now slowly beginning to feel myself come out of this episode and thus feel capable to be writing this letter. For this reason, I hope that you are able to waive the 21-day deadline.
I plan on returning to Queen¿¿s for the Winter 2018 semester as a part time student so that I can focus on my mental health, while also preparing to complete my Fall 2017 exams to the best of my ability in the April.
For these reasons, I am requesting that my PHGY210 exam be deferred to April 2018.
I appreciate your time and your support.
Sincerely,
Baylee Balfour
I am appealing to write my PHGY210 exam at a later date than December 31st, 2017. I took PHGY210 as a Summer 2017 course, and had my exam deferred to December 8th due to mental illness. However, during Fall 2017 my mental illnesses presented as an ongoing struggle. I suffer from both major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and have been in the process (and am still in the process) of determining the appropriate treatment with my doctor and psychologist. This affected my academic ability in various ways: trouble focusing and concentrating, frequent emotional breakdowns, low motivation, and inability to function in everyday activities.
In addition to my mental health struggles, I have had to deal with various other extenuating circumstances this semester. My grandmother, whom I am very close with, has been suffering from an inoperable aortal dissection, and is currently in palliative care and living in house in Brampton. This situation has had large emotional, physical, and financial strain on my entire family. During the Fall semester, I frequently travelled home on the weekends to visit with my Nana and be with my family. The stressful and emotional environment of being home added to my personal struggles. Additionally, even while I was in Kingston, I experienced the stressful and emotional nature of the situation. While in the hospital, my grandmother also suffered from a severe case of pneumonia (which is especially dangerous for her because she received a double lung transplant 7 years ago). At this time, she was delusional and experiencing symptoms of dementia. The doctors at Toronto General were not sure what was happening and my family was constantly receiving new diagnoses and false updates, which were translated back to me in Kingston. This uncertainty and insecurity was emotionally draining and contributed to initiating symptoms of my depression and anxiety. While my grandmother was in the hospital, my grandfather suffered a heart attack. Additionally, on the same day, the verdict for the murder of one of my best friends was announced and the defendant was determined not guilty. My friend Jeremy Cook was murdered on June 14th, 2015. The case was covered heavily by the media, so there are many online news articles if more details are needed. Although I did take time to grieve, this is something that still undoubtedly has an effect on my mental health.
I attempted to work on my PHGY210 course throughout the Fall semester, but my mental illnesses and these additional circumstances have made it difficult to even keep up with my immediate responsibilities (i.e. current coursework). Through most of the month of December I was experiencing a depressive episode which made it extremely difficult to function, and thus, I had to defer all of my Fall term exams. I am realizing now that the deadline to for this appeal may have been December 31st. The reason that I am submitting this appeal late is because I have been experiencing a depressive episode. I have been working hard on things as seemingly simple as getting out of bed and preparing myself a meal. Addressing my academic situation has seemed incredibly out of reach over this last month. I am only now slowly beginning to feel myself come out of this episode and thus feel capable to be writing this letter. For this reason, I hope that you are able to waive the 21-day deadline.
I plan on returning to Queen¿¿s for the Winter 2018 semester as a part time student so that I can focus on my mental health, while also preparing to complete my Fall 2017 exams to the best of my ability in the April.
For these reasons, I am requesting that my PHGY210 exam be deferred to April 2018.
I appreciate your time and your support.
Sincerely,
Baylee Balfour