Petition Letter
March 19, 2019
Dear Associate Dean of The Faculty of Arts and Science,
I am appealing to have a late drop in ECON 212 (Fall, 2018), STAT 263 (Fall, 2018) and a credit standing in MATH 121 (Summer 2018), COMM 200 (Fall, 2018). In this letter, I will discuss the events that led to my circumstances and what I am doing to ensure success in the future.
Upon arriving at Queen¿¿s, I registered with SASS to receive accommodations for my ADHD and have been seeing a counselor at Queen¿¿s since August of 2017. My happiness and success were short-lived as on October 14th, 2017 I had experienced a devastating sexual violence incident that took place on my residence floor. It was one of the most difficult times in my life. I felt a loss of control, self-blame, embarrassment, and fear.
My Nona had also passed away a few days later October 19, 2017, making my emotional situation even worse. During this time, I sought support from the Peer Support Center, the counselors at Queens including Christina Ruggiero, Sexual Violence counselor Barbara Lotan, and was in contact with my professors via email with supporting documentation. The strongest emotion that translated into my academics was my loss of confidence and anxiety. It was very difficult for me to attend classes wondering if my classmates knew. This was difficult to overcome given my attacker had been spreading rumors about the incident.
May 2018, I realized my difficulties in academics were due to my mental health challenges. I saw Christina a few times from May ¿¿ July of 2018 to cope with my anxiety surrounding my ability to be productive and rebuilding my confidence. The process had not been easier or complete by Fall 2018. I should have dropped MATH121 earlier and taken MATH126 during the year, however, I felt as though it was better to push through rather than set myself further back academically. This was not the correct choice and my request to receive a credit standing in MATH121 is for this reason.
In the fall of 2018 I continued to work on my academic confidence despite the discouragement I was feeling in the summer. I was feeling optimistic about the courses I was taking in the fall. October 20th, 2018 a close friend of mine had a suicidal breakdown at 9 pm until 3 am. I was one of their main emotional supports to help talk through the sadness and pressure they had been experiencing. The next morning, I spent the day studying for 3 midterms I had: COMM200 and STATS263 both on October 22nd and ECON212 on the 23rd.
The morning of the 22nd I was informed that the same friend had been hospitalized for a more severe attack. I attempted to cast my emotions aside, wrote the exams despite having accommodations that state I should not have two exams scheduled for the same calendar day and went to the hospital around 7:30 pm that night. I was there until 11 pm, but before leaving, I was asked by the doctor to spend the night with them to support them. Due to the emotional exhaustion I experienced, the following morning I was forced to defer my 212 exam 48 hours. However, this only brought it closer to my LAW201 midterm and the due date of my POLS261 paper. I did my best but failed the ECON212 midterm.
Accumulated anxiety and fear had led me to have a mental breakdown on November 1st - 2nd 2018 which Christina had guided me through. This was due to the realization that my academic performance had prohibited me from going on exchange or completing the law certificate. I could not bring myself to drop ECON212 and STATS263 on time, so I would like to request a late drop in those two courses, and a credit standing (CR request in COMM200) for the fact that my accommodation was not met for the midterm.
This current semester I have taken on a lighter course load and registered for two online summer courses. I am continuing to seek counseling and have revisited Barbara Lotan to discuss further steps I can take to stop the student who hurt me from continuing to talk about the incident. In the Fall of 2019, I will be retaking ECON212 and ECON 250 and am determined to succeed. I hope to eventually take on a minor in politics, and complete the law certificate and explore my exchange option. Personal adjustments I have made have been accepting the fact that my undergrad may take longer than I was planning, seeking help more often with tutors and TA¿¿s, practicing meditation, and surrounding myself with loved ones rather than isolating myself.
Thank you for taking the time to read my appeal.
Regards,
Amanda Natalie Manti
Dear Associate Dean of The Faculty of Arts and Science,
I am appealing to have a late drop in ECON 212 (Fall, 2018), STAT 263 (Fall, 2018) and a credit standing in MATH 121 (Summer 2018), COMM 200 (Fall, 2018). In this letter, I will discuss the events that led to my circumstances and what I am doing to ensure success in the future.
Upon arriving at Queen¿¿s, I registered with SASS to receive accommodations for my ADHD and have been seeing a counselor at Queen¿¿s since August of 2017. My happiness and success were short-lived as on October 14th, 2017 I had experienced a devastating sexual violence incident that took place on my residence floor. It was one of the most difficult times in my life. I felt a loss of control, self-blame, embarrassment, and fear.
My Nona had also passed away a few days later October 19, 2017, making my emotional situation even worse. During this time, I sought support from the Peer Support Center, the counselors at Queens including Christina Ruggiero, Sexual Violence counselor Barbara Lotan, and was in contact with my professors via email with supporting documentation. The strongest emotion that translated into my academics was my loss of confidence and anxiety. It was very difficult for me to attend classes wondering if my classmates knew. This was difficult to overcome given my attacker had been spreading rumors about the incident.
May 2018, I realized my difficulties in academics were due to my mental health challenges. I saw Christina a few times from May ¿¿ July of 2018 to cope with my anxiety surrounding my ability to be productive and rebuilding my confidence. The process had not been easier or complete by Fall 2018. I should have dropped MATH121 earlier and taken MATH126 during the year, however, I felt as though it was better to push through rather than set myself further back academically. This was not the correct choice and my request to receive a credit standing in MATH121 is for this reason.
In the fall of 2018 I continued to work on my academic confidence despite the discouragement I was feeling in the summer. I was feeling optimistic about the courses I was taking in the fall. October 20th, 2018 a close friend of mine had a suicidal breakdown at 9 pm until 3 am. I was one of their main emotional supports to help talk through the sadness and pressure they had been experiencing. The next morning, I spent the day studying for 3 midterms I had: COMM200 and STATS263 both on October 22nd and ECON212 on the 23rd.
The morning of the 22nd I was informed that the same friend had been hospitalized for a more severe attack. I attempted to cast my emotions aside, wrote the exams despite having accommodations that state I should not have two exams scheduled for the same calendar day and went to the hospital around 7:30 pm that night. I was there until 11 pm, but before leaving, I was asked by the doctor to spend the night with them to support them. Due to the emotional exhaustion I experienced, the following morning I was forced to defer my 212 exam 48 hours. However, this only brought it closer to my LAW201 midterm and the due date of my POLS261 paper. I did my best but failed the ECON212 midterm.
Accumulated anxiety and fear had led me to have a mental breakdown on November 1st - 2nd 2018 which Christina had guided me through. This was due to the realization that my academic performance had prohibited me from going on exchange or completing the law certificate. I could not bring myself to drop ECON212 and STATS263 on time, so I would like to request a late drop in those two courses, and a credit standing (CR request in COMM200) for the fact that my accommodation was not met for the midterm.
This current semester I have taken on a lighter course load and registered for two online summer courses. I am continuing to seek counseling and have revisited Barbara Lotan to discuss further steps I can take to stop the student who hurt me from continuing to talk about the incident. In the Fall of 2019, I will be retaking ECON212 and ECON 250 and am determined to succeed. I hope to eventually take on a minor in politics, and complete the law certificate and explore my exchange option. Personal adjustments I have made have been accepting the fact that my undergrad may take longer than I was planning, seeking help more often with tutors and TA¿¿s, practicing meditation, and surrounding myself with loved ones rather than isolating myself.
Thank you for taking the time to read my appeal.
Regards,
Amanda Natalie Manti