Petition Letter
November 23, 2020
Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing this appeal letter requesting to drop POLS 261 (Fall, 2020) and SOCY 122 (Fall 2020/Winter 2021). I am submitting this appeal due to the fact that I missed the drop deadline by several days and am in dire need to drop these courses. I have had a delay in dropping as I have been working to submit several assignments, while struggling to meet the appeal deadline.
The extenuating circumstances directly affecting my academic performance began in early October when I started suffering from some mild depression and anxiety (in addition to my already struggling with my ADHD, for which I have academic accommodations. The depression and anxiety escalated over the course of the last two months leading me to feel more depressed, with increased anxiety and an inability to complete my coursework. This then developed into numerous panic attacks throughout the month of November.
In addition to rapidly deteriorating mental health I have also been having difficulty coping with the stress of COVID-19, which has made it more difficult for me to focus on the demands of school and the completion of course work. I have trouble focusing when there are not scheduled class times, when campus resources are not open and more available, and there are continued restrictions on daily life associated with COVID, which problems have now been continuing and escalating since March of 2019. In addition, my father is suffering from some serious health issues which started early in the fall which have continued throughout the fall semester. This has been a very stressful time within my immediate family, as well as with my life in Kingston, and has had a significant impact on my deteriorating mental state.
In regard to the courses I am appealing to drop, my ability to focus and to complete work due to mental health issues were at their worst around the time that I had major assignments due for these two courses. This put me in the position that I fear I am going to fail these courses. This anxiety is adding further to my negative mental health. Furthermore, the due dates for these assignments for these classes were well after the drop deadline on November 2nd, 2020. That is why I had not considered dropping these courses prior to the deadline.
Although I have not yet seen a healthcare professional, I have been in contact with my doctor and have now received references for therapists. As a result, I plan to start seeing a therapist to deal with my mental health issues as soon as they are able to start. I have already started to take steps to deal with my mental health as far as strategies to deal with panic attacks, as well as speaking to my parents to seek additional support. In addition to that I have come to the realization that the worse I do in regard to my academic progress the worse my mental state becomes.
I am now working on being more on top of my studies as a method of attempting to improve my mental health, including seeking additional support from my Academic Advisor. My plan for the future of my academics should this appeal be granted is to possibly take a lighter course load and to take classes more suited to my academic strengths as well as taking two courses in the spring session to make up for my lost credits should I be allowed to drop these two classes. It is my hope that I have provided sufficient information and cause to allow my appeal to be granted.
I will be submitting additional supporting documentation as I have it available, including a letter from my mother later this week.
Sincerely, Christian Sos
Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing this appeal letter requesting to drop POLS 261 (Fall, 2020) and SOCY 122 (Fall 2020/Winter 2021). I am submitting this appeal due to the fact that I missed the drop deadline by several days and am in dire need to drop these courses. I have had a delay in dropping as I have been working to submit several assignments, while struggling to meet the appeal deadline.
The extenuating circumstances directly affecting my academic performance began in early October when I started suffering from some mild depression and anxiety (in addition to my already struggling with my ADHD, for which I have academic accommodations. The depression and anxiety escalated over the course of the last two months leading me to feel more depressed, with increased anxiety and an inability to complete my coursework. This then developed into numerous panic attacks throughout the month of November.
In addition to rapidly deteriorating mental health I have also been having difficulty coping with the stress of COVID-19, which has made it more difficult for me to focus on the demands of school and the completion of course work. I have trouble focusing when there are not scheduled class times, when campus resources are not open and more available, and there are continued restrictions on daily life associated with COVID, which problems have now been continuing and escalating since March of 2019. In addition, my father is suffering from some serious health issues which started early in the fall which have continued throughout the fall semester. This has been a very stressful time within my immediate family, as well as with my life in Kingston, and has had a significant impact on my deteriorating mental state.
In regard to the courses I am appealing to drop, my ability to focus and to complete work due to mental health issues were at their worst around the time that I had major assignments due for these two courses. This put me in the position that I fear I am going to fail these courses. This anxiety is adding further to my negative mental health. Furthermore, the due dates for these assignments for these classes were well after the drop deadline on November 2nd, 2020. That is why I had not considered dropping these courses prior to the deadline.
Although I have not yet seen a healthcare professional, I have been in contact with my doctor and have now received references for therapists. As a result, I plan to start seeing a therapist to deal with my mental health issues as soon as they are able to start. I have already started to take steps to deal with my mental health as far as strategies to deal with panic attacks, as well as speaking to my parents to seek additional support. In addition to that I have come to the realization that the worse I do in regard to my academic progress the worse my mental state becomes.
I am now working on being more on top of my studies as a method of attempting to improve my mental health, including seeking additional support from my Academic Advisor. My plan for the future of my academics should this appeal be granted is to possibly take a lighter course load and to take classes more suited to my academic strengths as well as taking two courses in the spring session to make up for my lost credits should I be allowed to drop these two classes. It is my hope that I have provided sufficient information and cause to allow my appeal to be granted.
I will be submitting additional supporting documentation as I have it available, including a letter from my mother later this week.
Sincerely, Christian Sos