Petition Letter
Letter of Academic Appeal
Claudia Mihalcea
20213477
August 20th, 2021
Dear Dr. Jill Atkinson,
My name is Claudia Mihalcea and I am currently going into my second year of studies at Queen??s University. After completing my first year of studies, I found myself being put on academic probation, with a GPA of 1.38. My academic plan was to pursue a major in Psychology (BA Honours), yet due to my low scorings, I didn??t succeed in entering the program, yet I am determined to continue pursuing this plan. Obtaining an appeal for credit standing in my FREN 150 course, as well as an appeal for a late course drop in my POLS 110 course will be greatly helpful in raising my GPA, taking me off of academic probation, and benefitting me towards my psychology major.
I take full accountability for the poor marks I received, as they are a result of my own performance. Although I realize that my marks were unsatisfactory, not only for the school but also for myself, my performance was a direct cause of my mental health issues that arose throughout my first year. In November of 2020 I started to have symptoms of depression that were not very severe but yet prominent. Some of the symptoms included lack of energy, and general feelings of sadness. I went to seek help from my family doctor, and she diagnosed me with depression. Although I was diagnosed, she refused to prescribe me antidepressants, as she thought that my depression could be cured simply from seeking counselling. During this period of time, my symptoms started slowly affecting my performance at school, but not in a drastic way. I didn??t want to admit to myself that I may be having serious problems, therefore I kept trying to push myself not only academically but also mentally, without seeking any further help.
In February 2021, my depression started to become very severe. At this point, my academic performance started to become very poor. Due to my academic stress and my feelings of depression, I decided to seek help from a therapist. I began to do weekly sessions and in March of 2021, my therapist expressed that I have general anxiety, performance anxiety and severe depression. Although I was seeking professional help, my depression only worsened. Adding on to the symptoms that I was experiencing in first semester, I began to experience difficulties concentrating, sleep disturbances and emotional outbursts along with many other symptoms. Around this period, my academic performance was at the lowest point that it has ever been. I started feeling very hopeless towards school, along with everything else and I felt as if no matter how hard I tried, I would not achieve the academic success that I dreamed of. At this point, my therapist insisted that I talk to my doctor to get prescribed anti-depressants which she prescribed me at the beginning of April 2021.
Second semester was when my marks in my courses started to become influenced by the increased severity of my depression and anxiety. As I am aware that my extenuating circumstances affected many of the courses I took last year, I feel that only appealing POLS 110 and FREN 150 is enough to get me back on track. This is because I do not plan on taking any further politics courses, therefore a late course drop in POLS 110 will raise my GPA. An appeal for credit standing in my FREN 150 course will allow me to further my education in French Studies without affecting my GPA, and I am confident that I will be successful by retaking Psychology along with Gender Studies.
Moving forward, I am very confident that the personal adjustments I have, and continue to make, will benefit my overall mental state and will also help me succeed in my future studies. I am continuing to seek regular therapy sessions as well as continuing to take prescribed medication. I have also recently started meeting with a life coach who will help and guide me attain my goals and seek academic success. In addition, I believe that classes being held in person rather than online will greatly motivate me. I am very optimistic that having a fixed schedule and being able to interact directly with my professors will tremendously help my daily routine and will definitely keep me on track.
Due to the support from my family, along with the medication and professional help that I have been seeking, my mental state has already improved. I am very excited for the upcoming year and for all of the courses that I am planning to take, and with the aid of an appeal, I??m confident that I will be on the right path.
Sincerely,
Claudia Mihalcea
Claudia Mihalcea
20213477
August 20th, 2021
Dear Dr. Jill Atkinson,
My name is Claudia Mihalcea and I am currently going into my second year of studies at Queen??s University. After completing my first year of studies, I found myself being put on academic probation, with a GPA of 1.38. My academic plan was to pursue a major in Psychology (BA Honours), yet due to my low scorings, I didn??t succeed in entering the program, yet I am determined to continue pursuing this plan. Obtaining an appeal for credit standing in my FREN 150 course, as well as an appeal for a late course drop in my POLS 110 course will be greatly helpful in raising my GPA, taking me off of academic probation, and benefitting me towards my psychology major.
I take full accountability for the poor marks I received, as they are a result of my own performance. Although I realize that my marks were unsatisfactory, not only for the school but also for myself, my performance was a direct cause of my mental health issues that arose throughout my first year. In November of 2020 I started to have symptoms of depression that were not very severe but yet prominent. Some of the symptoms included lack of energy, and general feelings of sadness. I went to seek help from my family doctor, and she diagnosed me with depression. Although I was diagnosed, she refused to prescribe me antidepressants, as she thought that my depression could be cured simply from seeking counselling. During this period of time, my symptoms started slowly affecting my performance at school, but not in a drastic way. I didn??t want to admit to myself that I may be having serious problems, therefore I kept trying to push myself not only academically but also mentally, without seeking any further help.
In February 2021, my depression started to become very severe. At this point, my academic performance started to become very poor. Due to my academic stress and my feelings of depression, I decided to seek help from a therapist. I began to do weekly sessions and in March of 2021, my therapist expressed that I have general anxiety, performance anxiety and severe depression. Although I was seeking professional help, my depression only worsened. Adding on to the symptoms that I was experiencing in first semester, I began to experience difficulties concentrating, sleep disturbances and emotional outbursts along with many other symptoms. Around this period, my academic performance was at the lowest point that it has ever been. I started feeling very hopeless towards school, along with everything else and I felt as if no matter how hard I tried, I would not achieve the academic success that I dreamed of. At this point, my therapist insisted that I talk to my doctor to get prescribed anti-depressants which she prescribed me at the beginning of April 2021.
Second semester was when my marks in my courses started to become influenced by the increased severity of my depression and anxiety. As I am aware that my extenuating circumstances affected many of the courses I took last year, I feel that only appealing POLS 110 and FREN 150 is enough to get me back on track. This is because I do not plan on taking any further politics courses, therefore a late course drop in POLS 110 will raise my GPA. An appeal for credit standing in my FREN 150 course will allow me to further my education in French Studies without affecting my GPA, and I am confident that I will be successful by retaking Psychology along with Gender Studies.
Moving forward, I am very confident that the personal adjustments I have, and continue to make, will benefit my overall mental state and will also help me succeed in my future studies. I am continuing to seek regular therapy sessions as well as continuing to take prescribed medication. I have also recently started meeting with a life coach who will help and guide me attain my goals and seek academic success. In addition, I believe that classes being held in person rather than online will greatly motivate me. I am very optimistic that having a fixed schedule and being able to interact directly with my professors will tremendously help my daily routine and will definitely keep me on track.
Due to the support from my family, along with the medication and professional help that I have been seeking, my mental state has already improved. I am very excited for the upcoming year and for all of the courses that I am planning to take, and with the aid of an appeal, I??m confident that I will be on the right path.
Sincerely,
Claudia Mihalcea