Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean,
I am appealing to drop my PHIL 359 course taken in the 2021 summer term with Professor Adele Mercier. I would like to appeal this course because I was unable to complete it due to both personal and academic issues. During my time of taking the course, I had found out that my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, which resulted in my mental health spiraling downward. During this time, I was also taking two other courses, and I was able to complete them while juggling with my personal issues. However, these personal issues combined with Professor Adele Mercier's disorganized structure of the course resulted in me being unable to complete the work required to pass.
Due to my ADHD and the executive function issues that comes with it, I have had to develop specific strategies and require certain tools to ensure that I am able to succeed in my courses. One of the tools I require is a syllabus because I use it to strategize how I remain on track with my course work and organize my time correctly. However, Professor Mercier only sent out an official syllabus for the course at the beginning of the third week (May 22nd, 2021), and only after I requested one. In addition, we were only given our first assignment on June 2nd, in the second half of the course, and the second assignment given on June 28th, despite the course having already officially ended the week prior. Further perpetuating this issue is that no due dates were given for these assignments, which I require due to my ADHD. Furthermore, I found the feedback to be unhelpful and prevented me from succeeding in the course (with the email title having a ;-( in the header).
As a result of the disorganized structure of the course and unhelpful feedback I received, I became paralyzed on how to best handle the situation. I also struggle heavily with depression and anxiety, and the stress PHIL 359 caused me only further heightened my mental health issues. As a result of this course and the personal issues I was facing, I became severely depressed and struggled to perform basic tasks such as showering and getting out of bed. Due to the mental state I was in, I was only able to place my energy in my Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 courses.
I recognize that I am appealing past the appeal deadline and should have done so sooner. However, the stress associated with the course and my personal circumstances prevented me from taking action sooner. By the time I recognized that I had made a mistake in not dropping the course I was no longer able to do so. In Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 I have been struggling with my mental health and fighting with the hospital system to be placed with a psychiatrist. This only happened in early January of 2022 after going to CAMH's emergency department due to a total breakdown, which consisted of a panic attack and self harming behaviour. I have spent the winter semester trying to ensure I complete these last courses with high marks, and as a result have pushed off submitting an appeal because I was juggling a lot of things at once to graduate.
If I were to have this course and my grade remain on my record, it would be detrimental to my ability to pursue a master's degree, which will impact my ability to obtain a job in my chosen field. I have already taken several steps to ensure that what has happened with PHIL 359 will never happen again. I have spoken extensively with my therapist about how to recognize the signs that I am beginning to get overwhelmed. I have also focused on brushing up on the skills I use to manage my ADHD and executive dysfunction. Furthermore, I will be graduating this June and plan to spend at least a month focusing entirely on stabilizing my mental health. All together, these actions will help me ensure my success when faced with disorganized courses in the future.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter, and I hope you will allow me to drop my PHIL 359 (summer 2021) course so that I may end my undergraduate career on a high note and pursue my future goals.
Best regards,
Max Kondor
I am appealing to drop my PHIL 359 course taken in the 2021 summer term with Professor Adele Mercier. I would like to appeal this course because I was unable to complete it due to both personal and academic issues. During my time of taking the course, I had found out that my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, which resulted in my mental health spiraling downward. During this time, I was also taking two other courses, and I was able to complete them while juggling with my personal issues. However, these personal issues combined with Professor Adele Mercier's disorganized structure of the course resulted in me being unable to complete the work required to pass.
Due to my ADHD and the executive function issues that comes with it, I have had to develop specific strategies and require certain tools to ensure that I am able to succeed in my courses. One of the tools I require is a syllabus because I use it to strategize how I remain on track with my course work and organize my time correctly. However, Professor Mercier only sent out an official syllabus for the course at the beginning of the third week (May 22nd, 2021), and only after I requested one. In addition, we were only given our first assignment on June 2nd, in the second half of the course, and the second assignment given on June 28th, despite the course having already officially ended the week prior. Further perpetuating this issue is that no due dates were given for these assignments, which I require due to my ADHD. Furthermore, I found the feedback to be unhelpful and prevented me from succeeding in the course (with the email title having a ;-( in the header).
As a result of the disorganized structure of the course and unhelpful feedback I received, I became paralyzed on how to best handle the situation. I also struggle heavily with depression and anxiety, and the stress PHIL 359 caused me only further heightened my mental health issues. As a result of this course and the personal issues I was facing, I became severely depressed and struggled to perform basic tasks such as showering and getting out of bed. Due to the mental state I was in, I was only able to place my energy in my Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 courses.
I recognize that I am appealing past the appeal deadline and should have done so sooner. However, the stress associated with the course and my personal circumstances prevented me from taking action sooner. By the time I recognized that I had made a mistake in not dropping the course I was no longer able to do so. In Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 I have been struggling with my mental health and fighting with the hospital system to be placed with a psychiatrist. This only happened in early January of 2022 after going to CAMH's emergency department due to a total breakdown, which consisted of a panic attack and self harming behaviour. I have spent the winter semester trying to ensure I complete these last courses with high marks, and as a result have pushed off submitting an appeal because I was juggling a lot of things at once to graduate.
If I were to have this course and my grade remain on my record, it would be detrimental to my ability to pursue a master's degree, which will impact my ability to obtain a job in my chosen field. I have already taken several steps to ensure that what has happened with PHIL 359 will never happen again. I have spoken extensively with my therapist about how to recognize the signs that I am beginning to get overwhelmed. I have also focused on brushing up on the skills I use to manage my ADHD and executive dysfunction. Furthermore, I will be graduating this June and plan to spend at least a month focusing entirely on stabilizing my mental health. All together, these actions will help me ensure my success when faced with disorganized courses in the future.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter, and I hope you will allow me to drop my PHIL 359 (summer 2021) course so that I may end my undergraduate career on a high note and pursue my future goals.
Best regards,
Max Kondor