Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean,
I am petitioning to you in hopes of receiving a credit standing in PSYC 100: Introduction to Psychology and ANAT 101: Introductory Human Anatomy. When I completed both of these courses, I lived with an undiagnosed ADHD disability. While I always suspected I had ADHD, I only got a proper diagnosis last year. As a result of the diagnosis and the prescription medication, I have been able to concentrate and focus better in my courses, and my grades have increased significantly.
When I completed these courses, it was the end of my first year at Queen??s University and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the constant change in my learning environment severely impacted my ability to focus on my courses, and therefore, my grades were affected. While I was registered for multiple other courses, the ANAT 101 course assignments were much different than my other courses. Most of the assignments were in the form of tests, and as my current accommodations demonstrate, I struggle with tests and have extra time. On top of my undiagnosed learning disability, learning and completing my semester at home was a significant distraction.
For PSYC 100 specifically, this course was especially challenging for my learning disability. PSYC 100 is usually completed in two semesters, yet I decided to take it in a condensed form over the first summer of COVID-19. Considering it is a condensed course meant to be completed in 2 months, and I could not give the amount of focus and concentration required to complete it successfully. On top of the fact that it was condensed, it was also online during a highly stressful time. All these factors combined resulted in a less-than-satisfactory grade.
With my diagnosis, I started to organize my course load to ensure my success in school. For instance, the summer courses I have taken since have been a lighter load to allow successful completion. Further, I have since learned that I thrive in classes with mainly essay-based assessments, which is perfect for my degree since it is primarily writing.
Thank you for your consideration,
Olivia Arkinson
(20186370)
I am petitioning to you in hopes of receiving a credit standing in PSYC 100: Introduction to Psychology and ANAT 101: Introductory Human Anatomy. When I completed both of these courses, I lived with an undiagnosed ADHD disability. While I always suspected I had ADHD, I only got a proper diagnosis last year. As a result of the diagnosis and the prescription medication, I have been able to concentrate and focus better in my courses, and my grades have increased significantly.
When I completed these courses, it was the end of my first year at Queen??s University and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the constant change in my learning environment severely impacted my ability to focus on my courses, and therefore, my grades were affected. While I was registered for multiple other courses, the ANAT 101 course assignments were much different than my other courses. Most of the assignments were in the form of tests, and as my current accommodations demonstrate, I struggle with tests and have extra time. On top of my undiagnosed learning disability, learning and completing my semester at home was a significant distraction.
For PSYC 100 specifically, this course was especially challenging for my learning disability. PSYC 100 is usually completed in two semesters, yet I decided to take it in a condensed form over the first summer of COVID-19. Considering it is a condensed course meant to be completed in 2 months, and I could not give the amount of focus and concentration required to complete it successfully. On top of the fact that it was condensed, it was also online during a highly stressful time. All these factors combined resulted in a less-than-satisfactory grade.
With my diagnosis, I started to organize my course load to ensure my success in school. For instance, the summer courses I have taken since have been a lighter load to allow successful completion. Further, I have since learned that I thrive in classes with mainly essay-based assessments, which is perfect for my degree since it is primarily writing.
Thank you for your consideration,
Olivia Arkinson
(20186370)