Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to petition a late-course drop for my previous academic performance and explain how my mental health and family have affected my academic standing.

I continue to struggle with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety, albeit this year I was able to persevere through most of my classes due to me seeking therapy as well as an increased dosage on my medications. Unfortunately, I was unprepared for my estranged mother to come back into my life and interact with me and my family without cause for concern. It was a situation that I struggled with immensely and it severely impacted my focus as well as triggered depressive episodes. I am devastated to fail once again, and I understand that my previous petition submission puts me in a difficult position to receive more late-drops. Yet, I find it in my heart to keep fighting for my education and seek out well-needed assistance.

I have come to the decision to switch out of the psychology program and pursue a music major with hopes of teaching elementary music after college. I perform noticeably better within my music classes when compared to my psychology classes and consider music as a whole to be a better fit for myself and my future career.

This petition will support the financial assistance needed to pursue my goals—as I am an American student under FAFSA assistance. I look forward to meeting with my academic advisor in the meantime to sort out logistics as well as a graduation timeline. I feel excited to pursue this endeavor and hope for nothing but your support.

I cannot thank you enough for your attention to this matter. I deeply appreciate your understanding and consideration. I await your decision and hope for a favorable response to my petition.

Sincerely,
Cherri Martinez