Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to ask for permission to drop three fall courses and receive an aegrotat standing in one. I am making this request due to a set of extenuating circumstances that I have been dealing with for the past year, most recently, my parent¿¿s unexpected announcement to divorce two weeks after classes started in September. A week after this announcement they put my childhood dog down. The prior spring I had already been dealing with depression and anxiety issues brought on from my former friend group¿¿s sexually harassing me and my new housemate¿¿s attempted suicide during April exams. I was home when it happened and witnessed his parents¿¿ reaction on finding him. I was deeply saddened and affected by both of these events and with my family falling apart, all within the same year, I fell apart. I started having panic attacks in November and was having trouble sleeping, getting out of bed, having nightmares when I did fall asleep, I wouldn¿¿t eat until 9 pm, my stomach was upset, I had headaches, I had trouble leaving my house, brushing my hair, showering, I would avoid my current housemates, and stopped talking to my friends and family from home.

The impact this has had on my academics has been extensive. I struggled to attend class, approach and sustain contact with professors, start papers, could not keep up with reading or class participation, had panic attacks in class, had difficulty concentrating, felt distracted, became extremely anxious both during and out of class, lost my academic confidence, and lost all motivation. Until mid-February of this year, I have felt very anxious, isolated, and depressed.

I have increased the frequency I have seen my counselor, Arunima, at La Salle and in November started to see Dr. Borins, also at La Salle. And in late November, I started medicating for mood related issues. I have personally practiced self-care exercises like eating routinely, working out, drinking water, stretching, journaling, and keeping in contact with my sister and best friend from home.

I do currently feel more myself mentally, and equipped to handle and move forward on my academics because of the resources Queen¿¿s offers. However, I do strongly feel that the circumstances I mentioned and my resulting mental health issues have affected my fall term academics and am requesting permission to drop three fall courses and receive an aegrotat standing in one.

Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter.