Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 330
Submitted: August 10, 2014 at 4:25:24 AM
First Name: Nicole
Last Name: Lee
Student Number: 10062187
Email: 12nhl@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: SOCY
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: SOCY 227
Term: Winter
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Academic Appeal Letter
Nicole Lee
10062187
To whom it may concern,
I am appealing to drop SOCY 227 (Winter, 2014), due to extenuating circumstances that have prevented me from completing this course.
During most of the winter semester, I have experienced depression that has enabled me in doing certain things that I was once able to achieve. This was mainly due to a family situation that had occurred at the end of the fall semester, which has greatly impacted my mental state. To see if I was indeed suffering from depression, I had visited the Health Counselling and Disabilities Services in late December, in which the doctor confirmed that I did suffer from severe depression. The depression had affected me in many ways that have completely changed my behaviour throughout the school year. For example, I have always been a student who was able to complete every assignment on time, as well as focus intently on her studies. However, as the next semester approached, I soon became much more depressed, becoming unmotivated, and unable to complete simple everyday tasks. There were many days where I was unable to get out of bed, and would spend a large quantity of time in my room without socializing. I had scheduled counselling sessions through the school, however I had felt that I did not connect with that particular counsellor, thus eventually stopped going. My workload soon began to pile up, especially in this particular course (SOCY227), as it was a course heavily weighted upon assignments and essays, whereas my other courses mainly involved tests in which I simply showed up for. Although I would initially attempt to finish my assignments, I was unable to, and to be frank, was too embarrassed to ask for help, as I did not want anyone to know about my condition at first. This course also had a tutorial that I did attend in the beginning, however as my depression became more severe, I began to go to class less, and eventually stop going as I was again, worried that my peers would learn about my condition. However, at the end of the year, I spoke to the Professor of the course, and attempted to redeem myself, and asked if he would allow an extension for all the assignments I had missed. He was very accommodating, however, I still struggled very much as I found it very difficult in completing these essays and assignments when I did not attend very many classes, or tutorials. I then booked an appointment with an academic advisor to see if there were any other options available, who then suggested I retake the course again.
By allowing my appeal, I hope to retake this course again in the Winter Semester and complete it, as it is a core requisite for my program. As the enrolment period had already passed, I have diligently planned my courses to include this course for the winter semester, should I be able to take it again. To keep my studies at Queen¿¿s University on track, I plan to see an academic advisor continuously so that I can see what my future plan should look like, which will then allow me to create a steady work regime to allow me in graduating on time with my class. I also plan to schedule regular appointments with the Queen¿¿s Health, Counselling, and Disabilities Services, as well as external counselling during the school year to help cope with my depression and seek help when need be, instead of keeping it to myself as I had last semester. However, as of now, I am feeling better as I have taken these few months to slowly confront the family issues that I have been faced with, and open up to the family members involved. This is why I believe a fresh start to a new semester will truly allow me to reach my full potential as a student here at Queen¿¿s University, and allow me to actively participate and apply myself in this particular course if I am able to take it once more. Throughout the many hard months of struggling with my problems and keeping it to myself, I am slowly learning to reach out for help, and hopefully be able to turn things around in the upcoming school year. Thank you very much for taking my appeal into consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Nicole Lee
Nicole Lee
10062187
To whom it may concern,
I am appealing to drop SOCY 227 (Winter, 2014), due to extenuating circumstances that have prevented me from completing this course.
During most of the winter semester, I have experienced depression that has enabled me in doing certain things that I was once able to achieve. This was mainly due to a family situation that had occurred at the end of the fall semester, which has greatly impacted my mental state. To see if I was indeed suffering from depression, I had visited the Health Counselling and Disabilities Services in late December, in which the doctor confirmed that I did suffer from severe depression. The depression had affected me in many ways that have completely changed my behaviour throughout the school year. For example, I have always been a student who was able to complete every assignment on time, as well as focus intently on her studies. However, as the next semester approached, I soon became much more depressed, becoming unmotivated, and unable to complete simple everyday tasks. There were many days where I was unable to get out of bed, and would spend a large quantity of time in my room without socializing. I had scheduled counselling sessions through the school, however I had felt that I did not connect with that particular counsellor, thus eventually stopped going. My workload soon began to pile up, especially in this particular course (SOCY227), as it was a course heavily weighted upon assignments and essays, whereas my other courses mainly involved tests in which I simply showed up for. Although I would initially attempt to finish my assignments, I was unable to, and to be frank, was too embarrassed to ask for help, as I did not want anyone to know about my condition at first. This course also had a tutorial that I did attend in the beginning, however as my depression became more severe, I began to go to class less, and eventually stop going as I was again, worried that my peers would learn about my condition. However, at the end of the year, I spoke to the Professor of the course, and attempted to redeem myself, and asked if he would allow an extension for all the assignments I had missed. He was very accommodating, however, I still struggled very much as I found it very difficult in completing these essays and assignments when I did not attend very many classes, or tutorials. I then booked an appointment with an academic advisor to see if there were any other options available, who then suggested I retake the course again.
By allowing my appeal, I hope to retake this course again in the Winter Semester and complete it, as it is a core requisite for my program. As the enrolment period had already passed, I have diligently planned my courses to include this course for the winter semester, should I be able to take it again. To keep my studies at Queen¿¿s University on track, I plan to see an academic advisor continuously so that I can see what my future plan should look like, which will then allow me to create a steady work regime to allow me in graduating on time with my class. I also plan to schedule regular appointments with the Queen¿¿s Health, Counselling, and Disabilities Services, as well as external counselling during the school year to help cope with my depression and seek help when need be, instead of keeping it to myself as I had last semester. However, as of now, I am feeling better as I have taken these few months to slowly confront the family issues that I have been faced with, and open up to the family members involved. This is why I believe a fresh start to a new semester will truly allow me to reach my full potential as a student here at Queen¿¿s University, and allow me to actively participate and apply myself in this particular course if I am able to take it once more. Throughout the many hard months of struggling with my problems and keeping it to myself, I am slowly learning to reach out for help, and hopefully be able to turn things around in the upcoming school year. Thank you very much for taking my appeal into consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Nicole Lee
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: edited HE