Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Letter of Appeal - Aegrotat Standing

Andriantsoa Asoh-Ajesam
SN: 10180426
14aaa13@queensu.ca
(613) 876-0626

September 3, 2017

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
Student Services
Associate Dean (Studies)
Dr. Johanne Bénard

Dear Dr. Johanne Bénard,

I am writing to appeal an Aegrotat standing in the 2017 Summer course CISC 121 (July - August). I am also writing to explain the extenuating circumstances with the impact it had on me and my ability to complete the course at a standard performance. Lastly, what I am and will be doing to achieve academic progress and success.

I do not mean to go into specific details of the problem as I am sure you are most interested as to how specific events impacted certain assessments in this course, however, I honestly feel the need to explain the general situation surrounding the circumstances. I have read the tips on writing an appeal letter and how the recommended word limit should be about 800 words. But there were multiple circumstances that impacted different assessments I must explain. I am sorry for exceeding the word limit.

My recent parents' divorce and my father marrying shortly after (neither of which was the direct problem), but it was the family arguments that I was forced to be in the middle of. My father being in Africa throughout the whole divorce (is still in Africa) and my mother in Canada, used me as the middle person to communicate between them through all the arguments and at times almost forcing me into a position to choose sides. The peak of the personal family drama and me having no choice but trying to reason and be the messenger for them really hit me hard during the last few weeks of July when certain legal issues had to be solved. Yet they still could not have a full conversation with each other without arguing, so I continued to be the messenger between them. I still had work and summer school to focus on so I made sure to at least understand all the learning outcomes which would all be covered in the quiz worth 10 of my overall mark (which I did well in). There was an assignment (assignment 2) due shortly after, but worth about 6, which I, unfortunately, was not able to even hand in because I had spent most of the week after the first quiz dealing with my parents' situation.

Two other incidents happened at the end of July and beginning of August that impacted my academic performance. My mom had to leave her job but was fortunate enough to find another one soon after. The only problem was her first paycheck was to come in about 6 weeks from the first day of working (July 31). She asked if I could financially support some of the costs for my little sister throughout August as my little sister prepared to leave town for her first year in university. I gave what I could but I was only working 10-15 hours per week this summer and could barely cover rent, utilities, and groceries each month. I was already behind in utilities and kept receiving warnings of the utilities being shut down if I didn't pay. So, I contacted Kingston utilities and made arrangements for smaller payments bi-weekly of my past summer month's utilities, to ensure utilities would not be cut off. I also tried contacting some of my cousins to ask for assistance with financially providing for my little sister (there is commotion / some sort of feud on my mother's side of the family, so my mother even asking my aunt or uncle for financial support was out of the question) but some of my cousins are my age or older and we get along.

I spent a lot of the beginning of August trying to figure out where I could get some money to help my little sister. I then found out my mother's back pain had returned (which had hospitalized her twice before in previous years) but this time because of her new job, she absolutely refused to seek medical attention. Asking for some financial aid from my cousin and finding out my mother was not well all happened during the 2nd week of August (August 6-13). Again I knew my exam was the following week, I also had a Quiz worth 15 in a couple days (August 8) that covered all the learning outcomes of the semester and an assignment (Assignment 4) worth about 6 due (August 12) a few days before the exam (August 16).

Knowing I still had some deadlines to meet for summer school, I focused on the learning outcomes for the course to do well on the 15 quiz, then I spent most of the rest of the 2nd week of August trying to convince my mom to take the week off to rest because I could not be there for her, but this was her second week on the job and she absolutely refused but promised after each day of work she would rest. At this time I was still trying to contact some cousins behind our parent's backs for any financial support (because our parents can't know we speak). This all led to me not having enough time to complete assignment 4 and handing in an incomplete assignment.

Going into the exam, the only things on my mind were to get more hours at work so I could buy a bus ticket to Ottawa, buy bus tickets to Toronto with my sister to help her move (I was the only one able to go the weekend of her move in day), and buy a bus ticket back to Kingston in time for work. And to also make sure by the end of the month, I'll still have enough for rent. I went into the exam confident enough to pass because I had met all the learning outcomes for each module, but when I wrote the exam, I realized all the personal problems that I was going through, especially during the last week leading up to the exam, had not allowed me to put in as much practice as I wanted to. I was 3 points short of getting a passing grade on the exam to pass the course and would have overall even done much better.

After helping my little sister move into residence, as I headed back to Kingston, I had my first mental breakdown. Everything hit me and I realized how mentally unhealthy I was and how unaware I was of my mental health state. All the actions I took this summer was based on me assuming, I was fine, this happens all the time, it's fine, and I can support everyone and keep everyone happy. I realized this was all believed subconsciously and the mental breakdown (which I never thought could ever happen to me) made me aware of it. I then started planning to book appointments at the Student Wellness Centre for the health services and counselling services starting next week (the first week of classes because some of their services are not available this week due to the training of new staff). The Peer Support Centre is not opened till the start of school but I plan to make weekly visits as well to ensure I do not fall into denial of my mental health. I assume they will most likely suggest I speak honestly with my parents, which was something I had been avoiding to do because they aren't one to really see mental health as a problem and they both have no idea what's going on with me. They assume I am doing fine like I always had while living with them. I know this pattern will only repeat itself if I don't face them and let them know I cannot continue this type of relationship. Also, academic wise, I do believe I did not have great academic difficulty with the course but more of personal family problems impacting my performance. To ensure a successful school year, I will consult with the Student Academic Success Services and attend on-campus study workshops. I can keep Dr. Johanne Bénard and or my academic advisor updated with my student wellness and academic appointments and progress. If my appeal is granted, I will be able to start this school year with the above plan of facing my mental health and putting myself and academic progress ahead, I believe it should bring me to a much healthier mental state and academically succeed.

Warm regards,

Andriantsoa Asoh