Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 3999
Submitted: December 1, 2017 at 1:49:41 PM
First Name: Allison
Last Name: James
Student Number: 20011375
Email: 15aj41@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: HIST
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: HIST 218
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: DRAM 236
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: HIST 304
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2017
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean of Studies,
I am appealing to drop HIST 218 (Fall 2017), HIST 304 (Fall 2017/Winter 2018) and DRAM 236 (Fall 2017) .
Due to the deterioration of my health, I have returned home to Vancouver (in mid-November 2017) and I am unable to complete these courses. During the Fall semester, I suffered with depression and anxiety. I felt the effects of these circumstances both physically and mentally. I was homesick, constantly missing the support of my family and my home in Vancouver. I felt constantly overwhelmed and stressed out for the entirety of my days. I was unable to sleep properly and my appetite became irregular. I isolated myself from my friends. I experienced constant migraines and headaches as well as back and shoulder pain. Due to these physical and mental effects, I found it incredibly hard to focus in my lectures and while completing readings, papers, and studying. My motivation to keep up with my course work decreased to a level I have never before experienced in my academic career. Even doing simple tasks (such as readings and note taking) were a great struggle.
These circumstances I experienced in the beginning of second year turned me into a very different student when compared to the student I have been in the past. In high school and in my first year at Queen's University, I could always find motivation and drive to complete my school work to the very best of my abilities, even when I had emotional and personal challenges to overcome. During this Fall 2017 semester, however, my depression and anxiety worsened and prevented me from being the determined and hardworking student I could have been. If I had continued on the path I was leading, these circumstances would have had a negative effect on my academics.
When I first started to realize that my motivation and enthusiasm for my academics was decreasing rapidly as the term went on, I decided that my enrollment in the Concurrent Education program could be a cause of this. I realized I wanted to make some changes to my courses and program just before the Add/Drop date for Fall term courses. I booked an appointment with the academic advisor for Con-Ed, and she aided me in dropping the Con-Ed component of my degree, as well as the drama courses I was finding I was no longer passionate about. Thus, I would finish the Fall semester as an Arts and Science student with only three courses, and a chance to sign up for new courses in the Winter semester. I hoped that with a decreased course load and a less restrictive, demanding, and competitive program, it would lessen my anxiety and give me a chance to recover from my personal problems. I also hoped it would give me a boost to feel more motivated and excited about my academics. However, as much as I hoped this decision would improve my circumstances, I realized the problems I was facing were more complicated than just making small changes to my classes and program. Even after I made these changes, I still had the same problems I was facing before. I was constantly feeling depressed, overwhelmed, unmotivated, and unable to put the amount of effort I wanted into my studies.
This is when I realized that the depression and anxiety I had been facing all term were too much to face alone in Kingston, while my greatest support system (my family) was back in Vancouver. My parents and I decided that my mom would fly out to Kingston to help me make some decisions to improve my circumstances, and to give me some extra support and comfort. On November 13th, I met with an Arts and Science academic advisor. After having the meeting and hearing all my options, I decided the best decision for my health was to return home, seek medical advice and appeal to have my two half-term Fall courses dropped.
I am currently seeing my family doctor regularly to obtain her advice on how to best deal with my depression and anxiety issues. She has recommended that I attend the North Vancouver Stress and Anxiety Clinic, but there is currently a waitlist for this facility.
As for my future academic plans, I am considering a few options. I am considering taking Queen's courses online from my home in Vancouver. I may also apply for a Letter of Permission to take courses at the University of British Columbia. I am also considering a transfer to UBC as I could live at home to finish my undergraduate degree. I will be making decisions about my academic future when I am feeling stronger and when I feel my psychological state is more under control. I believe I need to understand and treat my depression and anxiety before I can continue on with any academic goals.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Allison James
20011375
Second Year
I am appealing to drop HIST 218 (Fall 2017), HIST 304 (Fall 2017/Winter 2018) and DRAM 236 (Fall 2017) .
Due to the deterioration of my health, I have returned home to Vancouver (in mid-November 2017) and I am unable to complete these courses. During the Fall semester, I suffered with depression and anxiety. I felt the effects of these circumstances both physically and mentally. I was homesick, constantly missing the support of my family and my home in Vancouver. I felt constantly overwhelmed and stressed out for the entirety of my days. I was unable to sleep properly and my appetite became irregular. I isolated myself from my friends. I experienced constant migraines and headaches as well as back and shoulder pain. Due to these physical and mental effects, I found it incredibly hard to focus in my lectures and while completing readings, papers, and studying. My motivation to keep up with my course work decreased to a level I have never before experienced in my academic career. Even doing simple tasks (such as readings and note taking) were a great struggle.
These circumstances I experienced in the beginning of second year turned me into a very different student when compared to the student I have been in the past. In high school and in my first year at Queen's University, I could always find motivation and drive to complete my school work to the very best of my abilities, even when I had emotional and personal challenges to overcome. During this Fall 2017 semester, however, my depression and anxiety worsened and prevented me from being the determined and hardworking student I could have been. If I had continued on the path I was leading, these circumstances would have had a negative effect on my academics.
When I first started to realize that my motivation and enthusiasm for my academics was decreasing rapidly as the term went on, I decided that my enrollment in the Concurrent Education program could be a cause of this. I realized I wanted to make some changes to my courses and program just before the Add/Drop date for Fall term courses. I booked an appointment with the academic advisor for Con-Ed, and she aided me in dropping the Con-Ed component of my degree, as well as the drama courses I was finding I was no longer passionate about. Thus, I would finish the Fall semester as an Arts and Science student with only three courses, and a chance to sign up for new courses in the Winter semester. I hoped that with a decreased course load and a less restrictive, demanding, and competitive program, it would lessen my anxiety and give me a chance to recover from my personal problems. I also hoped it would give me a boost to feel more motivated and excited about my academics. However, as much as I hoped this decision would improve my circumstances, I realized the problems I was facing were more complicated than just making small changes to my classes and program. Even after I made these changes, I still had the same problems I was facing before. I was constantly feeling depressed, overwhelmed, unmotivated, and unable to put the amount of effort I wanted into my studies.
This is when I realized that the depression and anxiety I had been facing all term were too much to face alone in Kingston, while my greatest support system (my family) was back in Vancouver. My parents and I decided that my mom would fly out to Kingston to help me make some decisions to improve my circumstances, and to give me some extra support and comfort. On November 13th, I met with an Arts and Science academic advisor. After having the meeting and hearing all my options, I decided the best decision for my health was to return home, seek medical advice and appeal to have my two half-term Fall courses dropped.
I am currently seeing my family doctor regularly to obtain her advice on how to best deal with my depression and anxiety issues. She has recommended that I attend the North Vancouver Stress and Anxiety Clinic, but there is currently a waitlist for this facility.
As for my future academic plans, I am considering a few options. I am considering taking Queen's courses online from my home in Vancouver. I may also apply for a Letter of Permission to take courses at the University of British Columbia. I am also considering a transfer to UBC as I could live at home to finish my undergraduate degree. I will be making decisions about my academic future when I am feeling stronger and when I feel my psychological state is more under control. I believe I need to understand and treat my depression and anxiety before I can continue on with any academic goals.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Allison James
20011375
Second Year
Documentation
Professional Letter: Letter from Doctor .docx