Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am requesting to receive ¿¿Credit Standing¿ after having completed and passed all of the work in the course, but because of extenuating circumstances, beyond my control, I earned a substantially lower grade than I might have expected to receive based on past performance. Ongoing struggles with mental health over the past year have led to various trials and failures with prescribed medication for depression and general anxiety. After suffering a severe allergic reaction to a medication, I had to remain off any medication until my body could withstand trying a new one. After trying multiple medications and dosages, there was no improvement and I struggled significantly in the winter 2018 semester. My depression and anxiety caused me severe difficultly in having energy, motivation, and focus. Things became increasingly worse and I had a hard time getting out of bed, being around people, and even completing daily tasks. Consequently, my mental health took a toll on my academics. I felt the side effects from my medications as well, so I suffered from bad headaches, drowsiness and nausea.
Even on my ¿¿good¿ days, when I managed to leave the house and head to campus, it was extremely difficult to sit through my classes, let alone focus and take notes. As someone who loves learning, it was especially frustrating that despite my best efforts, I could not retain the information or engage in my classes. I did not feel like myself. I have big ambitions and in order to achieve them, I need to maintain a certain standing in my academics, and I failed significantly this past semester, not due to intentionally neglecting my studies or choosing to engage in reckless behaviour, but because of extenuating circumstances beyond my control. When I was able to complete school work, the quality was so poor and often submitted late, again, because of my deep and frustrating battle with my mental health this year.
With my busy schedule, difficulty in finding the motivation to do anything and in being around people, coupled with the busy schedule at La Salle, receiving medical assistance as frequently as I sometimes needed it was hard. Additionally, there are no instant remedies to mental health struggles. It is a long, often tedious process of trial and error with medications, and trying to implement lifestyle changes that are hard to find the motivation to incorporate until you stabilized to an extent. Consequently, it is a cyclical struggle. It is hard for me to admit defeat, which is why I silently attempted to cope with my faltering academics, but I was defeated. I felt so overwhelmed consistently throughout the semester, but especially in times of heavier work load, such as midterms, culminating assignments, and finals.
I would hate for my struggles with my mental health to define my academic career. I appreciate your time and consideration in reviewing my request. At the end of the day, my shortcomings are my responsibility and no one is to blame, but myself. This semester, however, has been below my usual standard and it is because of my depression and anxiety that were crippling at best. I will not give up on trying to get better ¿¿ I am trying a new medication and approaching it with optimism, and I am trying to practice yoga to help my holistic health ¿¿ and I am eager to get back to myself and my usual commitment to learning. I hope I may be granted Credit standing so that I may minimize the effect of my mental health on my future success and not let this especially hard year define me.