Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean (Studies),

I am requesting to waive the 21-day or one term deadline.
I am appealing to drop ARTH 215 (Winter, 2016) DRAM 205 (Winter, 2016) ENGL 292 (Winter, 2017) PHIL 204 (WINTER, 2018) passed the deadline. I am also appealing for Credit Standing in DRAM 220 (Winter, 2018)

In Winter 2016, I had been experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, although I was not aware of the cause or seriousness of them. I had been trying to manage my symptoms up until the winter term; however, it was difficult. I experienced frequent panic attacks, uncontrollable worrying, irritability, shortness of breath, trouble concentrating and an inability to slow down my heart rate. An event that occurred in December of 2016 rapidly escalated the panic attacks, which usually took place at night. These attacks involved a rapid heart rate, trouble breathing and intense fear. There were many nights when I was unable to calm myself down enough to sleep, which would leave me exhausted and unable to carry out day to day tasks, let alone multiple school responsibilities. I was confident that there was something wrong with me, but I believed that it was manageable and that my mind was the source of the problem. This assumption is what prevented me from seeking help sooner. There was a great deal of shame that I lived with each day, as it was profoundly affecting both my social life and academics. I constantly asked myself why it was so difficult for me to complete simple tasks. I was in a constant state of fear. Once I did find the courage to talk to someone about these thoughts, I learned that I was afraid of being afraid and it caused a never-ending cycle. There was a feeling of pressure and expectation from my parents that had weighed on me during this time. In trying to explain to them the severity of my symptoms, it was hard for them to grasp. They offered me simple solutions that made me feel inadequate and that I was failing for not being to carry them out successfully. My family pressure is the main reason why I did not drop the courses at the time, as I was expected to be as successful in university as I had been in high school. My parents do not understand the severity of the term ¿¿mental illness¿ and the impact it can have on academic performance.
The symptoms would often come in waves based on events that would occur in my life at the time. Although I was able to find relief at times with techniques I had learned in counseling, In Winter 2017 the loss of a significant person in my life triggered a severe setback. This individual was a support system for me at the time, and the shock of the loss dramatically hindered my ability to focus on attending class. My class (ENGL 292) was mainly discussion based and required diligent attendance in order to grasp the material. The evening panic attacks returned, and I struggled with falling asleep at a reasonable time, which forced me to rest during odd hours and miss classes. I experienced a decrease in appetite, weight loss, chest pains, and a crippling lack of motivation. These symptoms were not taken seriously, and I was often told that I was thinking too much or being overdramatic. This belief stopped me from seeking more help and made me feel even more ashamed. This wave of health issues prevented me from fully engaging in ENGL 292; however, I was in communication with my ENGL 215 professor about my circumstances, and although I was unable to achieve a favourable exam result, she allowed me to complete a couple of the outstanding assignments.
In Fall 2017 I searched for methods of regulating my symptoms and organizing my time more efficiently. I saw an occupational therapist (Tess Grant) who helped me discuss strategies for improving my academic performance and life in general. Although these tips helped to an extent, the nights were the most difficult to manage and sleepless nights persisted. My health also suffered in 2017 as I worried about my progressive weight loss and chest tightness, which would sometimes happen multiple times a day. I saw the doctor at the La Salle clinic a few times, and my blood pressure was very high. Although it is likely that my anxiety caused my high blood pressure, it was very stressful to always worry about the state of my health and my inability to control what was causing my health problems (anxiety). This distraction increased my worrying to uncontrollable, and it became difficult to focus on anything else. Consequently, it drew my focus further from my studies. Despite this, I was able to perform well in ENGL 237, as the work was generally assignment based; therefore, I was able to do the majority of my work from my home. Additionally, my professor allowed me to submit an assignment late that was due during a difficult period. With PHIL 204, at the time of the deadline I was managing my symptoms and attending class, however, towards the end of March, my health anxiety took hold. During a period of attacks, when the assignment would be late the cycle would repeat itself. The stress caused by the lateness of the assignment created even more stress and severe worry. Lack of concentration and a feeling of hopelessness would settle in. I became obsessed with my health and the possibility of having a heart attack or other problems which are objectively highly unlikely, but my anxiety made these fears feel very real. This class required consistent attendance and participation to succeed, and although I tried to attend as much as I could, it was not sufficient enough to meet the academic requirements. With DRAM 220, I was in contact with my professor, who allowed me to hand in the assignments late. However, the midterm and exam were challenging as they too required consistent class attendance to absorb the content which I failed to do successfully.
Each year I always believed I would improve and perform better academically. Several unforeseen circumstances intensified my symptoms, making it difficult to follow through on these good intentions. My parents were difficult to speak with about these circumstances, and thus, I believed I was okay when in reality I needed help. My desire to succeed mixed with the intense pressure from my parents to continue have influenced my decisions to remain in courses that I should have dropped. Overall I felt entirely alone, particularly following the loss of a close friend who offered their support. I did not appeal these issues until now, as my mental health overwhelmed every aspect of my life at the time. I am now seeing my doctor (her note is attached) about these issues and have begun a new treatment involving a combination of medication and therapy, which has been successful as a solution to the onset of panic attacks. My parents have always discouraged the use of medication, and that is the reason I have not tried it until now, although it has drastically improved my mental state and sleep quality and my academic performance as well. Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,

Madeline Pendrith