Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 6442
Submitted: January 9, 2020 at 7:22:32 AM
First Name: Meghan
Last Name: Costello
Student Number: 20133320
Email: 18mcc3@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: FILM
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: ASTR 101
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To the Associate DeansDean (Studies),
I am writing this letter to appeal to drop the course ASTR 101 (Fall, 2019), even though the November deadline for course withdrawal has passed. Thank you in advance for giving me the opportunity to explain myself in this appeal.
Shortly after the semester began, I started dealing with some heavy mental health issues and found it increasingly harder to uphold a good performance as a student. I began taking antidepressants (prescribed by my doctor) to help with diagnosed depression and social anxiety at the end of September, which I believe had a negative effect and unfortunately only worsened many of the symptoms I was experiencing. I knew that this was a common risk of such medication that many people overcome through adjustments/trial and error but I was hopeful that it would begin to help me cope and return to normal functioning as a student. Following the worsening of my circumstances, I decided to seek help from Student Wellness Services on campus in November. I spoke to a counsellor about my dissatisfaction with how my academics in the current semester were being affected and she encouraged me to ask for academic consideration in some of my classes (resulting in two exam deferrals in other classes and an extension on one end-of-term assignment).
My error in regards to the course I am appealing to drop was attempting to proceed with misplaced optimism instead of recognizing the severity of my circumstances during that time. I have always been a relatively strong and dedicated student and the prospect of dropping a class did not really occur to me as an option that I wanted to consider, although looking back on the fall semester now, I wish I would have acknowledged that it was probably the best decision for me at the time. I did not request academic consideration for ASTR 101 because I believed I could proceed with the class schedule, but the symptoms I was experiencing essentially made it feel impossible to complete tasks that should have otherwise been manageable. When having my counsellor fill out a verification form of confidential extenuating circumstances, I underestimated the effects these issues would continue to have on my academics. I think I downplayed the amount of consideration I truly needed because I was hopeful that things would improve. The smaller lecture size in ASTR 101 compared to my other classes made it more difficult for me to attend class and focus on the material due to anxiety and I believe this hindered my performance greatly.
My final grades in my other courses are currently undetermined due to the exam deferrals which I will be writing in the upcoming week. I have an appointment with my doctor next week to discuss my negative experience with the medication and I hope to get a new prescription that will help bring me back to my capable self. I have also contacted Student Wellness Services again to schedule regular appointments with the counsellor I spoke with last term in order to provide me with some extra guidance as I work towards having a better semester. I have really enjoyed many aspects of studying here at Queen¿¿s University and would appreciate consideration of this appeal more than words can express. Thank you once again for this opportunity, and if I need to provide anything else to answer questions not touched upon, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Meghan Costello
Student No. 20133320
I am writing this letter to appeal to drop the course ASTR 101 (Fall, 2019), even though the November deadline for course withdrawal has passed. Thank you in advance for giving me the opportunity to explain myself in this appeal.
Shortly after the semester began, I started dealing with some heavy mental health issues and found it increasingly harder to uphold a good performance as a student. I began taking antidepressants (prescribed by my doctor) to help with diagnosed depression and social anxiety at the end of September, which I believe had a negative effect and unfortunately only worsened many of the symptoms I was experiencing. I knew that this was a common risk of such medication that many people overcome through adjustments/trial and error but I was hopeful that it would begin to help me cope and return to normal functioning as a student. Following the worsening of my circumstances, I decided to seek help from Student Wellness Services on campus in November. I spoke to a counsellor about my dissatisfaction with how my academics in the current semester were being affected and she encouraged me to ask for academic consideration in some of my classes (resulting in two exam deferrals in other classes and an extension on one end-of-term assignment).
My error in regards to the course I am appealing to drop was attempting to proceed with misplaced optimism instead of recognizing the severity of my circumstances during that time. I have always been a relatively strong and dedicated student and the prospect of dropping a class did not really occur to me as an option that I wanted to consider, although looking back on the fall semester now, I wish I would have acknowledged that it was probably the best decision for me at the time. I did not request academic consideration for ASTR 101 because I believed I could proceed with the class schedule, but the symptoms I was experiencing essentially made it feel impossible to complete tasks that should have otherwise been manageable. When having my counsellor fill out a verification form of confidential extenuating circumstances, I underestimated the effects these issues would continue to have on my academics. I think I downplayed the amount of consideration I truly needed because I was hopeful that things would improve. The smaller lecture size in ASTR 101 compared to my other classes made it more difficult for me to attend class and focus on the material due to anxiety and I believe this hindered my performance greatly.
My final grades in my other courses are currently undetermined due to the exam deferrals which I will be writing in the upcoming week. I have an appointment with my doctor next week to discuss my negative experience with the medication and I hope to get a new prescription that will help bring me back to my capable self. I have also contacted Student Wellness Services again to schedule regular appointments with the counsellor I spoke with last term in order to provide me with some extra guidance as I work towards having a better semester. I have really enjoyed many aspects of studying here at Queen¿¿s University and would appreciate consideration of this appeal more than words can express. Thank you once again for this opportunity, and if I need to provide anything else to answer questions not touched upon, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Meghan Costello
Student No. 20133320
Documentation
Professional Letter: 500595BE-CA6B-4063-AA46-19E9E60E772D.jpeg
