Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (Academic),
I am petitioning to drop MATH 310 (Fall, 2023).
MATH 310 is an extremely challenging mathematics course. I, however, love a good challenge. Or so, I thought. MATH 310 has challenged me beyond my mental capacity.
This course has stretched me so thin, I am at my breaking point. I have consistently struggled to grasp the material, resulting in heightened stress and anxiety levels. The challenges presented by this course have had a profound impact on my overall well-being, making it increasingly difficult for me to maintain a healthy balance between my academic responsibilities and caring for myself. I have nearly lost my mind. This course has destroyed my academic confidence, makes me doubt my abilities as a student and is testing my mental stability. Despite my earnest efforts, the mental toll has become unbearable, and continues to worsen. This situation has begun to affect not only my academic performance but also my general mental and emotional health.
In such a stressful and upsetting time I turned to my professor Mike Roth for his professional opinion and advice. After explaining my situation he also believes that dropping the class is my best option - academically and mentally. He states, and I agree, “I am worried that it is unrealistic to expect to pass the class. Given that, it might be better to drop the class so that you can focus on your remaining courses.” (email attachment).
I believe I am an extremely hard worker. I may not be able to outsmart someone, but I will certainly outwork them. My intense work ethic has led me to this point in time. I have always associated dropping a class with being a quitter. And that is the last thing I want to be in life, a quitter. However, in this case, I am associating dropping a class with prioritizing my mental health.
Why this course only? MATH 310 is the source of all my problems. Eliminating this course will redirect my energy toward my other coursework, maintaining a more stable mental state and allowing for a more productive and positive learning experience in my remaining courses.
Why didn’t you drop the course earlier? Stated previously, I have a great desire to succeed and work hard. This semester, I was in denial and scared. I had hoped the coursework would begin to make sense. I had hoped if I spent every waking moment in the library it would pay off. I had hope, but now I am hopeless. I received my midterm grade after the week 8 deadline, and it was then I knew something had to change, MATH 310 had to be dropped.
Future plan? Should my petition be granted and my course be dropped, I have already replaced it with a different MATH course to take in the winter term. The MATH course I have chosen to replace MATH 310 is more fit to my liking and will better reflect my abilities.
I kindly request your understanding and consideration of my circumstances. I am more than willing to discuss this matter further if necessary.
Regards,
Leah Stone
I am petitioning to drop MATH 310 (Fall, 2023).
MATH 310 is an extremely challenging mathematics course. I, however, love a good challenge. Or so, I thought. MATH 310 has challenged me beyond my mental capacity.
This course has stretched me so thin, I am at my breaking point. I have consistently struggled to grasp the material, resulting in heightened stress and anxiety levels. The challenges presented by this course have had a profound impact on my overall well-being, making it increasingly difficult for me to maintain a healthy balance between my academic responsibilities and caring for myself. I have nearly lost my mind. This course has destroyed my academic confidence, makes me doubt my abilities as a student and is testing my mental stability. Despite my earnest efforts, the mental toll has become unbearable, and continues to worsen. This situation has begun to affect not only my academic performance but also my general mental and emotional health.
In such a stressful and upsetting time I turned to my professor Mike Roth for his professional opinion and advice. After explaining my situation he also believes that dropping the class is my best option - academically and mentally. He states, and I agree, “I am worried that it is unrealistic to expect to pass the class. Given that, it might be better to drop the class so that you can focus on your remaining courses.” (email attachment).
I believe I am an extremely hard worker. I may not be able to outsmart someone, but I will certainly outwork them. My intense work ethic has led me to this point in time. I have always associated dropping a class with being a quitter. And that is the last thing I want to be in life, a quitter. However, in this case, I am associating dropping a class with prioritizing my mental health.
Why this course only? MATH 310 is the source of all my problems. Eliminating this course will redirect my energy toward my other coursework, maintaining a more stable mental state and allowing for a more productive and positive learning experience in my remaining courses.
Why didn’t you drop the course earlier? Stated previously, I have a great desire to succeed and work hard. This semester, I was in denial and scared. I had hoped the coursework would begin to make sense. I had hoped if I spent every waking moment in the library it would pay off. I had hope, but now I am hopeless. I received my midterm grade after the week 8 deadline, and it was then I knew something had to change, MATH 310 had to be dropped.
Future plan? Should my petition be granted and my course be dropped, I have already replaced it with a different MATH course to take in the winter term. The MATH course I have chosen to replace MATH 310 is more fit to my liking and will better reflect my abilities.
I kindly request your understanding and consideration of my circumstances. I am more than willing to discuss this matter further if necessary.
Regards,
Leah Stone