Petition Letter
I am writing to respectfully submit a petition to drop HIST 251 due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control that significantly affected my academic performance during this academic year.
In the summer prior to the start of the school year, I learned that my mother was diagnosed with cancer. This news was extremely difficult for me, as my mother is my primary support system and the person I rely on most emotionally. I do not have a close relationship with my father, and my brother works long hours, which left me with limited family support during this time. Returning to school while facing the uncertainty of my mother’s health had a serious impact on my mental health, including increased stress, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
As a result of these mental health challenges, I began to fall behind academically, particularly in HIST 251. I struggled to keep up with readings and assignments, and my ability to stay organized and focused was significantly affected. Recognizing that my mental health was declining and that I could not manage my full course load effectively, I made the decision to drop HIST 251 before the Drop/Refund (DR) deadline in order to prioritize my well-being and maintain my performance in my remaining courses.
During this same period, my laptop was compromised by a virus and was hacked, which caused ongoing technical issues. At times, I was unexpectedly logged out of onQ, and some assignments were submitted as blank without my realization. I believe these technical difficulties also contributed to my unsuccessful attempt to drop the course, although at the time I believed the drop had gone through successfully. However, these technical issues were secondary to the larger impact of my mental health struggles, which made it difficult for me to notice and address these administrative problems immediately.
Due to the combined effects of my mother’s illness and the resulting toll on my mental health, along with the temporary technical difficulties I experienced, my academic performance in HIST 251 was significantly affected. I took steps to manage these challenges by attempting to reduce my course load and focus on my well-being, which is why I believed I had dropped the course earlier in the term.
Due to the nature of my mother’s illness, I chose not to involve her directly in this petition process, as I did not want to add any additional stress or worry during her cancer treatment. For this reason, I am unable to provide a supporting letter from her, and I hope this context explains the limitations of my supporting documentation.
For these reasons, I respectfully request consideration for a late drop of HIST 251. Thank you for your time, understanding, and consideration of my petition.
In the summer prior to the start of the school year, I learned that my mother was diagnosed with cancer. This news was extremely difficult for me, as my mother is my primary support system and the person I rely on most emotionally. I do not have a close relationship with my father, and my brother works long hours, which left me with limited family support during this time. Returning to school while facing the uncertainty of my mother’s health had a serious impact on my mental health, including increased stress, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
As a result of these mental health challenges, I began to fall behind academically, particularly in HIST 251. I struggled to keep up with readings and assignments, and my ability to stay organized and focused was significantly affected. Recognizing that my mental health was declining and that I could not manage my full course load effectively, I made the decision to drop HIST 251 before the Drop/Refund (DR) deadline in order to prioritize my well-being and maintain my performance in my remaining courses.
During this same period, my laptop was compromised by a virus and was hacked, which caused ongoing technical issues. At times, I was unexpectedly logged out of onQ, and some assignments were submitted as blank without my realization. I believe these technical difficulties also contributed to my unsuccessful attempt to drop the course, although at the time I believed the drop had gone through successfully. However, these technical issues were secondary to the larger impact of my mental health struggles, which made it difficult for me to notice and address these administrative problems immediately.
Due to the combined effects of my mother’s illness and the resulting toll on my mental health, along with the temporary technical difficulties I experienced, my academic performance in HIST 251 was significantly affected. I took steps to manage these challenges by attempting to reduce my course load and focus on my well-being, which is why I believed I had dropped the course earlier in the term.
Due to the nature of my mother’s illness, I chose not to involve her directly in this petition process, as I did not want to add any additional stress or worry during her cancer treatment. For this reason, I am unable to provide a supporting letter from her, and I hope this context explains the limitations of my supporting documentation.
For these reasons, I respectfully request consideration for a late drop of HIST 251. Thank you for your time, understanding, and consideration of my petition.