Petition Letter
I am writing to request that my final grade in CHEM 281 be converted to a Credit (CR) designation due to extenuating mental health circumstances that significantly affected my academic functioning during that term.
During this period, I was experiencing depression, reduced motivation, and difficulty maintaining structure in my daily routine. These challenges extended beyond academics and affected multiple areas of my life. I withdrew socially, stopped spending time with friends, and spent much of my time isolated at home. Although my courses included in-person components, I struggled to attend them and instead relied primarily on asynchronous, modular, or hybrid course materials where possible. I also made the difficult decision to withdraw from a varsity team that I had been part of the previous year because I no longer had the capacity to manage the commitment. These changes reflected a broader decline in my functioning during this period.
Around this same time, my grandfather was hospitalized. Although he has since recovered, this was a stressful and uncertain situation for my family and contributed to my emotional strain during the term. This added to the difficulty I was already experiencing and further affected my ability to stay engaged and structured academically.
A significant barrier during this time was difficulty communicating what I was experiencing. I struggled emotionally to express how much I was affected, and although I became more distant, my friends and family were largely unaware of what I was going through. I internalized these challenges and attempted to manage them independently. I was also afraid to seek counselling or formal support and minimized the severity of my symptoms to myself. As a result, I did not pursue accommodations or documentation at the time, even though in retrospect this would have been appropriate.
Despite these challenges, I continued to put effort into my coursework and maintained strong performance in my other classes that term. Many of my other courses allowed for more flexible engagement, which made them more manageable while I was struggling. CHEM 281, however, relied heavily on consistent engagement and keeping pace with in-person instruction. Because of this structure, it was particularly difficult to manage during this period.
Throughout the term, I performed strongly on course components and demonstrated understanding of the material. I earned an 88% on the midterm examination and was maintaining approximately an A-level standing prior to the final exam. As the exam period approached, my mental health challenges intensified. Although I attempted to push through, I was not able to perform at my typical level. Because the final exam carried substantial weight, my performance during this period disproportionately affected my final grade and resulted in an outcome that does not reflect my understanding of the material or my performance throughout the term.
Since that time, I have taken meaningful steps to address these challenges. I am now attending therapy through Student Wellness Services, which has helped me better understand my mental health and develop strategies for managing motivation and workload. Through this process, it has also been suggested that I explore possible ADHD assessment, as difficulties with sustained focus and engagement may have contributed to my experience during that period. My academic performance outside of CHEM 281, including strong grades during the same semester and placement on the Dean’s List in subsequent coursework, reflects my typical academic standing.
The final grade in CHEM 281 is an outlier relative to my academic record and occurred during a period where my functioning across multiple areas was significantly impacted. Because this grade does not reflect my performance throughout the course and disproportionately affects my overall academic record, it also limits my ability to pursue further education opportunities despite otherwise strong academic performance. Given these circumstances, I respectfully request that my final grade in CHEM 281 be converted to a Credit (CR) designation.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
During this period, I was experiencing depression, reduced motivation, and difficulty maintaining structure in my daily routine. These challenges extended beyond academics and affected multiple areas of my life. I withdrew socially, stopped spending time with friends, and spent much of my time isolated at home. Although my courses included in-person components, I struggled to attend them and instead relied primarily on asynchronous, modular, or hybrid course materials where possible. I also made the difficult decision to withdraw from a varsity team that I had been part of the previous year because I no longer had the capacity to manage the commitment. These changes reflected a broader decline in my functioning during this period.
Around this same time, my grandfather was hospitalized. Although he has since recovered, this was a stressful and uncertain situation for my family and contributed to my emotional strain during the term. This added to the difficulty I was already experiencing and further affected my ability to stay engaged and structured academically.
A significant barrier during this time was difficulty communicating what I was experiencing. I struggled emotionally to express how much I was affected, and although I became more distant, my friends and family were largely unaware of what I was going through. I internalized these challenges and attempted to manage them independently. I was also afraid to seek counselling or formal support and minimized the severity of my symptoms to myself. As a result, I did not pursue accommodations or documentation at the time, even though in retrospect this would have been appropriate.
Despite these challenges, I continued to put effort into my coursework and maintained strong performance in my other classes that term. Many of my other courses allowed for more flexible engagement, which made them more manageable while I was struggling. CHEM 281, however, relied heavily on consistent engagement and keeping pace with in-person instruction. Because of this structure, it was particularly difficult to manage during this period.
Throughout the term, I performed strongly on course components and demonstrated understanding of the material. I earned an 88% on the midterm examination and was maintaining approximately an A-level standing prior to the final exam. As the exam period approached, my mental health challenges intensified. Although I attempted to push through, I was not able to perform at my typical level. Because the final exam carried substantial weight, my performance during this period disproportionately affected my final grade and resulted in an outcome that does not reflect my understanding of the material or my performance throughout the term.
Since that time, I have taken meaningful steps to address these challenges. I am now attending therapy through Student Wellness Services, which has helped me better understand my mental health and develop strategies for managing motivation and workload. Through this process, it has also been suggested that I explore possible ADHD assessment, as difficulties with sustained focus and engagement may have contributed to my experience during that period. My academic performance outside of CHEM 281, including strong grades during the same semester and placement on the Dean’s List in subsequent coursework, reflects my typical academic standing.
The final grade in CHEM 281 is an outlier relative to my academic record and occurred during a period where my functioning across multiple areas was significantly impacted. Because this grade does not reflect my performance throughout the course and disproportionately affects my overall academic record, it also limits my ability to pursue further education opportunities despite otherwise strong academic performance. Given these circumstances, I respectfully request that my final grade in CHEM 281 be converted to a Credit (CR) designation.
Thank you for your time and consideration.