Petition Letter
I am appealing to late drop without penalty PSYC 221 and LING 415. I also am appealing to get credit for COGS 300. I have suffered from ADHD, anxiety and depression for several years. The anxiety and depression have been controlled by medication, and I have accommodations/extra time at Queen's for my ADHD. I also have had problems with seasonal affective disorder. This academic year, starting in October, I began to have trouble getting up in the morning, attending class, initiating class assignments, and concentrating on studying for tests. During the fall, my primary struggle was with PSYC 352, which I ended up failing. However, I didn't recognize that my academic problems in the fall were signaling the beginning of a much more serious bout of depression. My psychiatrist feels that the F I got in PSYC 352 was due to the initial phase of my depression and thinks I should appeal this as well even though it is months past the appeal period. I will be appealing this course separately.
Winter semester I really hit rock bottom during February and March, and it affected all of my courses. I was unable to get out of bed, do homework, attend class, take tests, etc. I received counseling from Counseling Services, my Student Accessibility Services advisor, and my psychiatrist in Philadelphia, who adjusted my medication. I have slowly been improving, but by the time I began to function, I had missed the late drop period, and was really only able to do coursework starting the last week of classes. I failed PSYC 221 and LING 415, and got a low grade (C-) in COGS 300. I do not think my grades this past winter in those courses are reflective of my ability and do not want my depression event to adversely impact my grades.
Winter semester I really hit rock bottom during February and March, and it affected all of my courses. I was unable to get out of bed, do homework, attend class, take tests, etc. I received counseling from Counseling Services, my Student Accessibility Services advisor, and my psychiatrist in Philadelphia, who adjusted my medication. I have slowly been improving, but by the time I began to function, I had missed the late drop period, and was really only able to do coursework starting the last week of classes. I failed PSYC 221 and LING 415, and got a low grade (C-) in COGS 300. I do not think my grades this past winter in those courses are reflective of my ability and do not want my depression event to adversely impact my grades.