Petition Letter
May 26, 2016
Associate Dean (Studies),
I am writing this letter with the request for a late drop of FREN 150, and for credit standing for PSYC 100 and MUSC 102.
I feel that my academic performance this school year was negatively affected by my mental illness. I experienced depression and anxiety in high school, and sought treatment at that time. When I arrived on campus in September, I took the step to find support during the big transition into university. I originally was hoping to receive accommodations for exams, as a lot of my anxiety is related to school and testing. I started seeing a psychiatrist through Queen's Student Health once a week beginning in December and ending around exam time.
I also hold a job on campus at the ARC, and in the last two months of school I begin to take on a lot more shifts, and try to organize my time so that I could still study. I found that when I sat down to study, I felt almost paralyzed by the fear of the amount of work I had to accomplish, and I ended up getting significantly less work done than I had planned. The idea of failing was terrifying, and I spent a lot of my study time with that thought in my head. I can remember times just sitting staring at my books or my computer and not really seeing them, not taking anything in, just feeling scared. I did not ask for help, because I did not think that anyone could help me. I thought it was too late in the semester, and that I had to get out of the situation myself.
When I sat down to the exams for French, Music, and Psychology, I tried to take a deep breath and stay calm, but when I looked at the questions on the exam sheet, I began to feel incredibly anxious. I could tell that I knew the answers, but I could not recall them due to my anxiety.
I feel that in this case, my anxiety severely let me down. Looking back, I know that I took on more than I could handle in the last few weeks of classes. In the future, I plan to think ahead both with school and work. I will spread out my shifts and workload over the whole semester so that I do not end up in a stressful position during exams. I will also take on fewer shifts around exams so I have greater time to study effectively. I know that it is okay to ask for help at any point, because not every situation needs to be handled on my own. I will ask for clarification in lecture or tutorial, and go to my TA for extra help. I think that by doing these things, I will be far more successful in the future.
I hope that with this explanation of what transpired, supporting documentation from my psychiatrist Dr. Kenny, and my plans for improvement, you will grant my appeal.
Thank you,
Sabina Litherland
Associate Dean (Studies),
I am writing this letter with the request for a late drop of FREN 150, and for credit standing for PSYC 100 and MUSC 102.
I feel that my academic performance this school year was negatively affected by my mental illness. I experienced depression and anxiety in high school, and sought treatment at that time. When I arrived on campus in September, I took the step to find support during the big transition into university. I originally was hoping to receive accommodations for exams, as a lot of my anxiety is related to school and testing. I started seeing a psychiatrist through Queen's Student Health once a week beginning in December and ending around exam time.
I also hold a job on campus at the ARC, and in the last two months of school I begin to take on a lot more shifts, and try to organize my time so that I could still study. I found that when I sat down to study, I felt almost paralyzed by the fear of the amount of work I had to accomplish, and I ended up getting significantly less work done than I had planned. The idea of failing was terrifying, and I spent a lot of my study time with that thought in my head. I can remember times just sitting staring at my books or my computer and not really seeing them, not taking anything in, just feeling scared. I did not ask for help, because I did not think that anyone could help me. I thought it was too late in the semester, and that I had to get out of the situation myself.
When I sat down to the exams for French, Music, and Psychology, I tried to take a deep breath and stay calm, but when I looked at the questions on the exam sheet, I began to feel incredibly anxious. I could tell that I knew the answers, but I could not recall them due to my anxiety.
I feel that in this case, my anxiety severely let me down. Looking back, I know that I took on more than I could handle in the last few weeks of classes. In the future, I plan to think ahead both with school and work. I will spread out my shifts and workload over the whole semester so that I do not end up in a stressful position during exams. I will also take on fewer shifts around exams so I have greater time to study effectively. I know that it is okay to ask for help at any point, because not every situation needs to be handled on my own. I will ask for clarification in lecture or tutorial, and go to my TA for extra help. I think that by doing these things, I will be far more successful in the future.
I hope that with this explanation of what transpired, supporting documentation from my psychiatrist Dr. Kenny, and my plans for improvement, you will grant my appeal.
Thank you,
Sabina Litherland