Petition Letter
January 11, 2018
Dr. Jill Atkinson
Associate Dean (Studies)
Re: Noah Zelikovitz Letter of Appeal Regarding Course MATH 280
Dear Dr. Atkinson,
Please accept this letter as my formal appeal to drop MATH 280. I am currently in my second year at Queen¿¿s. When I first came to Queen¿¿s beginning in 2016, I made the decision to major in mathematics. After a very difficult year I decided to continue with my major in math heading into 2nd year. However, I soon found my course load in math extremely difficult. More importantly, I began to experience episodes of severe stress and anxiety that led me to make the decision to change my major from math to economics. Despite this change, my anxiety throughout the past term remained.
Over the last 7 years, starting in grade 7, I have struggled with anxiety. Admittedly, it improved significantly in grades 11 and 12, enough to make the decision to leave home in Ottawa to attend Queen¿¿s. Beginning in grade 8, I started seeing a psychologist, Dr. Anand Prabhu (Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), to help me in dealing with my anxiety. Dr. Prabhu gave me a lot of tools to help me manage the anxiety and these tools enabled me to improve academically throughout high school. Unfortunately during my first year at Queen¿¿s and then into my second year, my anxiety returned and took a significant toll on my academic performance.
Throughout my time in MATH 280, I experienced many anxiety attacks, unlike any I had in first year. This was the first time in over 5 years that I had experienced anxiety like this. In the first month of school I dropped MATH 231 because I thought that giving myself a lighter course load would help. I could perform in my other courses ¿¿ LAW 201, CLST 205, STAT 268, as they were mostly unrelated to the subject. However, as I worked on MATH 280 I found myself undergoing constant anxiety attacks and stress waves that blundered my academic performance.
During the second month of second year I researched and then decided to change my major to Economics. I met with the head of the Economics department, who helped me fit the right courses into my schedule. As a result, MATH 280 is no longer required for my major. While I remained determined to finish the course, I realize now that I should have dropped this course for my mental and physical well-being. While I successfully changed my major, the stress and anxiety brought about working on MATH 280 continued to affect my performance and I found myself taking time away from my other classes to focus more on MATH 280. Unfortunately this only heightened my anxiety levels and I ended up spending a number of weekends back home in Ottawa, as I felt the need to get away from school.
Following some quality time home with my family during the holiday break, as I begin the 2nd semester of my second year, I and my family have already noticed a greater level of stability and my anxiety attacks appear to have subsided. I am committed to working hard and excelling within my new major of Economics. However, I am quite concerned that my failing mark in MATH 280 will create problems for future opportunities that I hope to pursue. It was my decision to not drop MATH 280 earlier, despite the advice of my parents. I felt it was important to make all efforts to complete this course ¿¿ for myself. Unfortunately my anxiety came back at a level that I was simply unable to control, despite knowing and having the tools to do so. But it was simply too overwhelming.
In conclusion, I reluctantly submit this letter of appeal to have MATH 280 dropped from my transcript. I would be happy to meet with you to discuss further if you any further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Noah Zelikovitz
Dr. Jill Atkinson
Associate Dean (Studies)
Re: Noah Zelikovitz Letter of Appeal Regarding Course MATH 280
Dear Dr. Atkinson,
Please accept this letter as my formal appeal to drop MATH 280. I am currently in my second year at Queen¿¿s. When I first came to Queen¿¿s beginning in 2016, I made the decision to major in mathematics. After a very difficult year I decided to continue with my major in math heading into 2nd year. However, I soon found my course load in math extremely difficult. More importantly, I began to experience episodes of severe stress and anxiety that led me to make the decision to change my major from math to economics. Despite this change, my anxiety throughout the past term remained.
Over the last 7 years, starting in grade 7, I have struggled with anxiety. Admittedly, it improved significantly in grades 11 and 12, enough to make the decision to leave home in Ottawa to attend Queen¿¿s. Beginning in grade 8, I started seeing a psychologist, Dr. Anand Prabhu (Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), to help me in dealing with my anxiety. Dr. Prabhu gave me a lot of tools to help me manage the anxiety and these tools enabled me to improve academically throughout high school. Unfortunately during my first year at Queen¿¿s and then into my second year, my anxiety returned and took a significant toll on my academic performance.
Throughout my time in MATH 280, I experienced many anxiety attacks, unlike any I had in first year. This was the first time in over 5 years that I had experienced anxiety like this. In the first month of school I dropped MATH 231 because I thought that giving myself a lighter course load would help. I could perform in my other courses ¿¿ LAW 201, CLST 205, STAT 268, as they were mostly unrelated to the subject. However, as I worked on MATH 280 I found myself undergoing constant anxiety attacks and stress waves that blundered my academic performance.
During the second month of second year I researched and then decided to change my major to Economics. I met with the head of the Economics department, who helped me fit the right courses into my schedule. As a result, MATH 280 is no longer required for my major. While I remained determined to finish the course, I realize now that I should have dropped this course for my mental and physical well-being. While I successfully changed my major, the stress and anxiety brought about working on MATH 280 continued to affect my performance and I found myself taking time away from my other classes to focus more on MATH 280. Unfortunately this only heightened my anxiety levels and I ended up spending a number of weekends back home in Ottawa, as I felt the need to get away from school.
Following some quality time home with my family during the holiday break, as I begin the 2nd semester of my second year, I and my family have already noticed a greater level of stability and my anxiety attacks appear to have subsided. I am committed to working hard and excelling within my new major of Economics. However, I am quite concerned that my failing mark in MATH 280 will create problems for future opportunities that I hope to pursue. It was my decision to not drop MATH 280 earlier, despite the advice of my parents. I felt it was important to make all efforts to complete this course ¿¿ for myself. Unfortunately my anxiety came back at a level that I was simply unable to control, despite knowing and having the tools to do so. But it was simply too overwhelming.
In conclusion, I reluctantly submit this letter of appeal to have MATH 280 dropped from my transcript. I would be happy to meet with you to discuss further if you any further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Noah Zelikovitz