Petition Letter
Hanna Girndt 20009334
21 Lankin Blvd.
Toronto, ON
M4J4W7
Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson, Associate Dean (Academic),
I am appealing to remove MICR 360 (Fall 2019) from my transcript.
The reason I am appealing to drop this course is due to an abusive relationship that left me unable to leave my residence during the time lectures for this class were scheduled. Myself and my partner were living together at the time, therefore I did not have any privacy and my partner had a lot of control over my life. This relationship began in the Winter 2019 semester and continued through until the beginning of the Winter 2020 semester, when I was able to leave the relationship. The relationship started out fine, as all new relationships do. However, when the relationship progressed into the 6-month territory, right around the beginning of the Fall 2019 semester, the relationship became increasingly toxic, escalating to a point where I did not feel safe leaving the house at certain points in the day. These times included the time slots when the MICR 360 lectures occurred.
I am appealing to have only this class removed from my transcript as it was the only one where I was directly unable to complete in-class participation and attend lecture. The class provided very little online material to learn from, therefore I was at a great disadvantage to learning the course content. I was able to attend the lectures for my other 4 classes, and therefore was able to pass these classes.
I did not try to drop the class before the Week 8 drop deadline because I was hopeful that I would not have to make significant changes to my academic plan due to a situation caused by a romantic relationship. I continued the course in an emotionally vulnerable state which lead to an inability to perform well during finals and I failed the class. This was not the right course of action; however, it was the only option I felt comfortable considering at the time. I was hoping to retake the class during the following Winter 2020 semester; however, the course was not offered, nor was it offered online in the summer, or in the current Fall 2020 semester. I was really hoping to get the chance to retake this course and replace the grade with one I had earned, but it has not been possible. I was able to leave the relationship in January 2020 when I was able to move in with a friend for the rest of the semester and leave the relationship behind. I was unable to do this sooner as I was too afraid to talk to anyone about my situation and I knew my friend did not have a place for me to stay until the winter semester when one of her housemates went on Exchange. I was able to take on a sixth course after I was able to leave the relationship and focus on healing and motivated to return to my normal self.
I am now looking to apply to medical school, but with this grade on my transcript, I fear my GPA will not be competitive enough to be accepted. I would hate to have this very vulnerable time in my life affect my future for the worse. I would really like the opportunity to move forward without having this event legitimately keep me from achieving personal goals now that I am healthy again. I would be so grateful to have the ability to apply to medical schools directly with my adjusted GPA and continue on the path of higher education.
I appreciate your time in reviewing my application and I would appreciate any consideration you can offer.
All the best,
Hanna Girndt
21 Lankin Blvd.
Toronto, ON
M4J4W7
Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson, Associate Dean (Academic),
I am appealing to remove MICR 360 (Fall 2019) from my transcript.
The reason I am appealing to drop this course is due to an abusive relationship that left me unable to leave my residence during the time lectures for this class were scheduled. Myself and my partner were living together at the time, therefore I did not have any privacy and my partner had a lot of control over my life. This relationship began in the Winter 2019 semester and continued through until the beginning of the Winter 2020 semester, when I was able to leave the relationship. The relationship started out fine, as all new relationships do. However, when the relationship progressed into the 6-month territory, right around the beginning of the Fall 2019 semester, the relationship became increasingly toxic, escalating to a point where I did not feel safe leaving the house at certain points in the day. These times included the time slots when the MICR 360 lectures occurred.
I am appealing to have only this class removed from my transcript as it was the only one where I was directly unable to complete in-class participation and attend lecture. The class provided very little online material to learn from, therefore I was at a great disadvantage to learning the course content. I was able to attend the lectures for my other 4 classes, and therefore was able to pass these classes.
I did not try to drop the class before the Week 8 drop deadline because I was hopeful that I would not have to make significant changes to my academic plan due to a situation caused by a romantic relationship. I continued the course in an emotionally vulnerable state which lead to an inability to perform well during finals and I failed the class. This was not the right course of action; however, it was the only option I felt comfortable considering at the time. I was hoping to retake the class during the following Winter 2020 semester; however, the course was not offered, nor was it offered online in the summer, or in the current Fall 2020 semester. I was really hoping to get the chance to retake this course and replace the grade with one I had earned, but it has not been possible. I was able to leave the relationship in January 2020 when I was able to move in with a friend for the rest of the semester and leave the relationship behind. I was unable to do this sooner as I was too afraid to talk to anyone about my situation and I knew my friend did not have a place for me to stay until the winter semester when one of her housemates went on Exchange. I was able to take on a sixth course after I was able to leave the relationship and focus on healing and motivated to return to my normal self.
I am now looking to apply to medical school, but with this grade on my transcript, I fear my GPA will not be competitive enough to be accepted. I would hate to have this very vulnerable time in my life affect my future for the worse. I would really like the opportunity to move forward without having this event legitimately keep me from achieving personal goals now that I am healthy again. I would be so grateful to have the ability to apply to medical schools directly with my adjusted GPA and continue on the path of higher education.
I appreciate your time in reviewing my application and I would appreciate any consideration you can offer.
All the best,
Hanna Girndt