Petition Letter
To The Associate Dean,
I am appealing to drop PHIL 260 (Fall, 2021).
The extenuating circumstance that was beyond my control was the death of my best friend??s sister. I first received news of her cancer worsening on Friday, November 12th, then her passing on the following day. The visitation took place on November 17th and her funeral took place on November 18th. I had a very close relationship with the whole family and her passing continues to have a significant impact on me mentally. I am having trouble getting out of bed and focusing on anything for too long. This has been affecting my academics in all of my courses, as I am currently overdue on two essays, but specifically PHIL260 as it is an online course. Watching the online course lectures and retaining the information has been proven a more difficult challenge then forcing myself to sit through an in-person lecture that I won??t leave in the middle of. I was granted a week of leave and academic consideration for extenuating circumstances to attend the visitation and funeral although I am grateful for this week, I underestimated how much time I needed to process and grieve. However, I understand this is my mistake and one I promise to learn from.
This course, PHIL260, is the only course I am appealing to drop because it is one of my more difficult courses which requires a lot of time and commitment to understanding the material, that I know I can??t give it at this time. I am also more comfortable dropping this course because it is a 3-unit course as appose to a full 6-unit course that three of my other courses are. This is a huge factor as I hope to be able to improve my final grade in my three full-year courses next semester, through my own dedication to seek guidance on managing my mental health. My only other 3-unit course this fall requires only a final essay to complete which requires no external research and I believe I can complete rather than continuous studying for an exam. I did not drop PHIL260 prior to the deadline because her passing happened after the deadline and I fully intended on completing all my courses. I have waited this long to submit an appeal because I am having trouble doing most things that require work for myself.
My biggest concern is allowing myself to fall behind so great that it requires me to prolong my studies a whole year, which is why I refuse to request an appeal for all of my courses. This is a big concern for me because I don??t want my mental health to get the best of me, I want to be able to manage it and be proud of my work. Dropping this course will allow me to mindlessly get through this semester in order to start next semester with building blocks to improve myself and my full-year courses. PHIL260 is a course I need for my major and I fully intend on completing but I ask that I am able to do that on my terms and finish in a state that is healthy, and I receive a grade that I know I will deserve.
My plan going forward is to take PHIL260 in the following school year and take the time to focus on myself and allow myself time to grieve. I will be speaking to someone biweekly to discuss my mental health and seek help with coping strategies and dealing with death and ways of managing it with schoolwork. I understand this will not be easy and it will take a great amount of perseverance and dedication to my own health and studies. I believe that is the right decision and most beneficial for me and my studies moving forward to succeed. These future plans of dropping this course to complete it next year and biweekly meetings to support my mental health will support my academic goals to succeed because it will allow me time. This time will be used to learn how to grieve and mourn and build me back up to tackle my work with the drive I know is in me.
I appreciate your time and consideration.
Thank you,
Olivia Lloyd
I am appealing to drop PHIL 260 (Fall, 2021).
The extenuating circumstance that was beyond my control was the death of my best friend??s sister. I first received news of her cancer worsening on Friday, November 12th, then her passing on the following day. The visitation took place on November 17th and her funeral took place on November 18th. I had a very close relationship with the whole family and her passing continues to have a significant impact on me mentally. I am having trouble getting out of bed and focusing on anything for too long. This has been affecting my academics in all of my courses, as I am currently overdue on two essays, but specifically PHIL260 as it is an online course. Watching the online course lectures and retaining the information has been proven a more difficult challenge then forcing myself to sit through an in-person lecture that I won??t leave in the middle of. I was granted a week of leave and academic consideration for extenuating circumstances to attend the visitation and funeral although I am grateful for this week, I underestimated how much time I needed to process and grieve. However, I understand this is my mistake and one I promise to learn from.
This course, PHIL260, is the only course I am appealing to drop because it is one of my more difficult courses which requires a lot of time and commitment to understanding the material, that I know I can??t give it at this time. I am also more comfortable dropping this course because it is a 3-unit course as appose to a full 6-unit course that three of my other courses are. This is a huge factor as I hope to be able to improve my final grade in my three full-year courses next semester, through my own dedication to seek guidance on managing my mental health. My only other 3-unit course this fall requires only a final essay to complete which requires no external research and I believe I can complete rather than continuous studying for an exam. I did not drop PHIL260 prior to the deadline because her passing happened after the deadline and I fully intended on completing all my courses. I have waited this long to submit an appeal because I am having trouble doing most things that require work for myself.
My biggest concern is allowing myself to fall behind so great that it requires me to prolong my studies a whole year, which is why I refuse to request an appeal for all of my courses. This is a big concern for me because I don??t want my mental health to get the best of me, I want to be able to manage it and be proud of my work. Dropping this course will allow me to mindlessly get through this semester in order to start next semester with building blocks to improve myself and my full-year courses. PHIL260 is a course I need for my major and I fully intend on completing but I ask that I am able to do that on my terms and finish in a state that is healthy, and I receive a grade that I know I will deserve.
My plan going forward is to take PHIL260 in the following school year and take the time to focus on myself and allow myself time to grieve. I will be speaking to someone biweekly to discuss my mental health and seek help with coping strategies and dealing with death and ways of managing it with schoolwork. I understand this will not be easy and it will take a great amount of perseverance and dedication to my own health and studies. I believe that is the right decision and most beneficial for me and my studies moving forward to succeed. These future plans of dropping this course to complete it next year and biweekly meetings to support my mental health will support my academic goals to succeed because it will allow me time. This time will be used to learn how to grieve and mourn and build me back up to tackle my work with the drive I know is in me.
I appreciate your time and consideration.
Thank you,
Olivia Lloyd