Sir,
I have just come back from the doctor's office. While this doesn't prove that I
was ill today (he told me about those Asian students who repeatedly abuse the
system by citing illness during exam time), I honestly don't understand why I
would make this up and be willing to come and sit the exam tomorrow (provided I
am better by then).
I know it costs the school money to rent and distribute those exams, so I am
not asking for another week or another time inconvenient to the school to sit
this exam.
I am asking to sit it when other math students are sitting their math exams, so
that I can finally get this course over and done with.
Now, I know I have had long-term medical problems, such as my depressive
illness, which dates back to 2004 (documented). In addition, I understand I
have withdrawn from university courses before due to my long-term sickness,
which is why I am not allowed to do this course again, because I have been told
that I am full aware of my psychiatric problems.
There is absolutely no justifiable reason, other than you citing equally absurd
claims such as "well, we wouldn't have enough room in the exam room if EVERY
student asked to sit the additional assessment the following day", why it would
be a travesty or illegality if I sat this exam tomorrow, with a (hopefully)
better stomach. If I am not well by that day, then I fully understand why there
is no other time for me to sit the exam, which is why there is no reason why I
should argue about it. I know it costs money to hire the room and the
supervisors. However, it would not cost any money whatsoever to allow me to sit
there, with my math 1141 paper and write the damn thing and pass this course
finally.
The ONLY argument you have against this is “We wouldn’t have the room in the
exam if EVERY student asked to sit the next exam”. This is stupid; because
that’s like arguing, “We cannot have additional assessment exams in the first
place, because if every student at university had medical problems beyond their
control, we would have to hold every exam at university for every student
twice!” This argument could go on like that with everything in life and is not
a justification for anything. I am asking sincerely, to be allowed to write my
paper tomorrow, provided I am at University at 8:45am and there is ENOUGH room
to sit me down and work. Yes, if the entire room is filled with students by the
time the exam starts, I will not argue and admit that I have been misfortunate.
I am asking for a little bit of compassion here during very desperate times in
my life. I am so desperate, that Id be willing to even sit the exam on the
floor and write it, EVEN if it doesn’t count. That’s right, even if the exam
DOES NOT count or will be considered for weighting, I want to write the exam,
so that I can prove to myself and the university that I am capable of
progressing in this degree, and also motivated and healthy enough in the long-
term.
Me missing this exam today has very little to do with my long-term depressive
illness, and much more to do with the fact that I was very nervous (obviously),
but also simply had some bad food last night. Therefore, I am not trying to
make any lame excuses. Food poisoning can come from any source, so it needn’t
be just the home delivery in the past few days (it could have also been the
night before or 2 or 3 days ago).
I have done nothing wrong, so I do not feel bad or guilty. I think it is absurd
for you to think that I am doing this simply to have an extra day to study. ONE
extra day will do absolutely nothing for a semester’s worth of coursework. The
truth is I will not be able to study much at all because I have a temperature
right now and a headache and weak stomach.
I am in the library now, trying to look at the floor each time I type a
sentence, so that I don’t vomit somewhere. You were smiling at me and seemed
very indifferent when I was standing in front of your office, clearly unwell.
Did I have to vomit on the floor for you to believe me? Even if I did, that
wouldn’t prove that I was indeed sick. I could simply have been intoxicated.
However, this is beside the point. The point is, I am sure you will have one
spare seat for me to sit down and write this paper tomorrow, and as you can see
by the length of this email, it clearly means a lot to me. Why would I even
bother with all this if it didn’t? I should be lying down somewhere resting
right now, instead of begging you like a dog to compassionately consider my
request.
In addition, taking deep breaths, as you suggested, is 100 % useless. If
anything, it only makes it worse. It is not the first time somebody suggested
that lame old trick to me. It really makes things worse. I have never felt
better by taking deep breaths after I became nauseous in a bus or a car.
Anyway, I am going to turn up to the exam tomorrow morning, like I did today
(despite being sick this morning), to show myself in order to effectively make
it YOUR doing to reject me sitting the exam. So you have to tell me to my
face “NO, I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO SIT THIS PAPER TODAY”, for me to leave again.
You have kicked me today while I was on the ground, and I will make you do it
again tomorrow, if you should remain stubborn and without compassion by this
day’s end.
I am not asking you to bend over backwards to break any rules or university
policies. You and I both know you have the power and the facilities to allow me
to sit this exam tomorrow. Your position as director of first year will in no
way be jeopardized by marking my Math 1141 paper tomorrow after I sat it. We
both know this. Therefore, please, I beg you; do not insult my intelligence and
my good intent with rubbish rhetoric.
I know that you are a stubborn man. I just hope that I am proven wrong tomorrow
if I turn up in the exam room tomorrow morning.
I will take it very personally should you not even allow me to sit the exam,
even if it doesn’t count toward my final mark. I just want to pass the exam
under exam conditions so that I can prove that I am capable.
I am not a criminal or a liar. I have done nothing wrong. I regularly order
delivery food, because many times I am incapable of cooking (for personal
reasons). It's very easy for you to walk away from me, when I am about to spew
on the floor and I have my entire academic career on the line here, but
wouldn't you want to have some compassion if you found yourself in a similar
situation?
I am not asking you to change the school's policy. I am asking you to be
reasonable and compromising, so that a student like myself, with long-term
problems who is also desperate, be given a final chance tomorrow morning to sit
and pass this course. That is all I have to say.
I will see you tomorrow, and I desperately hope that this letter has not been
in vain.
Sincerely,
Peter