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have withdrawn from university courses before due to my long-term sickness, 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