Some thoughts on mitigating circumstances, special circumstances, or whichever term your university calls #extensions to coursework submission dates.

A reminder that it is not shameful or a failure to use these systems.

A personal thread:

Extensions are a necessary part of university systems. It does not mean you are less capable or skilled than your course mates. It does not mean you have failed to prepare. What it does mean is that some thing (or combo of things) impacted on your ability to do your work. (2)

In undergrad (in the US) I never used extensions. Realistically, there were points -especially in my final year- where I would have benefitted from them. It finally took an incident during my master’s degree for me to use an extension. (3)

On a Uni field trip from Budapest to Vienna, two of us fell ill on the coach trip back. Like, stop at every other rest stop, can’t keep anything down, should we send you to hospital levels of ill. And that stomach bug went round the student dorm… (4)

A week later I went to one of the profs on that trip to ask for an essay extension. I was nervous and felt like I should have planned for this. She could tell gave me this kind, knowing look and basically said, “of course you are getting an extension” emphasis on of course. (5)

It was a reminder to be kinder to myself, to remember that I am human, life happens, and that I ought to deal with some internalized ableism and emphasis on productivity=value ingrained assumptions. Did I learn from that? Sort of, but not enough - that happened during my PhD. (6)

I had to have two extensions to complete my PhD. These were absolutely necessary. They were also big deal, UK university formal application with evidence extensions. *insert tense adventure/thriller movie music* These apps were scary and waiting for a response was stressful. (7)

During my PhD, my mom had two TIAs, my dad was diagnosed with cancer, underwent treatment and passed away, and I was undergoing medical investigations to try to figure out near-constant pain, nausea, fatigue. Grateful to dept. office staff who helped me copy required docs. (8)

Those extensions meant that I was able to complete my degree. Still, I felt guilty. I’ve always been harder on myself and less forgiving. Vacillating between: it’s okay, give yourself a break and WHY ARE YOU NOT WORKING?!? (9)

These were ongoing issues rather than single events, so I had a harder time accepting their validity. It took a while to come to terms with that. In fact, that’s why I am writing this thread: don’t be me, maybe you can learn from my experiences, maybe this is a good reminder (10)

It shouldn’t have had to take all that to finally get the message through to me. Applying for an extension / mitigating circumstances is okay. Talk to your personal tutor, supervisor, a mentor, or trusted person in your uni. And try, please, to be kinder to yourself. (11/Fin)