Independent Study

#Request for Extension //by// (text-colour:(hsl:228,1,0.7843,0.65))[//Devaki Pratap//] This is my first exploration of narrative fiction as a medium to investigate the relationship between students and their educational institution through their email communications, specifically regarding their mental health or other such vulnerabilities. Having examined several such emails sent by both "struggling" students and their educational institutions, this narrative fiction contains snippets from real email correspondance as well. It simulates a brief experience of writing an email requesting your professor for an extension, while an "//Institution Bot//" tries to help you write (text-style:"smear")[the most ideal email], with a touch of criticism. (button:)[[Start Writing->2]]

(text-style:"blur")[Subject: Re: Request for Extension To: Student Dear 235350005,] Writing an email requesting for extension from your professor can be a daunting task, but not to worry! I am here to help you write the perfect email which will guarantee that you get taken seriously. Why don't you start writing? (text-style:"blur")[Please note, since this bot is still development, you might experience a few (text-colour:(hsl:226,1,0.949,0.65))[inconsistencies], as it is still learning how to emulate the institution. Happy Learning, Regards, The [[Institution->3]] Bot] [[Dear Professor,->4]]

(text-style:"tall")[Institution] envisions to be an excellent centre of global ''(text-style:"emboss","fidget")[excellence]'' providing (text-style:"expand")[high qualit] y education and oportunities for research in the the fields of art, design, media, busines, technology, //excellence//, humanties, sciences, law, and others. Institution boasts world-class facilities and pedagogy, wich are constantly reviewed and upgraded to reflect the latest trends and developments in higher education. As a pioneer in higher education services with more than six decades of experience in (text-style:"mirror")[excellence], our vision is achieve global leadership in human development, (text-style:"buoy")[excellence] in education and healthcare. <img src="https://www.theplan.it/cdn-cgi/image/width=1500/awardsContest/2024/Education/9415/09._section_2.jpg">

Greetings, I am here to assist you regarding institutional correspondence. I see that you have not yet finished your final term paper. This is very unprofessional! It is also the day after the deadline, so it is already too late to be writing this email. Do not delay this any further. [[Dear Professor, I am writing to request an extension for the upcoming assignment deadline.->5]]

Provide a brief explanation for your incompetency: (text-colour:#4169e1)[''Because...''] [[I am sick->6]] [[I have a family emergency->7]] [[I have ADHD and a migraine disorder->8]] [[Due to unforseen circumstances->9]]

A safe and common ''lie'' chosen by students. However, the vagueness of your health condition means your professor has no real reason to take you seriously. No medical note? No sympathy. [[Go back->5]] [[You are not accommodated.-->10]]

Oh! Please know that you are not alone. We're //lucky// to have resilient individuals like you as a part of our ~~student community~~ family. It's completely ok to feel that way. After all, we're only (text-style:"smear")[human] aren't we? Having said this, we are pleased to introduce you to our exclusive in-person counseling service, just for you! Just remember that you're not alone in this... //To begin the formal process of being treated with empathy//, could you send over your recent diagnosis documentation? [[Go back->5]] [[This is intrusive->12]] [[I don't have a diagnosis->13]]

Students routinely use the purported deaths of family members to cheat the system. This will probably evoke a pseudo-empathetic response such as "(text-style:"italic","expand","shudder")[While we sympathize with...]" (text-style:"expand","rumble")[//"I am sorry to hear that...but"//] You will not be taken seriously. [[Go back->5]] [[You are not accommodated->10]]

#Bad Ending You are not fit to be a part of the Institution and its vision of excellence. (button:)[[Restart?->1]]

We trust neuropsychologists to know your needs more than we trust you to know yourself. The accommodations we offer will also be on our terms, often cursory, and depending on your luck, may not even be honored. Can you prove to me that you really need it? [[Enter the disability documentation wormhole.->11]] [[You are not accommodated.->10]]

Oh...ha, you scared me for a second. There is no room for faffing in such formal correspondance. [[You are not accommodated.->10]]

Ding ding ding! This is the most optimal choice. We don't really want to know anything about [[you->14]]. Especially if your excuse for laziness has no documented bearing. Keep going, the next step is to propose an impossible deadline for yourself to show that you're not shameless. [[Could I submit it by tomorrow 12pm?->15]]

#??? Ending You are sucked into the disability documentation wormhole. Pursuing this diagnosis becomes a quiet occupation of your life. Days blur into forms, referrals, and phone calls. Your bodymind becomes a case to be solved. As you frantically search for the 'right' specialist, you are robbed of your time, your money and your humanity. You wait and you wait to reach the end of the exhausting, disorienting and relentlessly slow road to diagnosis. <img src="https://scitechdaily.com/images/Wormhole-Concept.gif" width="50%" height="50%"> The Institution does not wait for you. (button:)[[Restart?->1]]

(text-colour:#4169e1)[(text-colour:(hsl:225,0.7273,0.5686,0.15))[235356001] (text-colour:(hsl:225,0.7273,0.5686,0.35))[235356002] (text-colour:(hsl:225,0.7273,0.5686,0.7))[235382005] 235381003 235341005 235350007 235350004 235381002 235350001 235341002 235350002 ] ''(text-style:"buoy")[235350005]'' (text-colour:#4169e1)[235343002 235381001 235341004 235382004 235341003 235382002 235345004 235382001 (text-colour:(hsl:225,0.7273,0.5686,0.7))[235345002] (text-colour:(hsl:225,0.7273,0.5686,0.35))[235345003] (text-colour:(hsl:225,0.7273,0.5686,0.15))[235345001]] [[Go back->9]]

Only one last step remaining! This is your chance to redeem yourself and appear sincere. //Make sure your apology is proportionate to your academic failure. // [[I'm so sorry for the inconvenience->16]]

(text-style:"rumble")[(text-style:"blur")[I'm really] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for the delay in submission] (text-style:"blur")[I'm terribly] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]''(text-style:"blur")[ for not having submitted yet] (text-style:"blur")[I'm really] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for the inconvenience] (text-style:"blur")[I'm terribly] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for the late submission] (text-style:"blur")[I'm so] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for not responding sooner] (text-style:"blur")[I'm really] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for the trouble] (text-style:"blur")[I'm incredibly] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for all these delays] (text-style:"blur")[I'm so] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for the issues] (text-style:"blur")[I'm very] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for the continued delay in submission] (text-style:"blur")[I'm really] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[but I've been unable to complete it in time for today's class] (text-style:"blur")[I'm terribly] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for not being able to communicate this earlier ] (text-style:"blur")[I'm] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for the late notice] (text-style:"blur")[I'm terribly] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]''(text-style:"blur")[ for the lack of class participation] (text-style:"blur")[I'm so] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for the delay in addressing this] (text-style:"blur")[I'm terribly] ''(text-style:"smear")[sorry]'' (text-style:"blur")[for missing out on today's meeting]] (button:)[[Send Email->17]]

#Good Ending You tried your best! Although frankly it was quite an unprofessional decision to cry all night and eventually send this email at 3:34am. All you can do now is wait - maybe try to keep calm and write through the tears. Best, The Institution Bot (button:)[[Go languish->18]]

Thank you for playing! This is just my first iteration of this concept and my exploration of this software. Going forward, I plan to build towards narratives that highlight the solidarity present amongst the other stakeholders of the institution - including //teachers//, //administrators//, and even //staff//. (button:)[[Restart?->1]]