Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear course instructors and university personnel,

My name is Patrick Wilson-Smith, and I have recently completed my courses at Queen??s in the hopes of officially receiving my degree for Bachelor of Arts Honours at Queen??s.

Before I explain my predicament - what I ultimately believe, and upon retrospection and reflection of the period, are reasons for my lower grades - I would first honour Queen??s and my time in Kingston these past fours years. It certainly brings me no joy to have to relive a difficult period in my personal and academic life, especially being a proud Queen??s student - and again - a hopeful graduate once grades are finalized. To whom it may concern, those reading, I write with the absolute most sincerity, and in a fashion that honours the pillars of the Queen??s academic institution.

At the start of the 2022 academic year this fall, I struggled immensely with my mental health. It went undocumented and unrecognized from my family and peers alike during the initial weeks of school in September. In particular, I experienced acute senses of prolonged nervousness, anxiety, and depression, stemming from unknown reasons, and it came to strongly dictate my everyday life. As my friends may vouch, and family, I lost considerable weight in September as a physical manifestation, amongst many, towards the psychological effects of anxiety, and most prominently, my depression. My search for meaning - to try to encapsulate my feelings back then - was difficult and I turned to school as a sort of remedy. With correspondence to extenuating circumstances and my school work regarding my mental health, I took on the extra credit of FREN 118, that I currently hope to have my grades removed in, in September. I did this as a direct causation towards my poor mental health: I very much believed at this lowest point that incorporating more school into my life, granted, I did not even need the course to graduate with my English degree, would provide purpose. I have reflected immensely on this fundamental thinking - school as a means for happiness or satisfaction when it is hard to find it in other places. In retrospect, I should have not taken the course. I have the utmost respect for Professor Offered and my fellow classmates during this period, but I was an immensely sad, confused individual, which I believe my marks reflect.

I have taken the appropriate steps since this past fall. In particular, I have visited therapists and visited this topic in length with my family who I am thankful to have garnered support. The crux of my struggles dealing with mental health and frivolously singing up for the course that I did not need to graduate, reflect I believe, the first time I have experienced such profoundly difficult emotions. I had a hard time acknowledging it then, but upon retrospection, all I really want are these marks in null to put this chapter behind me - especially the memories of my struggles, again difficulty in the course while navigating courses for my degree with emotional challenges.

If I may follow up with any official to clarify the matter, I hope to provide more context, and I hope this may be resolved.

Warm Regards,

Patrick