Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter:
To whom this may concern,

I am submitting an academic appeal for an AG standing on three courses I took this past fall semester.

In the past year, I’ve struggled with frequent periods of severe depression, anxiety, and symptoms of an eating disorder. Until recently I had never sought professional help, but rather relied on other, not useful, methods of dealing with mental illness. This past summer I believed I had taken great strides to improve and returned to Queen’s for Year 2 with high hopes. However, soon that the stress of school, extracurricular activities, and other personal matters pushed me into relapse. I struggled through, but adequately completed my mid-terms, but by mid-November, the depression had gotten worse. It took an increasing toll on my academic concentration and performance. Courses with large assignments were affected the most, since I had multiple weeks where I was unable to concentrate at all and could not even leave my room. I had also gotten pretty sick a number of times over the term which did not help.

At the end of November, I spiraled into another severe depression episode and returned home as soon as classes were over in hopes that I could study and write my final exams in a more comforting environment. However, the symptoms prevailed, if not got worse. Although I was very familiar with all the course content, I was unable to complete three final exams for DEVS 230, 260, and LAW 201. My other two courses I did complete as they did not have final exams, but only smaller assignments at the end of the term.

I have decided to take a semester off from school to focus on my wellbeing, so I may return to Queen’s in the fall and succeed. I have had several consultations with psychiatrists, who diagnosed me with atypical depression and bulimia nervosa, and enrolled in a rigorous counseling and treatment program.

In general, I am a very diligent, engaged, and committed student and member of the Queen’s community. I am active in clubs, sports, am a recipient of the commitment scholars award. I wish it to be noted by those who review my petition that I fully intend of retaking the courses I did not complete. However, I wish to be granted an AG for three courses because while I was unable to complete the final, I A’s in most, if not all, the worse in these classes leading up to the final. I am confident that if capable, I would have done well in the exams.

My goal is to major in DEVS and receive a degree worthy of getting into a prestigious law school. I also hope in my undergrad to participate in research and internship opportunities. Therefore, I would appreciate the chance to fix the three bad grades currently showing on my transcript. I want to demonstrate what I know, and have shown, I am capable of.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Nahira Gerster-Sim