Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello, My name is Michael Syrota. I have been attending Queen's University since 2019 in the BAH Political Studies program. I write today to ask kindly, that the deadline to petition my request to withdraw for one year be waived.

I was notified of my requirement to withdraw towards the end of May whilst I was still living in Kingston. The moment I became aware of this requirement, I set out to gather all necessary documents and draft an academic plan so that I would have the ability to return to school in the fall. Due to deferred exams and online school, I was not able to make it back home to Oakville until the end of May. Upon arriving home, I had learned my family doctor was on vacation for a couple of weeks, and thus could not set up an appointment to discuss my situation. In the meantime, however, I worked alongside my parents and an academic advisor to create an academic plan for next school year, as well as explored many new ways to help keep me organized and on track with summer school.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the ability to meet with my family physician, as well as other health specialists to both draft up the necessary documents, and further improve my situation. Additionally, I have an appointment with my family physician again tomorrow to further discuss how to improve my chances of being successful in school next year.

I take my studies and time at Queen’s very seriously and have been doing everything in my power to ensure that I can attend again in the fall. My ongoing struggles with mental health have placed me in a situation that I never thought I would be in; one that I know I will never be in again, given how hard I have worked on myself over these last few years. Because I took the past couple of weeks to speak with professionals and my parents, as well as draft a plan that is tailored to myself and the habits of my illnesses, I am setting myself up to succeed academically come next school year.

With my whole heart I truly adore being at Queen’s. I believe that I deserve a second chance to prove to myself that I can be successful academically, as I am more ready than ever to give myself the things I have neglected. While this summer has been very busy for me, doing online classes, starting an online business, and finding some time to unwind, my number one priority has been trying to do everything I can to improve my academic and emotional standing, and return stronger than ever in the fall. If my request to waive the petition deadline is accepted, I know that I can show beyond a doubt that I am a hard-working and motivated student, and that the struggles I had experienced in my past at Queen’s were valid, yet are behind me.

Thank you.