Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dr. Stephenson,

My name is Olivia Yzerman, I am currently a second-year student in the faculty of Arts and Science. I am writing to you to petition the late drop of two summer courses, IDIS173 and DEVS220. On May 27th, 2023, I was informed that my grandmother, Joanne, suffers from terminal cancer. She went in for a routine check-up and was told about the findings of cancer in several areas of her body. Due to her ongoing health issues, no medication or chemotherapy would be possible. As you can imagine, this was an extremely distressing diagnosis for her and my family. I currently do have academic accommodations in place, and they have been extremely helpful with managing my daily anxiety, helping me function at a manageable pace if I found myself struggling with my ongoing disability. However, with the severity of this situation, my accommodations alone could not guide me to a place where functioning was possible. I completely disconnected from my work and drove to Belleville almost daily to visit her and be with her. The idea of death is something I, as a young adult, have never had to experience. I suffered from severe panic attacks almost every hour of the day, so much so my nurse practitioner had to prescribe me a new medication to assist me during these times. I stopped eating, bathing, and drinking. Gross, I know, but I truly lost my ability to function. My roommate would help to wash my hair in the sink. She has been my only support in Kingston, as I stayed over the summer to complete my courses. I was able to get a therapist through the Console app, an app promoted by Queen’s for mental well-being. I was so overwhelmed with figuring out how to exist, I just broke down. I have been doing well this past year at managing my anxiety symptoms, however, the death of a loved one slowly approaching absolutely destroyed my mental health. There was nothing I could do to make her better. She is currently still in critical condition. I didn’t drop the courses at the deadline, as I was confident that after a therapy session or two, plus my new medication, I would regain the ability to function. As I tried to keep up with readings, I was still having panic attacks. I have worked this year to be more involved in my studies, and not being able to perform brought up an entirely different anxiety about my success as a student and caused me to spiral more. My grandmother means the world to me. If this was any other situation with my anxiety and mental health, as I experienced in second year, I would be able to use the accommodations provided by my advisor to get back on track. I understand it is my responsibility to determine my ability to succeed in a course before the drop deadline, however, due to the intensity of these circumstances, and considering I have never had the chance to experience a close family member being terminally ill, I had absolutely no idea on how long my recovery period would take. I do have the support of my DEVS220 professor, Ian Fanning, in this late drop petition, my academic advisor Christina Cardelus, along with my nurse practitioner. Going forward, my plan to help me stay on track includes speaking with my therapist on a regular basis to help me process and cope with any struggles I may have, in a healthy way. I have been consistent in advocating for my needs and mental health when applicable with my professors, and they have helped me in any way they can. I do feel sorry that I was not able to recognize how long this recovery period would take, but I truly have never had to experience this before and it took me harder than anticipated. I hope you consider these factors in the decision you make for this petition, and mentally I am doing a lot better right now. I have been able to go home for the last bit of summer to spend around my family and my grandmother and effectively, my mental health is slowly getting better around this situation. I have learned the grieving process can begin before death, and I have been able to come to terms with what death can look like in a family setting. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any sort of confirmation or further documentation. My DEVS220 professor has offered his support, so feel free to contact him as well if required. You will find attached a letter from my nurse practitioner and academic advisor in support of this petition.

I appreciate all the support systems I have found at Queens this past year and thank you again for your consideration during these extremely difficult times. I am looking forward to starting up in September, and wish you the best in the last little bit of summer we have left.


Thank you,

Olivia Yzerman
202675556