Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: My academic performance was severely compromised from early February 2023 through the end of the 2023 Winter Term. The circumstances I was in at the time prevented me from completing the term successfully. The marks I received in the courses I was taking are not an accurate representation of myself as a student, which is why I’m looking to late-drop said courses.
At the time of these events, I hadn’t yet been diagnosed by a medical professional. As it turns out, after having met with a psychiatrist, I had been struggling with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Dealing with these conditions without knowledge of them or proper medical treatment is the main cause for the downfall in my academics during that time. Some of the symptoms I had been experiencing included low mood, exhaustion, inability to focus, and loss of motivation, all of which negatively impacted my studies.
At first these symptoms made it extremely difficult for me to attend lectures and tutorials. I stopped attending class for a few weeks but still managed to continue submitting all my assignments. As the term progressed, my symptoms further intensified and they became extremely detrimental to my day-to-day life. Taking care of myself both mentally and physically became a challenge on its own. Hardly able to do the bare minimum to look after myself, all of my academic work had been pushed aside.
After about a month of struggling with my mental health, I sought help and started meeting with a wellness counselor through Queen’s in early March. Although the weekly counseling helped me cope, it wasn’t an immediate fix. Because of this, these circumstances continued to impact my academic performance until the term ended.