Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies),


I am appealing to drop CHEM 282 (Winter, 2015). The reason for my appeal is the extenuating circumstance of an injury I sustained in November 2014 playing for the Queens Mens Varsity Soccer team. I was diagnosed with a concussion, which I have yet to fully recover from, and it ultimately turned into myself having strong post-concussion symptoms, which greatly affected my life both academically and athletically. Soccer is a sport I have been playing all my life, and is one of my greatest passions, so being unable to be involved in the sport for most of the school year was very difficult to deal with on the athletic/sport side of my concussion.

I have dealt with post-concussion symptoms that have greatly affected my academic standing since first semester. These symptoms impacting my academic standing in CHEM282 specifically include: headaches, dizziness, fatigue/inability to concentrate on studies for long periods, and issues memorizing details. I have also been affected with psychological problems such as irritability, depressed moods at times, and severe anxiety. Anxiety was a symptom that particularly hindered my academic performance during the CHEM 282 final exam during the winter semester. Overall, these symptoms made it difficult to excel to the best of my ability in this course, especially during midterms and final exam testing. These symptoms had the greatest affect on my grade in CHEM 282 winter semester; however, my grades in several other courses throughout the year suffered as a result.

Once I received my injury and as the school year continued, I saw a health professional at Queens, Dr. Michael O'Connor MD MMEd FRCPC, who treats many Queens Varsity athletes. He was very helpful and supportive throughout this extremely difficult period. He conducted a focus group for Queens Varsity athletes that were going through similar post-concussion symptoms, which was extremely helpful, because knowing other athletes at Queens were going through the same pain made me realize, that I was not alone.

My future plan is to take CHEM 282 during the winter 2016 semester, once I am fully recovered from my injury (fully post-concussion symptom free) and will be able to perform at my academic best.