Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Nathan Trestan and I am a second-year Economics Major at Queen’s. I am writing to you to apply credit standing in Statistics 263 after extenuating circumstances affected my ability to competently complete the course.

Prior to Starting at Queen’s in September of 2022, I had been a primary attendant for my mother who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, whenever needed. Multiple Sclerosis (MS), is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which can have detrimental effects to one’s cognitive and mental capability. Throughout most of my adolescent life, my mother has managed her MS symptoms and worked full-time, providing for my brother and me as a single mother. However, in September 2023, she had a severe relapse that is still ongoing. As part of this relapse, my mother has experienced; the inability to walk, intense vertigo, muscle pains and spasms and is using a walking aid. As you can imagine, this has taken a toll on her mental health as well, as for the first time in 25 years she has been forced to stop working.

This transition in my mothers condition has been difficult to process from afar. However, as a result of this, I have taken on a larger role in her caregiving, ensuring she is taking her steroid medications along with constant support for her daily needs. My mother is burdened with extreme medications and painkillers. I have traveled to Toronto routinely to assist her with these needs and ensure she is receiving care from her neurologist and the MS ward at St.Michael's Hospital. Between the constant travel and immense stress, my academics took a stride backwards over the last semester. Specifically in Statistics 263 due to the complex nature of the course and exam weight.

It causes immense heartache and uncomfortability to simply watch my mother suffer from the side-line. I have felt somewhat useless recently as I have been unable to support her physically on an ongoing basis. I met with a psychologist in early December to speak about these overwhelming feelings. My mental health was in a fragile state, as I was battling with feelings of anxiety, worry, depression, and sorrow. Combating these feelings throughout exams was incredibly overwhelming. Statistics 263 had an exam weight of 80%, and although on many occasions I would be in Stauffer Library studying, I could not help but become overwhelmed with anxiety and feel the need to check in with my mother and loved ones about her physical and emotional well-being. Feeling responsible for a loved one's well-being can be an incredibly fulfilling, but strenuous duty at times.

In the Fall 2023 semester I completed Statistics 263 with a D. While still managing to pass the course, I did not meet the threshold for the Department of Economics, which requires a mark of a C to take ECON 351 in third year. With your approval, I will be able to enroll in ECON 351, continuing my Bachelor trajectory.

As part of my next steps to ensure my academics don't continue to be affected in the next semester, I have better educated both my brother and grandfather on how to better care for my mother. As my brother returned in December of 2022 from a two year program at Texas A&M University, and my grandfather has recently regained mobility from a back surgery during the summer. Additionally, I will continue to meet with my psychologist.

I understand that change is a fact of life, and that resiliency is important. I learned a lot from this experience and will be better prepared for the challenges life might throw my way in the future. I deeply appreciate your consideration. I can provide more information and/or documentation upon request.

Thank you again for your consideration of my request for credit standing in Statistics 263

Nathan Trestan