Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Stephenson,

My name is Alexis Rayner, and I am petitioning to have all of my failed courses dropped late between the period of September 2022 to present.
• ENGL 281 (2022 Fall)
• HIST 295 (2022 Fall)
• ENGL 200 (2022 Fall/Winter)
• ENGL 218 (2023 Winter)
• HIST 223 (2023 Winter)
• ENGL 237 (2023 Fall)
• ENGL 277 (2023 Fall)
• HIST 275 (2023 Fall)
I would also like to petition for credit standing in the following courses:
• PSYC 100 (2021 Fall/Winter)
• ENGL 290 (2023 Winter)
• HIST 304 (2022 Fall/Winter)
Due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control that have directly affected my academic performance at Queen’s, I must request that my courses be dropped. I experienced a hostile roommate situation that began in the Fall of 2022 when two of my housemates had escalated conflicts about primitive matters of renting agreements and lease-breaking behaviours. My housemate would smoke marijuana in her bedroom which filled our small living area with a pungent skunk smell. They would constantly yell, argue, and draw upon me to mediate their disagreements. My house became an unhealthy, toxic environment in which I could not function beneficially to my own mental and physical health. During the Winter 2023 semester, my dog back got hit by a car during a snowstorm and passed away. I was not able to grieve him healthily due to my constant stress which spiralled into a lack of concentration, engagement with course material, and inability to focus on my academics. During reading week, my one housemate had moved out and wreaked havoc upon the house, leaving garbage, damage, and debris everywhere. I was left with the sole responsibility of finding a new person to take over the lease. These stressors became unbearable, and I was not eating, sleeping, or attending classes regularly. I quickly became isolated, alone, and severely depressed. Knowing that my family and support system were four hours away from Kingston, I had to cope and resolve these issues by myself which led me to become overwhelmed with dread and anxiety.
I believed that once the stressful tensions between my two housemates were resolved, I could resume normal academic behaviours. However, I was still living with someone who fuels her daily routine with anger, resentment, and negativity. Throughout the remainder of the Winter 2022 semester, my housemate constantly remarked on the severity of our income differences and the financial stability of our families. I could not allow myself to worry about my rapidly declining mental health because I feel unsafe to share anything with her regarding my personal life or mental health for fear that she will make a quip or joke at my expense; therefore, I feel obligated to stay in my solitary bedroom when she is in the common areas of our house. Her harsh judgement and stubborn opinions disprove my every thought and feeling in a way that offers no sympathy or comfort. In a time when I need friendship, reliance, and support, I am not offered the same in return for which I give to her freely. I did not drop courses because I wanted to prove to myself that I was resilient and could remain academically strong enough to compete with other students. I foolishly compared my stress and anxiety to that of others and developed new feelings of inferiority and self-doubt. I tried to persevere and deal with her undermining behaviours in an avoidant way; by not being home. I attended classes regularly, but I was unable to direct my undivided attention to my professors because my mind was lost to more important single-handed responsibilities I faced at home. From September 2023 to the present day, she still denies and invalidates the seriousness of my mental illness, academic extensions, and common feelings. All the while, I am still utterly alone and lost without my family and friends back home who provide me with unconditional validation and support.
To achieve academic success going forward, I have decided to transfer to a university to be closer to my family where I can work on recovering my self-worth and mental health. I plan to apply to Laurier and Guelph. During the Winter 2024 semester, I have taken steps to improve my academic success by lightening my course load discontinuing the Concurrent Education program and dropping two other courses. I have been visiting a mental health counsellor at Student Wellness Services bi-weekly since January 2024. Through these appointments, I have adopted strategies to deal with my diagnosis of chronic anxiety with depressive symptoms and I have received temporary academic extensions for my assignments. These steps have allowed me to manage my symptoms and work to boost my GPA for the eventual transfer from Queen’s.