Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,

Hello there, I trust this letter finds you well. My name is Lauryn Barr, and I am writing today to request the withdrawal from FREN 320 (Winter, 2024).

Although I understand that the last date for dropping winter term classes on SOLUS was March 1st, 2024, I unfortunately missed this deadline. Despite my initial confidence in enrolling in this course, with the special permission granted by the French department due to my lack of the prerequisite course FREN 150, I have come to realize that my skills are not at the level needed for success in FREN 320.

My desire and dedication to learning French is extremely sincere, however, I now recognize that my abilities fall significantly short of the courses requirements and content offered. In addition to my struggles regarding the course content, my struggles with anxiety have impacted my ability to perform at my fullest potential within this course. I find myself overwhelmed with anxiety prior to each class lesson, restricting my performance in class, where participation is a significant component of the grade. The requirement to speak infront of the class, where everyone in class is able to perform at a much higher level, triggers my anxiety and has deeply impacted my overall mental health and well-being.

Continuing with FREN 320 poses a significant risk to my GPA. A failure in this couse could potentially drop my GPA below the requirement, placing me on academic probation, a situation I am eager to avoid.

Moving forward, I am committed to taking proactive steps to address both my academic and personal challenges. I plan to seek support from counseling to develop coping strategies for managing my social anxiety. While I have seeked support from Queen’s student wellness, the additional barriers posed by family situations of low-income make it difficult for me to access the comprehensive testing needed for a diagnosis of anxiety, ADHD and other mental health issues.
However, I plan to seek support from counseling which is accessible to me and dedicate extra time to strengthen my knowledge in french.

I understand the importance of making informed decisions surrounding my academic pursuits and I am committed to ensuring my future course selections align closely to my future goals and current abilities. I kindly request your assistance in facilitating my withdrawal from FREN 320 for the winter term of 2024. Your understanding and support in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time and thoughtful consideration,

Best regards,
Lauryn Barr
20294584