Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 12032
Submitted: June 14, 2024 at 1:16:49 AM
First Name: Lauren
Last Name: Rodrigues
Pronoun: She/Her
Preferred Name: Lauren
Student Number: 20345302
Email: 21lrr3@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BSH
Plan: GEOL
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D June 14, 2024
Associate Dean (Academic)
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen’s University
Dear Dr. Stephenson,
I am petitioning the Faculty’s decision that I must withdraw from Queen’s University for a minimum of one year.
In the two years that I have spent at Queen’s, I gradually became increasingly, yet unconsciously, more unable to be self-sufficient. Starting in first year, I came into university with my own expectations of my abilities and my idea of university life. I came to realize in the winter term of first year (2023) that my ability to ‘glide by’ like I had done previously with academics was failing me. With more assignments that are to be completed weekly, more content per hour of lecture and less support, each week I got more behind. Once I noticed this, it got harder for me to be able to get myself back on track while simultaneously becoming overwhelmed. Also, having never faced academic difficulties before I wasn’t sure how to deal with it.
I went into second year with a better attitude but then began to notice how far behind I was from first year. A fundamental problem with my approach was being unwilling to ask for outside help due to how ashamed I felt about doing poorly. I had the mentality that I would be able to catch-up by myself even though I was avoidant when having to actually complete the work. In the 2024 winter term, it felt insurmountable to leave my bedroom most days, I wasn’t functioning as a person nevermind as a student. This is what pushed me to try pharmacology in the middle of March in preparation for the final exams.
I have been consulting with my psychiatrist, Dr. Wesley Friesen since 2021. Prior to this, I did not feel that I needed to take medication to alleviate my situation and was nervous of the side effects. On March 10, I was prescribed medication (clonazepam) to help manage my avoidant anxiety and depression symptoms.
During the course of 2023-2024, unbeknownst to me, I started to suffer from iron deficiency. I did not realize this too was causing me to become more fatigued and irritated as the days progressed. This also exasperated my depression and anxiety as these symptoms mirror the symptoms for anemia. I was finally able to secure an appointment with Dr. Letke at CDK Family Medicine Walk-in on March 15, 2024 and referred to Life Labs for blood work on March 19. My bloodwork did confirm that my iron levels were very low (Ferritin was at 10). I was instructed to take iron supplements however this takes about 2-4 weeks for iron levels to improve and 3 months to return to normal but, I did find that I had a large increase in energy within the next month.
Currently, I am still taking iron supplements, my prescribed medication, and have started doing pilates twice a week for 1 hour each. I am also taking 30+ minute walks around my neighborhood five times per week. I am already more engaging with my friends and family since I have returned home. I am also working full-time as an executive assistant in an office in Vancouver.
I plan to use all the academic support from Queens University such as Student Academic Success Services (SASS) and Student Acceptiabilty Services (QSAS). I will meet regularly with an academic advisor to help me on my journey. I will also reduce my course load so I can better focus on a few subjects to help me get back on track and achieve better success. I believe this will also give me more time to focus on my mental health so that I can become more regular with my appointments with Dr. Friesen. I will also have my iron levels monitored every three months to stay on top of fluctuations.
By meeting with an academic advisor, using SASS/QSAS and a reduced course load, I feel this combination will focus me to achieving my goal of completing my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry.
This experience of dealing with mental health and academic challenges has taught me more about who I am than I expected. For the future, I am dedicated to working on facing hardship and reaching out for support to overcome them.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen’s University
Dear Dr. Stephenson,
I am petitioning the Faculty’s decision that I must withdraw from Queen’s University for a minimum of one year.
In the two years that I have spent at Queen’s, I gradually became increasingly, yet unconsciously, more unable to be self-sufficient. Starting in first year, I came into university with my own expectations of my abilities and my idea of university life. I came to realize in the winter term of first year (2023) that my ability to ‘glide by’ like I had done previously with academics was failing me. With more assignments that are to be completed weekly, more content per hour of lecture and less support, each week I got more behind. Once I noticed this, it got harder for me to be able to get myself back on track while simultaneously becoming overwhelmed. Also, having never faced academic difficulties before I wasn’t sure how to deal with it.
I went into second year with a better attitude but then began to notice how far behind I was from first year. A fundamental problem with my approach was being unwilling to ask for outside help due to how ashamed I felt about doing poorly. I had the mentality that I would be able to catch-up by myself even though I was avoidant when having to actually complete the work. In the 2024 winter term, it felt insurmountable to leave my bedroom most days, I wasn’t functioning as a person nevermind as a student. This is what pushed me to try pharmacology in the middle of March in preparation for the final exams.
I have been consulting with my psychiatrist, Dr. Wesley Friesen since 2021. Prior to this, I did not feel that I needed to take medication to alleviate my situation and was nervous of the side effects. On March 10, I was prescribed medication (clonazepam) to help manage my avoidant anxiety and depression symptoms.
During the course of 2023-2024, unbeknownst to me, I started to suffer from iron deficiency. I did not realize this too was causing me to become more fatigued and irritated as the days progressed. This also exasperated my depression and anxiety as these symptoms mirror the symptoms for anemia. I was finally able to secure an appointment with Dr. Letke at CDK Family Medicine Walk-in on March 15, 2024 and referred to Life Labs for blood work on March 19. My bloodwork did confirm that my iron levels were very low (Ferritin was at 10). I was instructed to take iron supplements however this takes about 2-4 weeks for iron levels to improve and 3 months to return to normal but, I did find that I had a large increase in energy within the next month.
Currently, I am still taking iron supplements, my prescribed medication, and have started doing pilates twice a week for 1 hour each. I am also taking 30+ minute walks around my neighborhood five times per week. I am already more engaging with my friends and family since I have returned home. I am also working full-time as an executive assistant in an office in Vancouver.
I plan to use all the academic support from Queens University such as Student Academic Success Services (SASS) and Student Acceptiabilty Services (QSAS). I will meet regularly with an academic advisor to help me on my journey. I will also reduce my course load so I can better focus on a few subjects to help me get back on track and achieve better success. I believe this will also give me more time to focus on my mental health so that I can become more regular with my appointments with Dr. Friesen. I will also have my iron levels monitored every three months to stay on top of fluctuations.
By meeting with an academic advisor, using SASS/QSAS and a reduced course load, I feel this combination will focus me to achieving my goal of completing my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry.
This experience of dealing with mental health and academic challenges has taught me more about who I am than I expected. For the future, I am dedicated to working on facing hardship and reaching out for support to overcome them.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: A. Focus of Studies
Currently I am in the Geology undergraduate program but am shadowing to be in the Biochemistry undergraduate program. Majority of the classes that I have taken have been requirements for Biochemistry. One of the first things I want to do is book a career counselling appointment due to feelings of being wayward in what my future career consists of and decide if Biochemistry is still the best goal for me.
B. Expectation or Intent with workload
Taking a lighter course load including taking classes that I failed. This would be approximately 3 classes per term and would also enroll in the summer term to balance out the course load. This would allow me to better focus on these fewer courses and allow me to take full advantage of student services that Queen’s provides.
C. Strategies for success
Thankfully there are many services that Queen’s University offers that I plan to take advantage of to achieve success at Queens. The first would be to utilise the online resources during the summer to become better equipped with new academic skills to improve my work habits.
Second, meeting with Student Academic Success Services (SASS) to try to build habits to attend all my classes and better time management. I plan to attend their campus workshops which are more focused on becoming a successful student. I will also attend SASS’s study groups to be better supported and help me to complete my assignments. I plan to use the Peer mentorship program to help further my academic performance.
Finally, speaking with counsellors at the student wellness services and attending group meetings, specifically the Overwhelm Stress Therapy group. I think this will be critical to maintaining contact with other people, and being able to speak about my difficulties with peers my age.
Outside of academic life, I will become diligent with activities such as swimming at the pool and attending fitness sessions in the gym. I will also join the Queen’s Pipe Band as I grew up playing the bagpipes and miss the level of dedication and the enthusiastic atmosphere.
Currently I am in the Geology undergraduate program but am shadowing to be in the Biochemistry undergraduate program. Majority of the classes that I have taken have been requirements for Biochemistry. One of the first things I want to do is book a career counselling appointment due to feelings of being wayward in what my future career consists of and decide if Biochemistry is still the best goal for me.
B. Expectation or Intent with workload
Taking a lighter course load including taking classes that I failed. This would be approximately 3 classes per term and would also enroll in the summer term to balance out the course load. This would allow me to better focus on these fewer courses and allow me to take full advantage of student services that Queen’s provides.
C. Strategies for success
Thankfully there are many services that Queen’s University offers that I plan to take advantage of to achieve success at Queens. The first would be to utilise the online resources during the summer to become better equipped with new academic skills to improve my work habits.
Second, meeting with Student Academic Success Services (SASS) to try to build habits to attend all my classes and better time management. I plan to attend their campus workshops which are more focused on becoming a successful student. I will also attend SASS’s study groups to be better supported and help me to complete my assignments. I plan to use the Peer mentorship program to help further my academic performance.
Finally, speaking with counsellors at the student wellness services and attending group meetings, specifically the Overwhelm Stress Therapy group. I think this will be critical to maintaining contact with other people, and being able to speak about my difficulties with peers my age.
Outside of academic life, I will become diligent with activities such as swimming at the pool and attending fitness sessions in the gym. I will also join the Queen’s Pipe Band as I grew up playing the bagpipes and miss the level of dedication and the enthusiastic atmosphere.
Documentation
Professional Letter: 2024 June Dr. Wesley Friesen.pdf
Document: Bloodwork-1.pdf