Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Soomin Han
20299203
21sh26@queensu.ca
Aug 27, 2024

Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen's University 99 University Ave, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6

Dear Faculty of Arts and Science,

I am writing to formally seek permission to drop DEVS 220 for the summer due to extenuating circumstances that have adversely damaged my capacity to finish the course.

During the summer, I attended a three-week piano session in Adamant, Vermont, where I was exposed to a horrible occurrence that had a long-term impact on my mental health. I was stuck in a community centre for more than 20 hours due to an unanticipated malfunction. I could not consume food and water and was emotionally damaged, and no one looked for me. This experience made me feel extremely anxious and triggered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which I have been dealing with ever since.

Following the incident, I sought treatment to cope with my PTSD. Despite my best efforts to keep up with my coursework, I was unable to focus or complete assignments for DEVS 220. While I requested and received extensions, the persistent impact of my trauma prevented me from meeting the course requirements, eventually resulting in my failure.

Although I was enrolled in another course during the same term, DEVS 220 was most affected by the schedule and nature of the assignments, which demanded a level of attention and involvement that I was unable to sustain due to my mental health issues. The other course I was taking had different expectations and deadlines that were more manageable, given my situation.

The extenuating circumstances arose after the course drop deadline, and I was hoping that with the extensions granted, I would be able to make up for the work. Unfortunately, despite these accommodations, my condition did not improve enough to allow me to finish the coursework.

Moving forward, I plan to prioritize my mental health and academic performance. I booked Student Wellness Service (SWS) appointments to manage my PTSD, and I intend to take history courses related to DEVS 220 when I am more capable of meeting the course requirements. In addition, I will take courses in the following term to ensure that I can combine my academic commitments with my mental health requirements.

Thank you for your understanding and consideration of my request to drop DEVS 220. I am optimistic that with these changes, I will be able to meet my academic objectives while efficiently managing my mental health.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Soomin Han
20299203
3rd Year Concurrent Education/Music Student
21sh26@queensu.ca