Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: My name is Abdallah Al-anizi.
I understand that before any financial appeals may be processed, an academic appeal for late drop of the courses must be approved. And that is what this letter is pertaining to ¿¿ the late courses that I¿¿ve dropped and that I am appealing past the 21 day appeal-deadline.


Unfortunately, Life has been difficult as a result of my Spinal Cord Injury. In this letter I hope to address why I have suffered academically and why I¿¿ve dropped my courses past the academic deadline. As well as how I am solving the issues that have affected my performance. And finally, I explain why it is that it is very important for me to remain a Queen¿¿s Online Distance student.


My main issues stem from my Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) which I sustained when I was only 11 years old. I am paralyzed and use a wheel-chair 24/7. I am now 26 and this injury has defined my life, despite my modest protests.


SCI is very complicated and differs with each person. I¿¿ve been facing constant issues, one after another. The most recent and severe being:

- - - Excessive and Chronic Pain:
This is something I have been dealing with from the start. I am seeing various doctors and recently trying different medications so as to find a solution where I can function on a daily basis alongside my chronic neurological pain.
This affected my academic performance because ¿¿ I¿¿m now at a point in my life where I absolutely need medication to deal with my pain. I did not need it when I was younger but I have now been paralyzed for 15 years. It¿¿s difficult to say, but I have been alive longer as the ¿¿disabled me¿ than the version of me that I was before my accident. My injury is aging with my body and new medical issues arise, as a result.

- - - Family issues:
Due to my choice of medications there are religious differences between my parents and me. As a result, I no longer have a relationship with them and this has had an emotional toll on me, in addition to my physical and neurological pains.
This affected my academic performance because ¿¿ I am very close to my parents and so when they refused to accept or understand or sympathize with my desperate decision to consume medication to control my pain; that had an emotional impact on me, to lose their support and gain their disdain. Simply for having ¿¿betrayed¿ the religious practices they raised me with.

- - - Lack of temperature control:
I do not regulate my body temperature due to the severity of my injury. In the summer I do not sweat and have to carry a water-spray bottle and keep cool. Now, the winter gives me the most trouble. I am simply unable to keep warm enough. Many people with severe SCI¿¿s end up moving to warmer climates. Unfortunately, I have concluded this is necessary for me as I am unable to handle Ontario¿¿s winters anymore. This saddens me as I¿¿ve lived most of my life in here, Ontario.
This highly affected my academic performance because -- I would have to ¿¿hibernate¿ in a sense ¿¿ I¿¿d remain indoors, bundled up and consume a plethora of medications during the winter to try to regulate my pain and temperature. That medical cocktail rendered me; sleepy, depressed, and emotionally exhausted. The past 3-4 winters have been especially difficult and I¿¿ve concluded I can no longer experience Ontario¿¿s winters.


After meditation and serious contemplation; I have decided I need to figure out a way to start living my life and get my health as well as my personal, emotional, and physical issues in order.


My solution is that I am going to be moving to a warmer climate over-seas where my family lives. I will make use of their emotional and physical support and ultimately, in the near future, I hope to settle down in Victoria, BC. (A warm CANADIAN climate)


I currently live alone and I am no longer afraid to say I need help. I am stubborn to a fault. But each year, I evolve as a person. I feel my time is very precious and I feel I need to make use of my potential. Especially since I am disabled. As a person with a disability I cannot fall into the stereotype of depending on the government and my parents. I realize that education is first and foremost the answer and key to my freedom, independence and self-improvement as a human being.


This plan demonstrates I have been thinking of solutions and I need to continue to live my life and proceed with my education. Queen¿¿s has been wonderful to me and very understanding. Please do not let my SCI and constant health issues reflect me and my potential as a competent person and student. I will do my best to abide by deadlines, drop-dates (academic and financial) so as to avoid having to appeal. Please do understand that life has dealt me a bad hand ¿¿ but I¿¿ve done my best to keep playing, keep smiling, and always stay focused.


I will only take courses I can handle and if I realize I cannot, I will drop them within the (reasonable) drop-deadline.


Therefore, I hope I¿¿ve demonstrated with all that I¿¿ve said that I am a serious student who sincerely wishes to continue my studies. And ¿¿Queen¿¿s Online¿ is the perfect solution for me as it¿¿s flexible and I am able to do everything online ¿¿ whilst I navigate my health issues and try to solve my geographical issues in settling down in a warm climate I can call home ¿¿ Queen¿¿s Online shall be my salvation, my chance to continue my education despite my personal (emotional, physical, geographical, and health-related) issues.