Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Academic Dean,
I am writing to formally request a petition for a late withdrawal from ENGL 279: Literature and Censorship, due to significant extenuating psychological and physical circumstances that occurred during the fall 2024 term.
Throughout the Fall 2024 term, I was experiencing severe depressive and anxiety symptoms compounded by unaccommodated anxiety and ADHD. While I had been previously assessed and medicated for depression and anxiety while living in Jordan, my documentation was in Arabic and could not be accepted by Queen’s University until I was able to return to Jordan and obtain an English translation. This only became possible during a trip to visit my mother over the winter holidays in December 2024. During this time, I underwent further assessments on January 4th, 2025 with a registered Psychiatrist in Jordan and began the process of registering with VENTUS on my return to Queen’s University. The lack of academic accommodations throughout the Fall term severely impacted my ability to perform in ENGL 279.
My work related to ENGL 279 was uniquely affected due to the nature of the coursework which involved lengthy writing and analysis that I found particularly difficult during a time when my mental health was at its lowest. Although I tried my best, the anxiety, depression and ADHD I was experiencing made it difficult for me to complete assignments and exams. All of which were after the submission date or uncompleted. While I struggled generally, ENGL 279’s requirements clashed with the worst of my symptoms, including low motivation, cognitive fatigue, and emotional dysregulation. I often felt isolated and overwhelmed, especially since my main support systems, my mother and the rest of my family, were either overseas or in other parts of Canada.
While I was enrolled in other courses during the Fall term, I was only taking two English courses (ENGL 279 and ENGL 200), and both of these subject matters and requirements made it especially challenging for me given my condition. I also struggled in ENGL 200 (A/B course), and after Fall (A) term, I withdrew from the Winter (B) section (in late January 2025 when my circumstances had improved). The other courses in Fall 2024, I did complete successfully. These were in areas I connected with more easily. Even so, I had to push myself, sometimes in unhealthy ways, to complete these courses. For example, I went days without sleep to keep up with coursework. This was unsustainable, and only contributed further to my deteriorating mental health.
During the Fall 2024 term (starting from October through December 2024), I also developed a serious dependence on alcohol as a way to cope. I was drinking alone daily, and combined with my medication (fluoxetine) for depression, my anxiety was exacerbated.
This is deeply difficult for me to admit, as I was in complete denial and would try to hide this from my family. As a way to escape from my depressive thoughts I would drink bottles of hard liquor in order to black out almost everyday, which became out of my control. Unfortunately, as I was adopted as a baby from Nepal and did not know my birth parents well, I am completely unaware of my family’s history of substance abuse. The combination of my weakened mental state, the ENGL 279 pressure, and unknown familial history of addictive substance abuse made it incredibly difficult to fight back and resist drinking, which took a huge physical toll on my body and my academics.
This unhealthy coping mechanism most significantly impacted my assignments related to ENGL 279, where I felt trapped, incapable of logical decision-making, and overwhelmed to the point of inaction. Specifically, during the midterm and final exam for ENGL 279, I was experiencing symptoms of alcohol in my body systems, and ADHD, which severely impacted my academic performance. Despite being aware that I was struggling, I was unable to take the necessary steps to drop the course before the deadline.
Since returning from Jordan in January 2025, I have taken significant steps to address these issues. With translated documents and an assessment of ADHD, I registered with VENTUS and met with Accessibility Advisor Taylor Liggett, who helped me secure academic accommodations both in class and during assessments. The accommodations were effective 11th February 2025. Most importantly, I have maintained alcohol sobriety since January 2025 and continue to work on my mental health.
I want to acknowledge that I missed the withdrawal deadline because I was unaware of the possibility. I was in such a state of emotional distress that I struggled even to seek help.
I also want to acknowledge that I am applying for the petition for a late withdrawal in July 2025, because prior I had no information on the ability to petition for withdrawal, until a family friend recommended to do so.
I have included supporting documentation with this petition, including my VENTUS registration, confirmation of accommodations, and a letter from a health professional, my psychiatrist.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my petition. I hope you can see that the grade in ENGL 279 is not a reflection of my abilities or academic intentions, but rather of a difficult period in my life that I have worked hard to recover from.
Sincerely,
Ariana Mawji