Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I am writing to request a late drop for two of my Fall 2024 courses, Music 114 and COGS 100. This has not been an easy decision for me, but I feel it is the best step given the circumstances I faced throughout the semester. Unfortunately, a number of personal challenges prevented me from being able to focus properly on my work and perform to the best of my ability. Coming into a new environment as a first-year student was already a difficult adjustment. As someone who struggles with learning disabilities, being away from my parents and their support made the transition even harder. I found the large classes overwhelming, and often I didn’t know who to turn to or how to navigate everything on my own. Early on in the first semester, I became involved in a conduct case at Queen’s, which led to me being relocated. This sudden move shook my stability and forced me to find new housing for the second semester on very short notice. Trying to find a place to live while also trying to stay on top of my classes was extremely stressful, and it only made my anxiety worse. Around the same time, I also experienced harassment on social media. This affected my sense of safety and made it hard to concentrate. On top of this, I was dealing with a personal legal matter in the courts, which added yet another layer of stress. Juggling these issues all at once left me exhausted and emotionally drained. I felt hopeless, and with so much going on, I missed deadlines and struggled to stay organized. My anxiety reached a point where I constantly felt on edge, unable to relax or focus. I realized I could not manage it alone, so I started seeing a therapist to help me cope. Getting professional help was important for me, because at times I felt like my anxiety had completely taken over my life. When I saw myself already falling behind in certain classes, I made the decision to put more of my attention into courses where I believed I had a better chance of passing, so at least I could complete some of them. While this strategy helped me in a few courses, it unfortunately meant Music 114 and COGS 100 suffered. These challenges, not just one, but several happening at the same time had a direct impact on my work and made it nearly impossible for me to perform at the level I know I am capable of. However, despite everything, I have been working hard to turn things around because I do not want these struggles to define who I am as a student. Over the past few weeks, I have made progress in building better habits and support for myself. I meet with SASS every two weeks to go over strategies that help me stay on track, remain organized, and focus on my goals. I also meet regularly with Pam, an academic advisor, who has been helping me set realistic goals, monitor my deadlines more closely, and stay on top of everything. In addition, I check in with Gail from Care Support Services every week, which gives me the chance to talk about my problems and work through solutions together. I have also started working with Student Wellness to make sure I am addressing both my academic and mental health needs at the same time. These steps have already made a difference for me, and I feel a lot more confident in my ability to manage everything. One other challenge that has weighed heavily on me is the academic probation I was placed on. Having that probation over my head has added an extra layer of stress and anxiety to everything I do. It feels like I am constantly being reminded of the difficulties I went through earlier in the year, almost as if those struggles are still hanging over me. Even as I put in the work to improve, the thought of probation makes me feel like my past mistakes are still shaping my future. This creates a lot of pressure, because every assignment and every grade feels like it could determine whether or not I can move forward. That constant pressure sometimes makes it harder for me to fully focus on the progress I am making now. If these courses could be removed through a late drop, it would relieve a big portion of this stress. Knowing that they no longer count against me would lift a huge weight off my shoulders and ease much of the anxiety I feel tied to probation. Instead of feeling like I am carrying the burden of my earlier setbacks, I would be able to move forward with a clearer mind and a stronger sense of confidence. Ultimately, what I am asking for is the opportunity to fully move on from that difficult semester and continue the efforts I am now making. I believe I am in a much better position to succeed, and I am committed to continuing the work with my advisors, wellness staff, and academic support to make sure that I stay on track.

Sincerely,
Finley Mackay,
20488144