Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Student # 20222988
Dear Dr.Naaman,


My name is Rose Sbrolla. I would first like to grant my appreciation of your acceptance for my first appeal of my transcript, it has been truly so helpful in building my confidence in my future and my return to studies this fall. I am writing this petition to request a waiver for the deadlines for appealing late course(s) to be dropped. My petition is a hopeful next step toward a next petition to expunge the final failed courses from my academic record; this is spanning failed courses from the Fall 2022, Winter 2023 and Fall 2023 terms.


As you know from my previous appeal. In 2020 I was 17 and began my first year at Queen’s. While very excited to be there, I was also anxious. First time away from home, my friends, my boyfriend and covid. The day after my 18th birthday in November my best friend from high school, Daria Chodocinskas, was killed in a tragic accident. I found out this news through a horrible text and I was completely devastated and shocked. I went home for her funeral and returned to school seeking counseling from student services as academic consideration. I finished the school year and tried to come to terms with this loss.
Second year, I was excited for in person classes and made the Queen’s Varsity Sailing Team. The day before I left for school my boyfriend of over a year broke up with me and at the end of September, I was hit in the back of my head by the boom of a boat. I went to a walk-in clinic and to Queen’s Student Athlete Clinic. I had a concussion. It was difficult to do school work. The sailing season ended before I was cleared to return. I was sad and struggling with school. Classes that had interested me were now difficult. I failed a few courses but felt I could fix it without telling my parents.
Winter term 2022, we were back online and my father offered to take me to Florida where we could both work remotely. I was seeing another student wellness counsellor to help me with my procrastination and anxiety issues that had worsened. We could not meet any longer because being out of province wasn’t covered by the plan. This was a setback. I was really struggling with focusing and ended up failing even more courses but did not tell anyone despite being close to my parents and friends.
By 3rd year, my anxiety was at an all time high. I picked courses I didn’t really like and shut myself off from my resources and loved ones. My parents asked me if I wanted to do my degree over 5 years instead of 4. I thought this was perfect because I could just cover up the failures and retake the courses over more time and finish with the same degree. They had no idea. They offered it because I wanted to sail.
Sailing was the only time I could forget about my academic mess and just be free. I again pushed off school work. As the season ended I felt sad and depressed. I was stuck. I had started dating a close friend and about 5 days before winter exams he dumped me. I completely lost it and was spiraling.
Winter term 2023, I returned to student wellness and met with a counsellor, Peter. He helped me work through a lot of the reasons I was so upset about such a short relationship and manage my anxiety levels. I did not tell him about my academics and my lying to every person I loved. I couldn’t admit it to anyone. I received my academic probation letter but was in complete denial. I buried myself in two summer jobs avoiding the truth.
Returning for 4th year, I knew it was my last chance to make things right. Days before going back, I again sustained a head injury leading to another concussion. I couldn’t tell my sailing coach because I wouldn’t be allowed to sail. I registered for classes late as I was scared that my probation would haunt me every time I was on solus. I started having panic attacks. I lived in a state of constant fear and doom. Somehow I passed one 300 level sociology course. I was surprised and deluded myself into thinking that I would be able to go back to school in the fall.
When I worked up the courage in the fall of 2024 to register for classes, late once again, I saw the hold on my account forcing a withdrawal for one year. I felt like my life was over. I was lying to myself and everyone else. I had to tell my parents but just couldn’t. I had been in denial for so long that I was depressed, anxious and experiencing physical symptoms like sleeplessness and panic attacks. I finally told my family doctor everything in January 2025. She got me on a prescription and validated that I was not alone. I told my roommate who was so supportive but encouraged me to tell the truth. It took me some time to build up my courage but during the last week of April, I finally told my boyfriend and my parents. They were all devastated. I had no one to blame but myself. All of them have been supportive and want me to reach my goal to complete my degree. I have told all my friends and have also started feeling so much better and am able to once again sleep at night.


My petition to waive the deadlines to appeal late dropped courses is a step toward hopefully petitioning to expunge the many failed courses from my academic record. This is done with the support of academic advisors, Kathryn and Heather and thereby hopefully will raise my GPA clearing the way for a successful completion of a 3 year BA in Sociology, which is my goal. With my parents' support, I have a continued passionate goal to finish my degree. I am enrolled and back at Queen’s in a full course load which has been going very well, and working with my disability advisor Caroline Jesuthasan and my Queen’s Therapy with Peter Kerby. He has recommended me to a SASS support program in the ADHD skill share which I have gone to every week being run by Gail Eaton-Smith in Stauffer and developed strategies there for success. Queen’s academic advisors have been invaluable with their advice and support.


I have worked with my doctor and advisors to get my disability accommodations for my acquired brain injury and mental health issues and will stay in touch with them throughout the year. I have changed my degree to a BA, and continue working out at the gym for my mental health. Most importantly, is my commitment to myself to be transparent about school and my state of mind. With the change in degree, and with the support of loved ones and professionals, I hope to graduate in 2026 and am confident that my path is clearer with your support. I hope that you will grant this petition to allow me to appeal the late dropping of courses that I had not yet gotten approval to drop so that I may continue to recover my GPA and the path to attain my degree and keep my future options open.


Thank you for your time,
Rose Elizabeth Sbrolla
(647)937-1150