Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: This petition letter is to request permission to complete outstanding coursework for RELS 257 and LAW 203 from the previous semester. For most of the semester, I was actively engaged in both courses and was performing well on my tests and earlier assignments. I understood the course material and was keeping up with the course workload. I was consistent with my academic responsibilities and had full intention of finishing both courses successfully. However, as the semester progressed, I began experiencing significant mental health challenges that gradually worsened and began to affect my ability to function academically. What initially felt like manageable stress developed into constant pressure, difficulty concentrating, low motivation, and exhaustion. Over time, this turned into a level of burnout that made it increasingly difficult to complete tasks, specifically larger and more demanding assignments.
Toward the end of the semester, these challenges became much more severe. I found it difficult to focus for extended periods of time, and even when I attempted to work on assignments, I struggled to make meaningful progress. Tasks that would normally feel manageable became overwhelming, and I often felt mentally drained before I could complete them. This created a cycle where I was aware of my responsibilities and wanted to meet them, but was unable to follow through in a way that reflected my usual academic abilities. This was not due to a lack of effort or concern for my courses. I care about my work and was frustrated and stressed out by the gap between what I knew I was capable of and what I was actually able to complete at the time. It was discouraging to feel like I was falling behind despite trying to stay on track.
Once I recognized that I was struggling, I reached out to both of my professors, who were understanding and granted me permission to submit my remaining coursework by the end of the semester. In addition, I seeked support from Queen's University Student Wellness Services as well as a medical doctor. Both of them acknowledged the severity of my situation, and I have documentation from these services that I have provided with my petition. Despite taking these steps, my mental health did not improve quickly enough during that period. I made attempts to complete the outstanding assignments, but I was ultimately unable to finish them within the agreed timeframe. As a result, I received failing grades in both courses. These grades do not accurately reflect my performance throughout the majority of the semester or my understanding of the course material. Rather, they reflect a period where I was experiencing significant difficulty functioning and was unable to complete final assignments despite my intentions and efforts. Since the end of last semester, I have taken steps to address my mental health and improve my overall stability. I am now in a much stronger and more consistent position to manage my academic work and follow through on my responsibilities. I feel confident in my ability to complete the outstanding coursework in a timely and effective manner if given the opportunity. I take full responsibility for not completing the assignments within the original timeframe, and I very much regret how things unfolded. I value my education, and it is difficult to see my grades reflect a time in my life that does not represent my abilities or the effort I put in throughout the semester. I would be very grateful for the opportunity to complete the remaining requirements so that my final grades can more accurately reflect my academic performance. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.