Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I am writing to petition the faculty’s decision requiring me to withdraw from Queen’s University for one year and to request consideration for reinstatement. I fully acknowledge the seriousness of my academic standing and understand the concerns reflected in the faculty’s decision. However, I hope the committee will consider the significant personal and mental health circumstances that affected my academic performance over the past two academic years, as well as the meaningful steps I have now begun taking toward recovery and academic stability.

As an international student living away from my primary support system, I struggled with prolonged isolation, emotional instability, and overwhelming stress while trying to manage both academic and personal responsibilities independently starting from September of 2024. During this time, I also experienced sexual assault on December 7th, of 2024. An unexpected pregnancy, and an abortion on February 14th, 2025, after discovering the pregnancy during my first year final examination period. These experiences had a huge emotional and psychological impact on me and significantly affected my ability to cope academically throughout the following years.

At the time, I felt like needed to manage these circumstances on my own while continuing my studies. This mindset was influenced by my cultural background and upbringing, where mental health struggles are often viewed as something that should be overcome through personal effort or passes by, rather than through professional support. Because of this, I hesitated to seek help early and struggled to fully recognize how serious my condition had become. Instead of reaching out for support, I continued trying to push through my coursework while my mental health gradually worsened.

These circumstances severely affected my concentration, emotional regulation leading to my diagnosis now, and ability to keep consistency in my coursework. There were extended periods where I struggled simply to function day to day, and I increasingly found it difficult to keep up with academic responsibilities and recover once I had fallen behind. Although I stayed enrolled and continued trying to complete my courses, my ability to perform at my normal academic capacity was significantly impaired throughout this period.

Despite these difficulties, I did not completely disengage from my education or give up on my academic goals. Second year coming back to university, I continued making efforts to remain academically engaged through course participation, deferred examinations, and tries to rebuild consistency in my study habits. When my mental health significantly interfered with my academic performance, I deferred examinations so that I could have more time to prepare and give myself the best possible opportunity to succeed rather than abandoning my academic responsibilities altogether.

Over the course of my second year, while my academic performance was still not where it needed to be, there was meaningful improvement. In my most recent semester, I was able to complete my courses without failing any of them. I understand that this is still below the academic standards expected by the university and does not outweigh my overall academic record. However, it shows that I was beginning to regain stability and make gradual progress despite the circumstances I was experiencing.

I also sought support through Student Wellness Services during this period and received a Verification of Extenuating Circumstances form related to the challenges I was experiencing in early 2025. More recently, I recognized that I could no longer continue without professional help and began taking more active and responsible steps toward addressing my mental health. I have since looked for professional medical and psychiatric care, been evaluated by healthcare providers, and started prescribed treatment on June 2nd. These experiences have helped me better understand the importance of reaching out for support and keeping treatment rather than trying to manage significant difficulties on my own.

In addition, several of the major circumstances contributing to my decline have improved significantly since that time. In particular, the severe instability I had with my relationship with my mother has been resolved, which has reduced the emotional stress I was experiencing throughout this period. While recovery is ongoing, I have already begun noticing gradual improvements in my daily functioning, and ability to manage my responsibilities.

If allowed to return, I intend to follow an academic plan focused on long term stability and gradual improvement. I plan to continue attending therapy, remain taking prescribed medications, and maintain regular follow up with my healthcare providers. Academically, I plan to retake courses in which I previously performed poorly to strengthen my academic foundation and improve my GPA. I also intend to begin with a lighter course load so that I can balance academic responsibilities with continued treatment and recovery. In addition, I will maintain communication with academic advising and student Accessibility Services and seek support proactively whenever I begin experiencing academic or personal difficulties.

I regret the outcome reflected in my academic record and respectfully ask the committee to consider that my academic decline occurred during a prolonged period of severe personal trauma and mental health challenges that impaired my ability to function academically. I genuinely believe that the support systems, treatment, and changes I have now developed places me in a stronger position to get back moving forward if granted the opportunity to continue my studies.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Yeseo Lee
Student ID:20493717