Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dorit Naaman, Ph.D., June 15, 2026


I am writing to you regarding the letter I received on May 26th indicating my required one-year withdrawal from the Queen’s University Faculty of Arts and Science. The purpose of this letter is to petition to waive this withdrawal based on a series of profoundly stressful extenuating circumstances related to my mental health and general physical health that tested my resolve to learn, engage with lectures, and benefit from being a part of the Queen’s academic community. Symptoms related to these difficult health struggles were especially pronounced over the past academic year (Fall 2025-Winter 2026 semesters), yet I have experienced mental health crises throughout the course of my life related to my Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). As a crucial part of my larger petition to waive the required withdrawal I received, I am also petitioning to late drop the following 8 courses: LLCU 270 – Fall 2025, GNDS 215 – Fall 2025, GNDS 125 – Fall 2025, EMPR 260 -Winter 2026, FILM 240 – Winter 2026, HIST 240 – Winter 2026, HLTH 205 – Winter 2026, LLCU 111 – Winter 2026.

My history with mental health and general health struggles is long and difficult and has included symptoms of self-doubt, self-sabotage, and anxious avoidance related to my BPD, GAD, and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Diagnoses related to these disorders are included in supporting documents for my petition. Despite the heavy impacts of my overall mental health struggles on my academic performance and career, I am no longer ‘white-knuckling’ my symptoms. Documents related to the therapy and mental health healing are included in my supporting documents, as well. To someone with BPD, this step is massive, and demonstrates my commitment, despite my disabilities, to my education at Queen’s. To this point, I have recently sought out a series of continual mental health supports. I wanted to note that from an administrative point of view, I understand that it may have appeared my dedication and sense of responsibility was lacking with respect to the courses I took and failed over the past year, which I also did not opt to drop within the observed deadline. However, my decision-making has often been clouded by my symptoms including somatic and nervous-system based ‘freezing-up’ in the midst of important tasks. A couple weeks ago, I was finally able to check my inbox after a year of extreme symptoms and because I sought mental health support to alleviate these symptoms. This is a huge step for me that I am proud to have taken. In the moment when I recently opened my inbox and saw the email indicating my requirement to withdraw, I took accountability for my education and understood that this accountability is a larger part of my overall healing. I am fully ready to reconcile the impacts my mental health and overall health struggles have had on my undergraduate career, which is why my petition to waive my withdrawal is so important to my development as a student and as a young adult.

My struggles with mental health have lasted the duration of my undergraduate career at Queen’s. In earlier years, my mental health struggles were far less severe and consistent compared to recent years. I did experience a fluctuation in grades from term to term, but for the most part, I was able to get by and ‘white knuckle’ my way through the earlier years of university. While still experiencing symptoms of my BPD, GAD, and MDD, I was more consistent in my academic studies. Unfortunately, multiple stressors from 2024 winter semester up until the present lead to a worsening of my mental health situation. My social and peer-based situation felt incredibly dire to me, as all of my housemates, friends, classmates and peers at the university were graduating while I was still needed more time to complete my degree based on my mental health. This lack of self-confidence contributed to my depressive episodes. Although now I know every individual has their own timeline for their education and that each person’s experience throughout their education is subjective, this still had a very taxing toll on my mental health. I started off the winter semester as strong as I could, and slowly started to neglect my studies due to my extreme avoidant anxiety and ongoing mood disturbances from my BPD from the many external stressors from general life I was experiencing. As that downfall was happening, I unfortunately got into a very serious ski accident and had a severe knee injury. I was urgently rushed to the hospital (Emergency room Dr. note attached) and immediately underwent X-rays, and many other tests to determine the extent of my injury. After diagnosing that I had a MCL and Meniscus injury in my left knee, I was referred to see an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Heather Brien, who I met with multiple times, as well, Dr. Brien recommended I seek immediate rehabilitation through a physiotherapy clinic, which I then was able to see my current physiotherapist Adrienne Parcher at Physical Edge Physiotherapy Clinic (documentation from Dr. Brien and physiotherapist included).

As a result, post winter 2024 semester I decided to take a year off from studies. This year off did not help me. Instead of revising my course load and seeking academic advisement, I was floundering and listless - directionless –this only exacerbated my symptoms. After seeking academic advisement at the end of May as well as mental health supports and medications, my mental illness was well-managed for the first time in a while. Since opening the email that included the letter from the University detailing my requirement to withdraw from the Faculty of Arts and Science for one-year, effective May 1st, 2026, I felt a drive to ‘do better’ and turn my situation around. After coming to terms with my struggles and many failures of my Fall 2025/Winter 2026 semester I engaged with much self-discovery and turned all my focus onto ameliorating my mental, emotional, physical state so that I can get my Bachelors of Arts degree completed and further pursue my post-secondary education. The initial goal I had opening my Queen’s Outlook email was to reach out to academic supports through resources in the Faculty of Sociology, as well as academic advisors in SWS and SASS to figure out an academic plan for the Fall 2026 semester. I successfully completed this goal. In addition, I registered with QSAS to get the proper accommodations I need for success in my schooling going forwards. That same day I first opened my inbox after some time and read the withdrawal letter, I reached out to my previous Psychotherapist Alaina Johnston who has provided a supporting document attached. I booked an appointment with her, and have been in touch with my family doctor regarding my previous BDP diagnosis that I received from the Queen’s Student Wellness Services.

I am a firm believer that people with mental health struggles have the right to attend university, celebrate their love of learning and understand that they can still achieve in an academic environment. I am so deeply inspired by the study of Sociology, and am so grateful that Queen’s University has provided me with top notch learning in this field. Not only has studying Sociology helped me to better understand society, but it has also broadened my understanding of the human condition in general, which has led to profound self-discovery and an ability to better comprehend myself and my needs. I feel confident in myself now that I have reached out to the proper supports, and have an active an ongoing treatment plan and academic plan in place for myself. This change in approach and mindset shift has made me very optimistic and assured that given the opportunity I will complete my degree in Sociology in this coming academic year.

Sincerely,
Lily Armstrong
Student number 20228547