Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 155
Submitted: June 10, 2014 at 10:03:39 AM
First Name: Jennifer
Last Name: Williams
Student Number: 10062859
Email: jenny.williams@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: HLTH & LISC
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Code: PHGY 214
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Dean Van Vugt
Code: BCHM 218
Term: Winter
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Martin Petkovich
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: June 3, 2014
Dear Associate Dean of Studies,
My name is Jennifer Williams, and I am a to-be third year student taking a Health Studies Major with a Life Sciences Minor. Over the course of my second year of studies, I experience extenuating circumstances out of my control, explained below, which has led me to appeal for credit standing in the following two courses: Physiology 214 (Fall & Winter), and Biochemistry 218 (Winter). I received a C and a C, respectively, in these courses, and feel that my assessment was not representative of my potential in these courses, as a result of the following extenuating circumstances.
Over the last year, my boyfriend has been dealing with mental health issues, and has been diagnosed as having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In addition to his mental health issues, he is from Winnipeg, and has been living in Kingston with financial and academic troubles, without having family or friends to rely on - all of which are linked to his mental condition. As a result, without truly realizing the extent of his reliance until this May 2014, he had become dependent on me for daily activities, relying on me to combat his daily stresses, both from OCD and other instability in his life. During this time, his problems became so overwhelming that he became suicidal, and I would frequently be dealing with his suicidal thoughts or attempts. Unfortunately, though I encouraged him to seek out help, I did not bring this to anyone's attention, nor seek out help of my own, due to the degree of secrecy around his mental health issues and our relationship. It was only recently (mid-May 2014) when I told my family and friends, and sought out help and support from an academic counsellor, my professors in these two courses, and a counselor at HCDS.
Evidently, from what you read above, this had a profound effect on my life - especially my academics. I can go into further details about the situation, but I think the important point to make is that it took away between 3-6 hours daily from my life, and it consumed any time I had to focus on my academics. I did poorly in my second year, especially in these two courses, where I fell behind with material as a result of being there to manage his daily OCD struggles. In addition to daily management, his condition deteriorated as a result of high periods of academic stress, to the point of suicidal thoughts/claims, so exam season became difficult for me for courses I was already behind in - Physiology and Biochemistry.
Having said this, I am happy to note that I have already taken steps to remedy the situation. After taking a week off to be with family in early May 2014, I realized how far I had gone this past year from the person who I am - I have always been someone who: puts my academic prospects above all else, shares my troubles with friends and family, loves to laugh and smiles all day, and has a sense of predictability and control in my life. I lost sight of these aspects of my life this past year, and am working on getting back on track.
I am now working with a counsellor through HCDS, and hope to maintain regular sessions with her, until no longer necessary. I have also reached out to friends and family, sharing them the predicament that I was in this past year, and they have been incredibly supportive. Most importantly, I have broken off my unhealthy relationship with my now ex-boyfriend, and am happy to report that he is in a steady situation with a counsellor.
As for my future plans and academic goals, I have learned so much about what I want out of life from this year, and how to seek out help if ever in a situation like this again. Right now, I am working and studying in Kingston this summer, and am preparing to write my medical school admissions exam (MCAT) - I feel that I am on the path back to my studious, and hopefully high achieving, self. I also feel that the steps I have taken towards a better future - seeking out help, breaking off my unhealthy relationship, surrounding myself with a strong, health support network, and encouraging myself to do well with my MCAT studies - will all help with achieving high academic standing in my next two years at Queen's, and hopefully forevermore with my academic and life pursuits. In conclusion, I hope from this letter you can sympathize to my situation, and offer your support in appealing for credit standing in these two courses.
Many thanks for your time and consideration,
Jennifer Williams
Dear Associate Dean of Studies,
My name is Jennifer Williams, and I am a to-be third year student taking a Health Studies Major with a Life Sciences Minor. Over the course of my second year of studies, I experience extenuating circumstances out of my control, explained below, which has led me to appeal for credit standing in the following two courses: Physiology 214 (Fall & Winter), and Biochemistry 218 (Winter). I received a C and a C, respectively, in these courses, and feel that my assessment was not representative of my potential in these courses, as a result of the following extenuating circumstances.
Over the last year, my boyfriend has been dealing with mental health issues, and has been diagnosed as having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In addition to his mental health issues, he is from Winnipeg, and has been living in Kingston with financial and academic troubles, without having family or friends to rely on - all of which are linked to his mental condition. As a result, without truly realizing the extent of his reliance until this May 2014, he had become dependent on me for daily activities, relying on me to combat his daily stresses, both from OCD and other instability in his life. During this time, his problems became so overwhelming that he became suicidal, and I would frequently be dealing with his suicidal thoughts or attempts. Unfortunately, though I encouraged him to seek out help, I did not bring this to anyone's attention, nor seek out help of my own, due to the degree of secrecy around his mental health issues and our relationship. It was only recently (mid-May 2014) when I told my family and friends, and sought out help and support from an academic counsellor, my professors in these two courses, and a counselor at HCDS.
Evidently, from what you read above, this had a profound effect on my life - especially my academics. I can go into further details about the situation, but I think the important point to make is that it took away between 3-6 hours daily from my life, and it consumed any time I had to focus on my academics. I did poorly in my second year, especially in these two courses, where I fell behind with material as a result of being there to manage his daily OCD struggles. In addition to daily management, his condition deteriorated as a result of high periods of academic stress, to the point of suicidal thoughts/claims, so exam season became difficult for me for courses I was already behind in - Physiology and Biochemistry.
Having said this, I am happy to note that I have already taken steps to remedy the situation. After taking a week off to be with family in early May 2014, I realized how far I had gone this past year from the person who I am - I have always been someone who: puts my academic prospects above all else, shares my troubles with friends and family, loves to laugh and smiles all day, and has a sense of predictability and control in my life. I lost sight of these aspects of my life this past year, and am working on getting back on track.
I am now working with a counsellor through HCDS, and hope to maintain regular sessions with her, until no longer necessary. I have also reached out to friends and family, sharing them the predicament that I was in this past year, and they have been incredibly supportive. Most importantly, I have broken off my unhealthy relationship with my now ex-boyfriend, and am happy to report that he is in a steady situation with a counsellor.
As for my future plans and academic goals, I have learned so much about what I want out of life from this year, and how to seek out help if ever in a situation like this again. Right now, I am working and studying in Kingston this summer, and am preparing to write my medical school admissions exam (MCAT) - I feel that I am on the path back to my studious, and hopefully high achieving, self. I also feel that the steps I have taken towards a better future - seeking out help, breaking off my unhealthy relationship, surrounding myself with a strong, health support network, and encouraging myself to do well with my MCAT studies - will all help with achieving high academic standing in my next two years at Queen's, and hopefully forevermore with my academic and life pursuits. In conclusion, I hope from this letter you can sympathize to my situation, and offer your support in appealing for credit standing in these two courses.
Many thanks for your time and consideration,
Jennifer Williams
Documentation
Professional Letter: Appeal Letter from Counsellor Cathy-0.pdf