Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: January 8th, 2015.

Associate Dean of Studies
Queen¿¿s University

To Whom It May Concern:

I am requesting to drop late the following courses taken in the 2011-2012 academic year:
ECON 110
ENGL 100
HIST 121
POLS 110

The difficulties I experienced during this time were caused by the stress of a family problem that arose at home in British Columbia immediately after my departure, which prevented me both from being able to properly manage the academic demands of a university course load and from reacting to my drop in performance in a timely way.

Soon after beginning the fall semester, I began to experience difficulty sleeping which directly and negatively affected my studies. I found it difficult to focus on anything, and quickly fell behind on readings and assignments, while my attendance suffered. Because I felt both ashamed and guilty for having fallen so far behind, I kept my struggles from my peers, residence advisors and teachers, in hopes that I could remedy my situation before anybody noticed. I did not participate in extra-curricular or social activities during this time, while I worked to catch-up on my coursework.

The guilt and shame I felt was further compounded as I began to consider the time and funds that were being devoted to my studies. In the second semester, I worked even more frantically to salvage the year, but my condition had deteriorated. I began to avoid all forms of interaction, friends and strangers alike, making attendance of classes (especially tutorials) even more difficult. I was not able to catch up by the end of the year.

Although I did not have the strength and maturity to seek the support I can now see I needed during the 2011-2012 academic year, I returned home after the winter semester in order to deal directly with the source of my stress and care for my family member during their end-of-life (I only later learned that I had been required to withdraw for that year, anyway). Once I no longer needed to be in BC, I felt I could return to my studies guilt-free and focused. In order to prevent a repeat of my first year, I tested myself first with some online courses, and then with a half-year back on campus before committing to returning to a full course load. Since then I have had the pleasure of taking a variety of demanding courses, and have maintained good academic standing.

If this request is granted, I plan to continue working with Counselling Services to ensure that I finish my last year of studies successfully and graduate with a transcript that more accurately reflects my academic abilities, allowing me the possibility of continuing my education at the graduate level sometime in the future.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Eden Toth
Student no. 10029176