Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am appealing to request that the Associate Dean waive the 3 year mandatory leave and the failed courses since the winter term of 2010.
In 2010, during the second semester of my first year at Queens I was met with an extenuating circumstance. It was a traumatic event beyond my control and developed unhealthy ways of coping. Avoidance and isolation were among them. I never realized that they were unhealthy or that I even had coping methods. I had developed them without knowing. This costed my academic career. I had difficulties concentrating and going outside to public places such as classrooms or to meet friends. I was extremely afraid of getting help, thinking I did not want the event to be exposed at all. The coping method I developed had snowballed and I came to struggle with slightest hardships or other extenuating events that came afterwords. It affected me in ways that I could not go for a normal day. During the christmas break of 2014/2015, I received a bad news from my family that we might have to deal with a loss soon. I started to become more and more nervous as seeking help was not something I wanted to do back then. Especially during the month of March I was spending number of days alone thinking avoidance and isolation were the right ways of grounding myself. During the months of April, May and June of 2015, I was met with the extenuating circumstance. I had to deal with grief from loss of a family member that exacerbated what I was already struggling with. This really costed me the winter courses of 2015 as I never really finished any of my courses.
After coming back to Queens for the 2014 fall term, I had my mind set on working hard. I always wanted to finish my study. First semester I started to see some results and was thrilled. However I was met with the event during the winter term that I did not know how to cope properly. Unhealthy habits from the Winter term of 2010 had really influenced me in a negative way without even knowing. This also resulted in an emergency room visit as my health was taking a toll. After recovering and when I realized that I had to leave for another 3 years, I started to seriously think that I was in need of professional help.
It has taken me lots of failures but last fall semester gave me the courage to do well. I am determined to study and graduate with Queen¿¿s. Knowing that I need some social interaction I worked during the summer of 2015 and tried to face my conditions. I am currently seeing a professional counsellor and have been developing a healthy routine for me to stay in check. Such as making sure to book a following appointment while there so that I cannot go into isolation again. This was the big improvement for me since avoidance and isolation are my biggest weaknesses. Early on this year when I had just started getting help, I was met with another family loss and I made sure to voice my concern and work it through with the counsellor. Now I feel much more comfortable and confident. I have learned a lot about healthy coping methods. I do plan on making regular visits especially during the school year.