Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dr. Horton,

a. Request:
I am appealing to the Dean to overlook the 21-day deadline to submit an academic appeal and would like to expunge my academic record for Fall 2014 and Winter 2015, and for the Fall 2011 and Winter 2012, noting that the reason the courses were not originally expunged was to give me the necessary prerequisites for my second year as a Chemistry major.

b. Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:
Shortly before starting my first year at Queen¿¿s University in April 2011, my best friend, a Queen¿¿s student, committed suicide by hanging himself in a public place. I suffered from post-traumatic stress and major depression in my first year at Queen¿¿s, and experienced nightmares, lack of focus, fatigue and apathy. Somehow, I managed to pass some courses. I didn¿¿t even register for courses the next year and over the next four years, I hid the truth from my family until they discovered what was happening in the spring of 2014. I tried to start school again at this point in Fall 2014, but was still suffering from depression. I attended classes initially, but experienced anxiety, couldn¿¿t focus well, and after midterms, grew increasingly more discouraged and ashamed. I didn¿¿t submit assignments and I don¿¿t think I even wrote all my exams. To be honest, I cannot remember much about this period except feeling bleak and lost, and I ended up failing all my classes. During this time, I lied to my parents again. At this point, I withdrew from school for the next year and a half. I seriously contemplated suicide, but could not do it because I knew that my friend¿¿s suicide had ruined the lives of his loved ones.

Since Winter 2012 my mental health has gradually improved. I have seen various and health professionals and counsellors for cognitive therapy, neurofeedback and medication (attached are supporting documents). In March 2016, I attended the Intensive Transitional Therapy Program at KGH for people suffering depression. In retrospect, I feel that my brain was broken and after five years, it is healing. My future is now hopeful instead of hopeless. I now have aspirations, goals and am engaged in life whereas when I was depressed, I retreated inward, was exhausted and felt that life was something to endure. My brain is out of the fog, and I have energy. I am working full-time and have two part-time jobs. I am most proud of the website e-commerce business I cofounded and now run.

c. Future plan
I will be taking a macroeconomics course at Queen¿¿s during the Winter 2017 term, then apply to universities for a degree program in business or economics. This necessitates expunging my record to give me a chance to be considered as a transfer student. Otherwise, it is unlikely that I will be accepted into any university program with my current academic GPA.

I continue to take medication and see a counsellor bi-weekly.

Thank you for your time. I would be happy to meet with you if necessary.