Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Undergrad Board of studies,

First, I am sincerely sorry for my actions. It was my decision to forge the false medical note and I fully recognize that it was foolish, inconsiderate, disrespectful and short-sighted.

Having said this, I am appealing Dr. Benard's sanction because though it is within the scope of possible disciplinary actions, I do feel it is severe. Even more so, and perhaps a little selfishly, despite my actions, I do not want to withdraw for an academic year and miss the opportunity to continue learning and being a part of Queen's student body. I hope that I can convey to you that I am deeply regretful and now recognize the gravity of my actions and lack of integrity.

During the interview, I was not able to adequately express or communicate my regret. Truthfully, I was scared and nervous and I believe Dr. Benard took this as evidence that I was not taking the situation seriously. I can assure you that this is not the case. I have thought about why I made the choice, which was--as unbelievable as it might sound--uncharacteristic of me and does not reflect either my family values or religious principles. I have come to the full realization that forgery is a crime and there is no adequate excuse for my behaviour. I suppose I can cite my emotional stress and illness as the reason why I forged the medical note but ultimately, it was bad judgement.

I would also like to mention that during my meeting with Dr. Bernard, I was very uncomfortable and nervous which clouded my judgment. I was unable to be forthright because I was so anxious.

In a previous meeting with a counselor at La Salle, I was advised to get a check up for anxiety and minor depression and potential minor ADHD. My counselor suggested to get checked up by my family physician, however always having a family member present during the appointment made it difficult to open up due to the lack of support from family. It was and is difficult to speak about these personal issues with my family and proved to be added stress.

I do not mention these conditions to excuse my actions but rather, to provide you with a context and perspective that will help you understand my poor choice.

I can assure you that I will not make the same mistake again. I have learned my lesson and it will remain with me. I only hope that you can find it in your wisdom to demonstrate leniency and allow me the opportunity to continue my studies at Queen's without a full year's withdrawal.

Sincerely,
Jeewon Han