Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To The Associate Dean (Studies):

Hello, my name is Madelaine Roberts, student number 20017963, and this is a letter of appeal for Credit Standing in CHEM 112, PHYS 117 and Math 121 (West Campus). I thank you for taking the time to read this. This request is essential to my ability in the future to flourish at Queen's University, and to continue my studies in a manner where I feel supported and prepared.

Extenuating circumstances occurred in the period between December 2016 and April 2017, which inhibited my abilities during examinations. I have spoken with my general practitioner, Dr. Sara Belanger, and she confirmed my beliefs that acute episodes of anxiety occurred which caused me to experience symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, irritability, guilt, and an inability to concentrate. My relationship with my parents, especially that of being away from home for the first time, put a pressure upon me such that I internalized their expectations, and placed even more need for success upon myself for it. My romantic relationship also put stress on me as my significant other was away for a semester abroad in Australia. I feel that my capacity as a student was compromised due to the episodes of anxiety during the stress of exam season, with all other stressors as accompaniment. I attempted to solve my problems alone; this lead to increased anxiety, feeling that I was weak and that everyone else could handle the stress, surmising that I just needed to try harder. This is the reason why I did not reach out to Student Wellness Services sooner. These courses seemed to be easy for others to accomplish with minimal difficulty, but I felt that no matter how I tried I was setting myself up for failure; I could manage the course work, but examinations would ruin me regardless of my efforts otherwise. The courses that I felt I could control, BIOL 102, BIOL 103 and PSYC 100, I do not see as being affected. The reasoning for this is my confidence in myself in these courses, as well as my lack of negativity surrounding them. I never saw them as being something that would inevitably impede my ability to succeed/something unattainable no matter how I try, as I viewed the others.

My hope for second year is to enter as a Psychology major and Life Sciences minor. I understand that these programs have high expectations for grades, and have made plans to help myself succeed. I am to speak with someone from Student Wellness Services when I return to Kingston, and have already been in contact with Ms. Lauren Sharpe about such matters. I plan to utilize the help of mental health counselling staff and other useful resources such as anxiety management websites (given to me by Dr. Belanger) in order to be successful in the remainder of my time at Queen's University. I have spoken with my parents about my mental health after downplaying my problems for months, and now have a greater understanding of their perceptions, expectations and support. I am committed to my studies and flourishing in a program that I know I will enjoy, after a year of feeling as though I should not be in, nor could attain success in over half of the courses required of a first year in sciences. I have accepted that I do need help, and reaching out in this manner has been extremely difficult but has also had a strong effect upon me; to have the knowledge that I am not making this up, and that there are things I can do to help myself, is powerful. I understand that these are large requests to make. However, the decisions made will also have a large impact on my abilities to achieve the excellent education that I know Queen's can provide if one is given the proper tools to utilize it, which I will now possess. I hope to hear from you soon on this matter.

I thank you for your time and considerations.

Yours truly,

Madelaine Roberts (Note: at submission this appears to condense together instead of remaining in paragraphs.)