Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: May 12th, 2017

Dear Dr. Johanne Bénard,

I would like to start off by saying thank you for your continued consideration in this situation and for allowing me to proceed with an appeal for AG and IN standing in some of my 2015 and 2016 courses. I am looking to acquire Aegrotat standing in two of my Fall 2015 courses (POLS 280 and DEVS 492) and four of my Winter 2016 courses (POLS 212, POLS 230, DEVS 492, COMM 407). Additionally, I am looking to obtain an IN in my Summer 2016 courses (WRIT 120 and ARTH 120).
During the Fall 2015 semester, I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. Despite only being diagnosed during that semester, I have suffered from this disease throughout my academic career. A variety of personal struggles brought on a mental breakdown, which landed me in the emergency department at Kingston General Hospital on multiple occasions in December 2015. My anxiety and panic attacks were debilitating, often leaving me physically unable to complete day-to-day tasks, like my academic requirements. The Fall of 2015 was also when I found out I would be a witness in a sexual assault case. This caused me even more hardship and grief, making it extremely difficult to focus in school.
Throughout the Winter 2016 semester, I faced different personal issues that caused a setback in my treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. The sexual assault case took place between January and March of 2016. I was therefore required to attend court regularly and as a result, missed many of my classes. These days were both emotionally and physically draining, which made it even more difficult to complete daily tasks. Also during the Winter 2016 semester, I experienced the loss of a loved one. Due to my involvement with the case, I was unable to leave Kingston and attend the funeral. I was overwhelmed emotionally and was unable to properly mourn this loss, which ultimately had a negative impact on my mental health. Trying to complete my work became impossible for me, as my daily panic attacks often left me exhausted, shaken, and unable to concentrate.
During the 2015/2016 school year, I was employed as a Senior Residence Life Don with Queen¿¿s. I was in charge of the well being of other students and my entire team of staff members. It was my duty to ensure their safety in the residence buildings. This position at times was emotionally and physically demanding. The duty to ensure my residents and staff members felt safe, cared for, and included put a lot of pressure on me to perform well, on top of the various scary and stressful situations I was required to mediate and be on top of. As a first generation student, with immigrant parents, I have known financial strain my entire life. This meant I needed employment in order to even make it to post-secondary education. This job became my means for living and became so dependent on it.
I decided to complete summer courses in Summer of 2016 in order to graduate that Fall. I believed that being at home with the support of my loved ones and friends would have made it easier to complete my courses. However, my anxiety and panic disorder persisted and continued to be a debilitating part of my life.
Today, I am working through my anxiety and panic disorder one day at a time. I am planning on taking some time off from school this year in order to fully heal. Education has always been an incredibly important part of my life, therefore, in the future I would like to return to school for a Masters in Public Policy. Currently, I am partaking in a prestigious youth internship with the Liberal Party of Canada as the intern for the Minister of Natural Resources, Jim Carr. I am confident that everything I have learned during my time at Queen¿¿s will help me be successful in this internship and in any other future endeavours I decide to pursue.
My goal is to be able to graduate this summer with a BAH in Global Development and a minor in Political Studies. Haley Everson has been in contact with my professors to let them know of the situation and they have been incredibly supportive.
It became very difficult to keep up with my job, school, being a witness in a traumatic court case, a death in the family, and financial burdens during the 2015/2016 year. I felt ill every day and incredibly anxious at even the thought of performing daily tasks. I experienced multiple debilitating panic attacks daily and depression at my inability to perform, which I found difficult to talk about because of fear and shame. Therefore, I am asking you to consider my case for Aegrotat standing for my Fall 2015 and Winter 2016 courses and IN for my Summer 2016 courses.


Regards,
Adriana Gonzalez
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