Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: June 13th 2017
To whom it may concern,

My name is Deepa Rampersad, and I have been required to withdraw from Queens University for one year. Over the past couple years of my life I have struggled with anxiety and depression, however when I was in high school it was manageable. When I began first year the work load and the immense change that occurred in my life was a giant culture shock to me. I felt as though I was falling behind in every aspect of my life which took a toll on me. I did not really recognize that this was a feeling everyone has from time to time since I felt embarrassed to talk to anyone who was willing to help me. This resulted in an unsuccessful academic year. Over the summer before I began my second year, I realized that picking a major was not viable for me since my grades were not great, so I went undeclared. While all of my peers were discussing their plans and asking me about mine I felt very embarrassed that I was being left behind. This made me feel even more distant from everything in my life and made me crawl into my own shell. My depression and anxiety sky rocketed that summer and I dreaded having to go to school and feel as though I was taking longer to be on the same path that all my peers are on. Having this mind set really made me struggle academically because I felt as though I was not good enough. Throughout this time, I was on anxiety medication which was not helping as it should. In December of 2016 my grandmother passed away which came as a devastating loss to me since I lived with her for almost 10 years of my life. I started to become so depressed that getting out of bed to shower seemed like an impossible task. A couple weeks after her death, my uncle (dad¿¿s brother) suddenly passed away from a heart attack. My father and him were very close and for a while my dad struggled mentally. Seeing my dad go through that while I was also in shambles from the death of two very important people in my life was difficult which made my psychological state even worse. I attempted to hurt myself really badly which resulted in a stay in the hospital. All along this time my studies were put on the back burner because life was too much to handle for me. After this a Queen¿¿s doctor, Dr. Erica Farnworth put me on depression/ anxiety medication. This medication is only now starting to work since it takes about five months to really kick in. This summer I feel like I am starting to feel a lot better and am planning to see someone weekly to discuss academics and my psychological state so I do not get back to that place again.
In terms of an academic plan, I want to be an English major and later on become a teacher. I have had a passion for teaching ever since I was a teaching assistant at ¿¿Kumon Math and Reading¿ for four years in high school. I understand that it will take me longer to finish university which I have come to terms with since I have a clear goal in mind. I believe that my hardships can be put to good use by helping my students when I become a teacher. I want to inspire them and let them know that whatever they feel in the moment is not a forever feeling and that there is always help available even when they are to depressed to seek it out. I plan to come back as a full time student taking anywhere between 4-5 English courses a semester to ensure I receive the best possible marks that I can. I also plan to take better use of the academic and psychological amenities that Queen¿¿s offers to their students. This way I can guarantee myself that I truly become a well rounded student and I am equipped with strategies to help me through difficult times. I will be consulting with ¿¿Student Academic Services¿, the writing centre and workshops such as the ¿¿Exam Tips¿. I have learned more about myself as well as what I can and cannot handle academically. I know that I can get my degree and be proud of who I am at the end of my university career. I just ask that the school gives me another chance to prove myself. When I think about majoring in English I become very motivated because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I just want to be in that plan as soon as possible.

With the support of my family, friends and the university¿¿s resources I am sure that I can return as a better student. I have dedicated this summer to work through my mental health issues to ensure I have a clear and healthy mind for this upcoming fall term.

I will be providing further documentation as supporting evidence to my appeal when the school and funeral homes provide me with it.

Best Regards,
Deepa Rampersad
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