Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Ben Burnside
August 7, 2019
20108250
17bib@queensu.ca

Re: Academic Appeal

Dear Associate Dean (Studies),

My name is Ben Burnside and I am appealing to drop PSYC 100 from my transcript, and I am also appealing for credit standing in ECON 110, POLS 110, and SOCY 122.

I am appealing these credit standings due to the incredibly difficult first year I had at Queen¿¿s University. Despite my considerable excitement entering into this stage of my academic career, I ended up experiencing many personal challenges during 2018-2019 that led to me not being able to concentrate on my studies as I have in the past. Since the start of my Grade 11th year of high school, I had been dealing with mental health issues, most specifically depression and anxiety. I began seeing a psychiatrist toward the end of my Grade 12th year as I decided that I could no longer cope in silence. I was prescribed medication and talked with a counsellor prior to me heading off to my first year at Queen¿¿s. Entering school I was elated and had been invited to join the Queen¿¿s Varsity Rugby team. Early into the season, I became injured and was deemed unable to play (as well as being assessed as requiring surgery). I was unable to work out (which helped me manage my mental health). Around the same time, I learned that my grandmother was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. I was very close with my grandmother and she ended up passing (after being quite critical from December 2018 until her death in January 2019). When my grandmother eventually passed, I found that I fell into a deeper state of depression and experienced suicidal ideation. I found it extremely hard to get out of bed, go to class, and especially complete the school work that I was meant to finish. During her sickness and after her passing, I was seeking medical help to see if I could somehow reverse or subdue the feelings that I was experiencing at the time. I was prescribed a higher dose of my daily meds, I was pushing myself to see a counsellor on campus at Queen¿¿s, and was trying to improve my daily habits in order to motivate myself to see the brightness in the new day. Unfortunately, I continued to struggle and remained in my residence room for the majority of the winter and early spring. Due to the darkness, I reached out to my psychiatrist in Toronto who provided me with some counsel via telephone. It was then in March 2019 that she diagnosed me with ADHD and prescribed me a new medication to assist with this learning condition. Unfortunately, it seemed as though my efforts were too late to make a significant change in my academic standing which is why I am appealing a few of my grades. Ultimately, my final grades and overall GPA prevented me from being accepted into a major of my choice for the 2019-2020 year. The major that I would have liked to be accepted into would have been Sociology.

Although the appeal of these grades would help, I also recognize the personal commitment to wellness that I need to have for my own well-being, as well as my academic standing so I can achieve my short and long-standing goals. At this time, I have a much brighter mindset. Entering my second year, I know that I need to be proactive and maintain a good and healthy routine, as well as reach for help the moment I begin to recognize familiar symptoms that present themselves. I have also purchased an emotional support dog for emotional regulation (and this support seems to have helped me astronomically so far and continues to show me the importance of routine).

My plan for my 2019-2020 academic school year is as follows:

Take my medication regularly and as prescribed by my psychiatrist.
Commit to daily exercise.
Play for the Queen¿¿s Varsity Rugby Team and seek emotional and physical support through the Team¿¿s Athletic Manager.
Engage in ongoing and regular counselling through the Queen¿¿s Student Support Centre.
Have regular tri-monthly appointments with my psychiatrist.
Participate in Gaels 301 to help me improve my study strategies and ensure all course work continues to be completed at a higher level than I previously submitted.
Participate in a Psycho-Educational Assessment if this is recommended by my psychiatrist (I will be seeing direction on this at my next scheduled appointment on August 15, 2019) to address any learning issues/challenges that are inherent in having an ADHD diagnosis.
Above all, ask for help when I need it.


I must admit that this letter has taken me some time to write. It has been difficult and I hope you sense that I really want to improve my life - in all areas. Upon reflection, I have recognized my biggest challenge as asking for help when it¿¿s needed. I have fallen, unfortunately, into the stereotypical challenge of feeling (or fearful of being perceived) as weak due to my mental health status. This will continue to be a challenge for me but I have enlisted my parents and a few of my closest friends to help me with this.

To conclude, I want you to know that I am very proud to be a Gael and wouldn¿¿t want to ever have that privilege taken away. I hope that this letter finds you well and that you will consider my academic appeal to change the outcome of these courses.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Ben Burnside.