Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr.Stephenson,

My name is Kruthika Mahadevan and I am a 4th year Biology Major student at Queen¿¿s University. Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologize for having to contact you under these circumstances, having previously appealed before, but the circumstances have become inevitable, and I thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I am writing this appeal to drop all my summer term courses. I had got my last mark update during the last few days of September for the summer term, which is why you are receiving this letter now. I am aware that I have been struggling academically and have been facing issues for a while, which has really increased the last academic year.

To put it concisely the reason for my academic struggles has been my mental health. I am currently in a state of depression along with my anxiety, and have been so for a while now. I was not aware of how far this had progressed until I was recently diagnosed by a physician when I told her about the struggles I¿¿ve faced this summer and the past two school years. I have been facing a lot of trouble in school this summer, whether it be my inability concentrate, or complete school work, or isolating myself from everyone around me, at times I would go a week without being able to talk properly with anyone. The physician has also prescribed for me to take some pills, to help with the depression. Making depression the scapegoat of this letter is not my intention, for which the doctor can be contacted as well, although, now it has become a part of my life which affects all my actions whether I want it to or not. I have never felt the need to describe this issue formally; so I am not exactly sure how to explain its complexity, which is why I had asked the physician to explain it through the letter attached. The largest prevailing feeling in my mind is feeling useless and that nothing I do will help me get better whether it be academically or emotionally. This has especially taken a toll on me this past summer, along with other treatments I¿¿ve been taking (which I mentioned on my previous appeal), and I honestly don't believe it¿¿s a true reflection of my capability, having not been able to study and do anything properly in those courses. Due to my current standing, I was so desperate to raise my GPA, I didn¿¿t realize how bad my mental state was, that I wasn¿¿t prepared to undertake the pressure and needed a break. Now I¿¿m trying my best to seek help from my physician, family, and friends to get better. Hoping that this year would be the right step for me to become an adept student and person.