Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Whom it May Concern,

My name is Rose Wagner, and I am appealing to drop ENGL 297 (Winter, 2029) and ENGL 290 (Winter, 2021) after the deadline, as a number of extenuating circumstances have negatively impacted my studies.

My grandmother passed away before the start of the Winter 2021 term. A few weeks later, my parents separated, which increased conflict in my family. At the start of the semester, I was taking four classes, as well as working 20 hours a week. I was unable to access support from my parents and family, and was juggling a number of issues and responsibilities while attending school. These issues impacted my mental health by mid-February. I was feeling overwhelmed and had worsened symptoms of anxiety and depression. I tried to mitigate these symptoms as soon as I noticed them. I dropped one course (FREN 150, winter 2021) before the March 5th deadline, and took a leave of absence from work. I also reached out to SWS and TAO for support. I hoped the extra time would lessen some stress until the end of the semester, after which I would explore long-term therapy options. However, I was struggling to complete assignments and tasks on time. I filed a request for academic consideration (applicable Feb. 26th to April 1rst) to deal with these issues, and to catch up in my courses. On March 28th, my grandfather passed away, which further impacted my mental health and ability to complete tasks. I am now experiencing severe symptoms of anxiety and depression. I am still trying to complete my missed assignments and tasks, but now feel incredibly overwhelmed. I did not drop ENGL 297 and ENGL 290 earlier, as I was convinced I would be able to recover quickly and complete course requirements. I am very dedicated to my studies, and I believed that I would feel better as I completed tasks.

I am sure these issues have directly impacted my academic success. I was succeeding in ENGL 297 and 290 before these issues began to pile up. I earned an A+ on my ENGL 297 midterm, and was earning high grades in ENGL 290. I earned similar grades in the Fall 2020 term and in my first year of studies at Queen¿¿s. I am a capable and successful student, but feel I need to step back in order to succeed in my remaining course, and to address and prioritize my mental health.

I plan to access long-term therapy in the summer, as I will be able to afford sessions. I will take a lighter course load in the 2021-2022 academic year and continue to prioritize my mental health.

I have included two other letters with my appeal. The first is written by my partner Jaden Zeisig, and the second by his father, Joss Zeisig. I have included a doctor¿¿s note from the CDK walk-in clinic from earlier this semester. This is the only doctor¿¿s note available, as I am unable to consult my primary care physician until May 13th. The links to my grandparents¿¿ obituaries are provided below. I am happy to answer questions or include additional documentation if needed.

Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Rose Wagner

Donald Wagner (grandfather) Obituary: https://www.arbormemorial.ca/atlantic-sackville/obituaries/donald-a-wagner/64152

Claude Fréchette (grandmother) Obituary: https://www.lepinecloutier.com/necrologie-avis-de-deces/61253-claude-frechette::textC38020l'HC3B4pital20de20l,Elle20demeurait20C3A020QuC3A9bec.&textBelvC3A9dC3A8re2C20QuC3A9bec2C20QC20G1S203G3,2C204182D5272D4294.