Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 7852
Submitted: June 14, 2021 at 11:46:23 PM
First Name: Will
Last Name: Costello
Student Number: 20220882
Email: 19wcc@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: History
Level of Study: 1
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To the Associate Deans,
My name is Will Costello. I am writing this letter because I have been asked to withdraw from the upcoming school year based on my academic performance. I would like to explain my circumstances in the hope to return to part-time studies in the Fall.
I was very excited to start the school year in residence but shortly after I arrived, I felt very lonely, isolated, and had a hard time making friends. This sent me on a downward spiral in both my mental health and my grades. I found myself constantly struggling to do the simplest things: going to meal hall, doing laundry, making friends, and completing school work. At the end of the first semester, I was failing most of my courses. I stayed home for the first two months of the Winter semester which helped me turn a corner by getting my assignments in, keeping up with my homework, and generally getting on track. In March, I decided I was ready to go back to the residence and prove to myself that I was capable of handling this workload. Within a week of returning, I became sick with COVID-19 and was immediately sent to Smith Hall for isolation. While sick, I was unable to do my academics and the isolation took me out of my social routine. I left Kingston as soon as the quarantine ended and only returned to the residence to pick up my belongings. My grades kept falling through the rest of the year and I am now in this position.
The reason I didn¿¿t seek help was that I was ashamed and suffering from depression. Online learning was very difficult for me. I was trying to prove to myself that I could get through the year without letting anyone know how bad my situation had become. In hindsight, this was the wrong approach and I realize that help was what I needed all along. It wasn¿¿t until I received my final grades that I opened up to my parents. I asked them for help which lead me to this letter and has been the best thing I could have done.
Last year was very difficult for me, but I learned a lot of lessons about myself and recognize how badly I want to be at Queen¿¿s University. Unfortunately, my academic performance has put me in this situation, for which I apologize. I am formally asking if you would allow me to return for the Fall semester as a part-time student. This would allow me to practice the tools I am learning with my psychologist and also continue my academic career.
I sincerely appreciate your consideration.
Yours truly,
Will Costello 20220882
My name is Will Costello. I am writing this letter because I have been asked to withdraw from the upcoming school year based on my academic performance. I would like to explain my circumstances in the hope to return to part-time studies in the Fall.
I was very excited to start the school year in residence but shortly after I arrived, I felt very lonely, isolated, and had a hard time making friends. This sent me on a downward spiral in both my mental health and my grades. I found myself constantly struggling to do the simplest things: going to meal hall, doing laundry, making friends, and completing school work. At the end of the first semester, I was failing most of my courses. I stayed home for the first two months of the Winter semester which helped me turn a corner by getting my assignments in, keeping up with my homework, and generally getting on track. In March, I decided I was ready to go back to the residence and prove to myself that I was capable of handling this workload. Within a week of returning, I became sick with COVID-19 and was immediately sent to Smith Hall for isolation. While sick, I was unable to do my academics and the isolation took me out of my social routine. I left Kingston as soon as the quarantine ended and only returned to the residence to pick up my belongings. My grades kept falling through the rest of the year and I am now in this position.
The reason I didn¿¿t seek help was that I was ashamed and suffering from depression. Online learning was very difficult for me. I was trying to prove to myself that I could get through the year without letting anyone know how bad my situation had become. In hindsight, this was the wrong approach and I realize that help was what I needed all along. It wasn¿¿t until I received my final grades that I opened up to my parents. I asked them for help which lead me to this letter and has been the best thing I could have done.
Last year was very difficult for me, but I learned a lot of lessons about myself and recognize how badly I want to be at Queen¿¿s University. Unfortunately, my academic performance has put me in this situation, for which I apologize. I am formally asking if you would allow me to return for the Fall semester as a part-time student. This would allow me to practice the tools I am learning with my psychologist and also continue my academic career.
I sincerely appreciate your consideration.
Yours truly,
Will Costello 20220882
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: I¿¿d like to return to school in the fall and I have a two-part plan to ensure I can succeed at university and live on my own.
First, I am working with a registered psychologist, Katie Dixon at Peak Resilience to help me cope with social anxiety and learn tools for creating mental resilience. Second, regarding my academic plan, I would like to return as a part-time student, focused on my Bachelor of Arts Degree retaking my first-year courses in Political Studies, Psychology, and History. To ensure a successful year, I will be establishing a relationship with my professors and teaching assistants. Although online learning makes this more difficult, I recognize that having no relationship with these mentors created a scenario where it was difficult to ask for help when I needed it. I will get Peer Tutor (ASUS) for each of my classes and establish a regular cadence with them. In addition to this, as restrictions ease, I will create relationships with fellow students and be more involved on campus. I have secured off-campus housing with my peer group, who are in good standing with the university.
First, I am working with a registered psychologist, Katie Dixon at Peak Resilience to help me cope with social anxiety and learn tools for creating mental resilience. Second, regarding my academic plan, I would like to return as a part-time student, focused on my Bachelor of Arts Degree retaking my first-year courses in Political Studies, Psychology, and History. To ensure a successful year, I will be establishing a relationship with my professors and teaching assistants. Although online learning makes this more difficult, I recognize that having no relationship with these mentors created a scenario where it was difficult to ask for help when I needed it. I will get Peer Tutor (ASUS) for each of my classes and establish a regular cadence with them. In addition to this, as restrictions ease, I will create relationships with fellow students and be more involved on campus. I have secured off-campus housing with my peer group, who are in good standing with the university.
Documentation
Professional Letter: Screen Shot 2021-06-14 at 11.39.51 PM.png
Professional Letter Detail: Evidence of a Psychologist appointment