Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 7866
Submitted: June 15, 2021 at 9:36:03 PM
First Name: Gabriel
Last Name: Joseph-Brown
Student Number: 20065542
Email: 16gejb@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: Economics
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,
I have received a notice of requirement to withdraw for 3 years based on academic standing. I am writing this appeal to request that you waive this requirement, for multiple reasons.
As a student, I have encountered learning difficulties, receiving a diagnosis of ADHD in 2006. This has made University study and success exceedingly difficult for me.
Furthermore, in September, at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, I contracted the COVID-19 virus. I remember waking up with a sore throat and going into the shower not being able to smell my soaps. I thought I was going die after receiving my official diagnosis as the severity of my symptoms dramatically worsened. Specifically, I was not able to get out of bed, which meant that that I was unable fully to attend class, and this led to me falling behind at the start of the school year. I had to self-isolate for 3 weeks which and during that time I can honestly say I have never felt more alone and afraid. The lingering physical and mental toll of this extenuating circumstance impeded my ability to excel academically as I was unable to execute my preplanned daily routine at the start of the school year.
In January of 2021, I was dismayed to hear that I lost my grandmother to COVID-19. I had been close to her, and to make matters worse, we were unable to have a proper funeral for her. This sent me into a great sadness which severely impeded my ability to excel at my full academic potential.
Also, I want to also point out that currently, I am missing 3 final grades for the courses:
-Econ 250
-Gplh 271
-Econ 222
The above-mentioned courses were taken in the 2020-2021 school year and currently have an IN status on my transcript. I believe these grades are vital and should count to my cumulative GPA for this year as I do not want my hard work to go unnoticed.
I want to continue my studies at Queen's in the Fall. In asking you to waive the requirement to withdraw, it is my hope that you can understand that my life has been affected by unforeseen circumstances this year, this frustrated my success, coming at a time when I was finally able to get close to showing my potential.
I have received a notice of requirement to withdraw for 3 years based on academic standing. I am writing this appeal to request that you waive this requirement, for multiple reasons.
As a student, I have encountered learning difficulties, receiving a diagnosis of ADHD in 2006. This has made University study and success exceedingly difficult for me.
Furthermore, in September, at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, I contracted the COVID-19 virus. I remember waking up with a sore throat and going into the shower not being able to smell my soaps. I thought I was going die after receiving my official diagnosis as the severity of my symptoms dramatically worsened. Specifically, I was not able to get out of bed, which meant that that I was unable fully to attend class, and this led to me falling behind at the start of the school year. I had to self-isolate for 3 weeks which and during that time I can honestly say I have never felt more alone and afraid. The lingering physical and mental toll of this extenuating circumstance impeded my ability to excel academically as I was unable to execute my preplanned daily routine at the start of the school year.
In January of 2021, I was dismayed to hear that I lost my grandmother to COVID-19. I had been close to her, and to make matters worse, we were unable to have a proper funeral for her. This sent me into a great sadness which severely impeded my ability to excel at my full academic potential.
Also, I want to also point out that currently, I am missing 3 final grades for the courses:
-Econ 250
-Gplh 271
-Econ 222
The above-mentioned courses were taken in the 2020-2021 school year and currently have an IN status on my transcript. I believe these grades are vital and should count to my cumulative GPA for this year as I do not want my hard work to go unnoticed.
I want to continue my studies at Queen's in the Fall. In asking you to waive the requirement to withdraw, it is my hope that you can understand that my life has been affected by unforeseen circumstances this year, this frustrated my success, coming at a time when I was finally able to get close to showing my potential.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: I have been in constant contact with my medical doctor and in response to the events discussed, I have created a thorough plan to go forward. This includes the major changes in my living and learning circumstances. I have also created an academic plan to help with my response to the stresses of deadlines and assignments. I will be re-visiting my plan periodically with my advisor Hayley Everson. I plan to take a reduced course load this fall (3 courses) and I have booked a Career Counseling Appointment to explore pathways.
I have also pursued changes in medication with my family doctor and since this is especially important to my future success and I want to write about this further, in the subsequent section.
In addressing the plan going forward, my appeal to waive the requirement to withdraw for three years, which will allow me to continue school in the fall, requires a mature, reasoned, and comprehensive approach to study and evaluation stresses. This begins with both social and academic planning. I have re-evaluated my social life, focusing more on academics and changing my lifestyle. For example, I changed housemates, finding a new apartment, with all new housemates and they are turning out to be great friends of mine, with similar strong academic goals and great study habits.
To keep my mental balance, and also to allow others the chance to verify that I am doing well, I have been in contact with student wellness services and have had weekly Zoom calls with them to discuss my mental health and wellness.
I am also working with Professor Jim Hamilton on a pilot project for the Smith School of Business. This job is extremely important to me as it will unlock more opportunities and help my career going forward.
Underlying all this, I have established great routines for classwork and study and I have been conscientious in sticking to these. Overall, I have never been a greater state. These efforts combined will undoubtedly lead to better grades.
A degree from Queen's is really important to me. I have invested time and effort into this, and the outcome is that I have matured and learned to recognize obstacles and to deal with them. I believe that I have finally risen to a place where I can learn more easily and demonstrate this better.
Yours,
Gabriel
I have also pursued changes in medication with my family doctor and since this is especially important to my future success and I want to write about this further, in the subsequent section.
In addressing the plan going forward, my appeal to waive the requirement to withdraw for three years, which will allow me to continue school in the fall, requires a mature, reasoned, and comprehensive approach to study and evaluation stresses. This begins with both social and academic planning. I have re-evaluated my social life, focusing more on academics and changing my lifestyle. For example, I changed housemates, finding a new apartment, with all new housemates and they are turning out to be great friends of mine, with similar strong academic goals and great study habits.
To keep my mental balance, and also to allow others the chance to verify that I am doing well, I have been in contact with student wellness services and have had weekly Zoom calls with them to discuss my mental health and wellness.
I am also working with Professor Jim Hamilton on a pilot project for the Smith School of Business. This job is extremely important to me as it will unlock more opportunities and help my career going forward.
Underlying all this, I have established great routines for classwork and study and I have been conscientious in sticking to these. Overall, I have never been a greater state. These efforts combined will undoubtedly lead to better grades.
A degree from Queen's is really important to me. I have invested time and effort into this, and the outcome is that I have matured and learned to recognize obstacles and to deal with them. I believe that I have finally risen to a place where I can learn more easily and demonstrate this better.
Yours,
Gabriel
Documentation
Professional Letter: Doctors Note -6.pdf