Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello,
My name is Victoria Odell and I am currently a second year student at Queens in the Arts and Science Faculty specializing in biology and psychology. For the 2014-2015 school year, I have been struggling with mental health issues which have severely impacted my ability to excel academically. As a result I would like to request an appeal for my marks.

Over the past six months, my depression and anxiety issues have made it difficult for me to focus during class and to complete and learn the readings. I enrolled in a heavy course load and committed to several extra-curricular activities on campus thinking I could manage the problem as I had always done in the past. During examination periods or when assignments were due I would struggle to remain focused. I found myself unable to retain information and could not recall basic facts taught during the lectures. I noticed my grades dropping in the fall and with every bad mark my mental health issues would get worse and make it harder and harder to function effectively at school.

I began to notice that my mental health issues were impacting my schooling early into the year and started seeing doctors and counsellors around Kingston and on-campus back in the fall. I made every effort to address my mental health issues proactively and was determined to prevent it from having any impact on my academics. Despite these interventions, I started to develop self-destructive behaviours in an attempt to cope. I was prescribed anti-depressants in January of 2015, however the medication did not help and my problems persisted. I continued to try and work through my mental health issues , however it become clear over the past few weeks that I did so to the detriment of my personal well-being after I attempted to commit suicide on February 28th.

Based upon what I described above, I believe I have only been able to do the bare minimum to get by in my classes and my marks have suffered. My performance this year is extremely uncharacteristic of my success in previous academic years and not indicative of my potential. As a result, I would like to request an appeal for my grades this year. I did not look for an appeal earlier in the term because I felt that asking for help would be tantamount to failure. I was hoping I could succeed without academic intervention but after the events of the previous week I was urged by Arts and Science faculty counselors to make an appeal for my marks. Proof of my medical problems and the medical emergency will be sent from LaSalle counselor Mary Acreman, LaSalle doctor Joan Lacousiere, as well as medical records from the Kingston General Hospital emergency department. Currently I am staying in Waterloo where I can be reached by email (12vpo@queensu.ca) or phone (1-519-577-5334) if more information is needed.

Thank you for your understanding,
Victoria Odell
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