Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,

My name is Ava de Pagter, I am a second year student currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts. I am applying for an appeal to drop the course GNDS 212.
This Semester has been a very difficult time, over the course of the semester I have been having several struggles that have impacted my abilities as a student. When I began this course I was told that all assignments would be due on December 3rd with no prior due dates. When I heard this I reminded myself that I would have plenty of time to complete the course work. Just over a year ago I was diagnosed with ADHD, the effects it has on me our my ability to stay organized and focus. Due to the fact of everything being due in December, I pushed my work off and left things to the very last minute. Sadly when December 3rd got closer I dealt with a very close passing in my family. At the beginning of the semester it was very easy to push my work off and I did not anticipate any barriers in getting the work done. Unfortunately this was not the case. When the date came around I had missed the deadline and was not able to submit the coursework.

The mental state I experienced throughout the semester made it extremely difficult to focus and stay on top of my work. I spent majority of my time away from Kingston and allowed myself to ignore the stress when I was at low points. I take full responsibility for not be able to complete this course, although the influencing factors I experienced directed my focus elsewhere.

When I began my first year in 2020 I lives on campus, the year was very different and I had just adjusted to a different way of school. I spent majority of the year trying to figure out what I wanted to do and how I was going to get through my 4 years at queens in the best way possible. When second year began I started to notice a shift in my mental health while being at queens. I found myself struggling to feel good and having a hard time staying focused. When my mental health got worse I decided to go home to distance myself from the way I was feeling about school and Kingston. I found so much comfort in being at home that I began to question what I wanted to do in regards to schooling. When I started at queens I didn't completely know what I wanted to do, and it wasn't until this semester that I began to realize my program and school environment might not be for me. This is the current state I am at now, I am trying to figure out what I want to do and have even considered transferring as an option. I acknowledge that whatever decision I make will be whats best for myself.
While dealing with all these mental challenges throughout the year and recently dealing with an unsuspected loss of someone close to me I am not able to complete this course.

Due to everything that happened this semester I am now at a crossroads. If I am not able to appeal this course, a fail could potentially hold me back from making a decision that is right for me. As much as I wish this wasn't the case, I am left with no choice. I have already contacted my professor and am hoping this drop will be appealed.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you would like to contact me to discuss further you can reach out to me through email, or even if you would like to discuss over a zoom call for a better understanding.

Ava de Pagter - 20amdp@queensu.ca