Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I have cPTSD from many traumatic experiences from my childhood, which has led me to struggle with managing my emotions and anxieties in my everyday life. This year I realized that my current major is not something I wish to pursue academically. I hated what I was studying so much that I would be unable to leave my room, let alone my house most days caused by how much I was going to hate my future. I often didn't think my future was worth living. My anxieties about my future were unbearable, but I could not act upon them due to my upbringing by my abusive mother. I have been unable to go to class since the middle of September. My childhood taught me that failure was unacceptable, but also that I was not allowed to ask for help. This rendered me immobile and increased my anxiety and depression since I was now unable to keep up in my classes but unable to reach out for help. I was eventually able to bring up my struggles with Brooke McLatchie here at Queen??s SWS and she offered me guidance. With her encouragement I was able to reach out to the English department and beginning the process of switching majors. I dropped my courses related to my previous major since they were my biggest triggers, but I wanted to complete my one elective since it had been the only course I had enjoyed earlier in the year. However, I quickly learned that I had already fallen so far behind my peers in German and, given that I was still recovering mentally, I would not be capable of catching up to them. My emotions began to control me again, as the thoughts ingrained from my childhood convinced me that I was worthless for falling behind in the first place and was a disgrace to my friends and family. I could not go to class due to my anxiety telling me I was hated by my peers and professor, but neither could I drop the course and admit to myself that I was the failure my mother convinced me I was. Brooke is introducing me to the idea that I am not a failure for quitting something that makes me miserable but allowing myself opportunities to succeed elsewhere. Allowing me to drop German 101 is granting me the mental space I need in my recovery and in turn the opportunity to succeed in my future academic pursuits here at Queen??s University.