Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I have previously submitted an appeal concerning the courses I took at Queen's University during 2012-2013. I appealed to have the fees waived and the courses that I took dropped. Due to mental health concerns issues and a traumatic event that occurred while taking these courses, I could not function to successfully complete the courses. The appeal was granted. I provided substantial documentation to support this appeal ?? multiple doctor's letters and psychiatrist reports among others.

Iam now appealing to have the following courses dropped from my transcript:
Phil 271: Philosophy & Literature
Phil 157: Moral Issues
Psyc 241: Social Psychology
Phil 293: Humans & The Natural World
Wmns 120: Contemporary Women's Issues
Rels 131B: Wrld Religions
Psyc 100B: Principles of Psychology
Clst 100B: Classical Literature
Phil 111B: Great Works of Philosophy
Cwri 295: Creative Writing 1
Phil 261: Philosophy of Mathematics
Phil 256: Existentialism
Due to overwhelming mental health issues and resulting substance abuse, I could barely function let alone perform to the best of my ability during the years 2004-2006. A little background: I suffered an incredible amount of bullying in high school, which resulted in trauma and social anxiety. I was even forced to drink urine. I also suffered sexual abuse from my brother, which persisted for the next decade. I provided a record from Halton Health Care Services from November 22, 2012 where I report this to my psychiatrist (the page has a number 1 in the top right hand corner, see supporting documentation.) So when I went to Queen's in the fall of 2004, I could not interact socially with anyone in any class or in my residence. I could not make a single friend. I had social needs and could not meet them. I was isolated. Moreover I was suffering from crippling depression, as diagnosed by my family doctor, Dr. Lorraine Philp, when I was 18 years old. I provided a letter from her attesting to this fact, please see supporting documentation. I have also provided a record of the psychiatric medications that I picked up from Shoppers Drugmart in Kingston, Ontario in 2005.

Because of my childhood & adolescent trauma, and the depression I was experiencing, I developed a substance abuse problem. I was an alcoholic while I was attending Queen's from 2004-2006. Of course, I did not know I was an alcoholic yet, and it would take many years for me to accept this fact and work the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. To this day, I have six months of sobriety. I was also previously addicted to cocaine and opiates, and have been free of both for over a decade. On the page marked with a four in the top right-hand corner of my supporting documentation, a record from Halton Health Care Services written by Dr. De Souza shows that I admit to having a substance abuse problem since the age of eighteen.
I have provided everything I could possibly think of to illustrate what I was suffering from during the time I was enrolled at Queen's University from 2004-2006. I wish there was more evidence, but truthfully I did not understand what was happening. It took me many years to fully understand how sick I was, and to accept my diagnoses. I think that at the core of all my suffering is the fact that I have severe borderline personality disorder ?? mentioned numerous times in my supporting documentation. Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most debilitating, difficult psychiatric disorders to live with. Ever since I realized I was a sentient being, perhaps in grade six, I recognized an overwhelming emptiness. Both inside me, and in the outside world. While I was at Queen's everything felt surreal ?? everything felt like a pointless joke. The courses I was taking, my interest in psychology, my future ambitions ?? everything felt so devastatingly pointless. I didn't know who I was, people with BPD struggle with massive identity problems. I could not connect with others. I did not trust my own feelings and I definitely did not trust the outside world.

I have provided mental health documents from later on in life to substantiate the fact that I have been suffering from depression, generalized anxiety, borderline personality disorder, ptsd, and panic attacks for my entire life. Iam 36 years old, on odsp, with no education. I want to go back to school, into the social work or nursing fields, so I can make money and help people. I will use my own experience, suffering from mental health issues and substance abuse, to help other people recover from these illnesses. I was so lost and sick when I attended Queen's from 2004-2006, and my performance in the above courses is not representative of how capable I actually am. Applying as a transfer student I need a high eighties average from my previous university education, without the above courses dropped I will not be able to go back to school to do what I want to do. I deserve another chance. It took me so much effort to get to where I currently am, and I really believe that I can help people and be a productive member of society, financially independent from odsp, and happy.

I will note that I do not want Latn 110B: Introductory Latin and Phil 201: Philosophy and Medicine, to be removed from my transcript. I managed to do well in those two courses because I had previous knowledge of latin and the philosophy of medicine. And by the grace of God I pulled off two good marks.