Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Stephenson,

I am appealing to remove HLTH 230 (Fall, 2021) from my GPA and receive a credit standing.

As the covid cases began to rise in Kingston, many students, including myself, suffered immense distress and unhealthy amounts of anxiety. Around exam time, the covid cases at Queen??s were at an all-time high, and students were still being forced to write their exams in person. Understandably, this brought me a lot of added stress, panic attacks, and anxiety which made me lose focus on my exams. I reached out for support from Queen??s University and was denied any help. I continued to do my first exam in person and left the exam feeling worse because no covid protocols were being implemented. No one was following social distancing rules; the desks were very close together, students were not staying six feet apart in the hallways, etc. For someone diagnosed with anxiety, this was an absolute nightmare and disaster. After this exam, I had a massive panic/anxiety attack and was extremely worried for my next exam, HLTH 230. Instead of worrying about doing well on the exam, I was worrying if I was going to have to write my exam in person, catching COVID-19 because I was being forced to write in person, catching COVID-19 and being stuck in Kingston for the holidays and that if I got COVID if I would have to be rushed to the hospital. I had COVID-19 in the past, which was highly traumatizing for me. During this ten-day isolation period, I found myself in a very dark, depressing place. I was the only member in my family who had covid so I could not leave my room. Twenty-four hours for ten days I was alone in my room experiencing severe depression and anxiety. This ten-day period traumatized me forever, which is why I had extreme anxiety about catching covid because I knew if I had to isolate myself alone, I would find myself back in that same dark, depressing place.

As well as the COVID-19 situation, around exam time, it was brought to my attention that one of my friends who was suffering from cancer was not doing too well and was in the hospital. Hearing this news while trying to study was incredibly hard and worrying. It brought me a lot of added stress and sadness. A couple of days later, on Dec 19, 2021, after exams, at 19 years old, she, unfortunately, passed away.

I am only appealing this course because I feel that this course was my greatest disadvantage/damage to my GPA. I had a very high mark, and I could not perform to the best of my ability on this exam due to uncontrollable circumstances.

In HLTH 230, I had an A grade and did not receive a grade lower than an A- until the exam. This exam did not demonstrate my knowledge in this course whatsoever. I strongly believe, and my previous records in this course can show, that my poor exam mark was a mark reflecting my anxiety and distress due to the COVID situation at Queen??s University. This exam brought my overall markdown to a C+. Due to uncontrollable circumstances, I am asking to submit this grade as a credit standing.

If my appeal is granted, I plan to begin meeting with my psychologist regularly to help manage my anxiety for future success. I only see my therapist monthly, but I can conclude that I should see her weekly to tackle my anxiety and get back on the right track. Seeing a professional regularly will help me achieve my academic goals because these sessions will help me solve and change my behavioural habits and help me cope with my feelings. As a result, I will have coping strategies that will help me stay calm and focus on my academic goals when uncontrollable life events get thrown my way.