Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Good Afternoon,

My name is Emily Lostracco, and I am a fourth year and soon to be graduating student here at Queens University. Around October, I started experiencing vocal issues caused by swelling which impacted my overall learning within a specialized vocal course. The issues proceeded and after visiting registered vocal specialist Dr. Jennifer Anderson at St. Michael Hospital in Toronto, I was informed of pre-nodule/nodule swelling upon my vocal chords. This has made it very strenuous to sing in a course designed around the voice. I have been very persistent in working to bring aid to the issue. I have been seeing registered voice therapist Natalia Evans of The Voice Box Studio on a weekly basis to work on techniques to reduce swelling, however, it is uncertain as to how long it will take to heal and to bring back my voice to an appropriate level of performance. I was allowed due to the generosity of my professor Ms. Patricia O'Callaghan to make up 10% of my grade with a written evaluation of my work thus far. However, after obtaining only 60% worth of my final grade, it will be hard to make up the rest of my mark without singing. Both Ms. Evans and Ms. Anderson have advised me not to sing as this can cause further damage on my chords. I am looking to get a surgical injection on the chords to increase healing, however, the unknowingness of time and of the success of this procedure leaves a varying reassurance on when I will be healed. I have been working hard and have tried every aspect and every vocal remedy to increase healing time but to no prevail. I hope that you can take my efforts into consideration and know that I have tried my hardest in fixing my vocal health, however, the end is unknown. There so far is little to no sound when I sing which therefore will make it hard to obtain a majority of my mark which is expected from a vocal performance.

I thank you for taking the time in reading my case,
Emily Lostracco