Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

New Information: I have noticed spelling mistakes, so this is the edited version.

Hello, I recognized that I have already submitted appeals in the past, hence I do understand the importance of them and that they aren??t to be abused. My reason for applying for an appeal for both my fall and winter courses, has to do with both psychological and physical issues and events that are beyond my control. These events have been deliberating my academic performance and overall life.
I had informed my professor at the beginning of the fall term that I had suffered health problems in the past, and I was afraid that they would resume. I began the course with minimal physical and mental health problems, mostly nervousness about covid and past negative events that I had experienced while at Queen??s. Unfortunately, my elder brother??s untimely death had an impact on my mental health. I was (and still is) seeing a counsellor through Queen??s health wellness as well as taking prescribed medication however the medication wasn??t helping. I began starving myself, taking more than the recommending amount of over the counter-medication so that I would be asleep for most of the day (able to wake-up after 6pm, for my class at 6:30 which I did pass), as well as planning ways to commit suicide. My stress level and I assumed lack of nutrients, caused hair loss, headaches, nausea (unable to keep food down), and blurred vision. My counsellor Dr. Arunima Khanna, my parents, as well as myself realised that I needed more help, that I unfortunately couldn??t receive while present on campus at Queen??s. I tried my best, but to overcome what was going on but it was difficult. As mentioned earlier, my professors and I were in contact throughout the year about what was going on, and they had agreed to help me complete this course. But as you see that isn??t how things worked out for ARTH 311 and GNDS 280, my two professors told me that incompletes weren??t not an option for me since I hadn??t completed 60% of the course load, or just never responded.

I believe that the miscommunication with my professors might have impacted my mood during the winter semester. Things were better while I was at home but not the best, I was watching class recordings /attending class, but still suffering planning ways to commit suicide. I was shocked when I had to return to campus, this shock turned into anxiety and depression when I returned to campus (just from past events, so that repeated itself during the fall term, being made to feel bad due to my gender and race). This made going to classes difficult and I returned to my bad habits from the fall semester. Things took a turn for the worse when a fellow co-worker died (Liam Geddes) during March 2022. Not all had returned to my bad habits from the fall, but I became more reclusive (I only left my floor at most twice a week and had blocked all calls and other forms of communication) and harming myself with a razor.

So, what??s next? I would be lying if I said everything is better. I??m still struggling with the untimely death of my brother Kevin and my former colleague and Queen??s Student Liam; I??m also dealing with thoughts of death. However, I have a plan. Fortunately, Spring (Arts and Science academic counsellor) and my counsellor have helped me create a plan. That plan includes appealing to drop courses, not returning to campus and instead do distance courses so that I can receive more intense medical care, as well as pursue a BA degree instead of BAH at this moment. By pursuing BA, I would only need electives which I could either do through Queen??s or at another institution through a letter of permission. I have also made more concrete plans with my current professors.
The non-student staff at Queen??s University has been extremely understanding and helpful, and have believed me when I didn??t, most notably when I returned to campus after being placed on academic probation. I surprised myself, by receiving mostly Bs and even As, my first full year back. I believe the plan I??ve created with Spring, Dr. Arunima Khanna, and even more professors will lead to success, hopefully even the success I experienced when I first returned to Queen??s. Again, I realise that appeals aren??t meant to be abused. Sharing my suicidal attempts and mental health problems is something I??m embarrassed of, and something I only share since I truly do believe it impacted my ability to complete my schoolwork both fall and winter semester. I would appreciate the appeal being granted, and I do believe it would be very helpful in completing my degree at Queen??s.

Thank you