Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Atkinson,

My name is Valerie Victoria. I am a second-year student at queens currently completing a Bachelor of Science. This letter is to appeal to drop CHEM281 from my Fall 2021 semester.

Due to personal extenuating circumstances out of my control, I have been unable to participate in course lectures and labs, meet deadlines, and perform well in course evaluations to the best of my best ability. I have had suspicions of a learning disability for several years prior to the start of my academic career at Queen??s University in 2020 and unfortunately have only recently come to seek professional advice regarding it. These struggles have made it near impossible for me to focus for long periods of time, not allowing me to present my best work to my professors and teaching assistants. Though to some this may appear to be a case of a lazy student, that is a word I have trouble describing myself with. I have presented signs of a learning disability and have begun to seek medical help to receive a diagnosis. This, along with personal struggles with mental health illnesses that I am also seeking help for, have limited my academic success. This has unfortunately led to my failure in passing the CHEM281 course in the 2021 fall semester. I care deeply about my education and my future which has made these struggles incredibly frustrating. I am aware of my potential and know that my ability to be a better student than what I have presented myself to be through my grades is far greater than this.

I especially struggled in this course because of the format. The weekly module content required long periods of reading and note taking, something I struggle with greatly. I did not drop the course earlier as I believed I would be successful in completing it. When it came time to prepare for the final exams/ evaluations, I became overwhelmed with stress and frustration, which due to my personal struggles create an even worse learning experience for me.

I have begun the process of identifying and confirming these suspicions of my struggles with a physician. I have met with Student Wellness Services virtually. Through them I have been given access to resources that can aid in this process. My hopes are to gain a better understanding of myself, begin medication if deemed necessary, and be made aware of techniques that will help me improve my grades. Though I cannot re-do the last two years here at Queen??s, I hope that this is the beginning of me becoming the student I know I can be.

My plan is to re-take the CHEM281 course. I have enrolled in it for the Summer 2022 semester and plan to take the second half of the course (CHEM282) in my third year of studies. Personal adjustments in my personal life that I have made include scheduling regular with personal councillors and occupational therapists through the Student Wellness Services. My hopes for my upcoming meeting with a medical professional later this summer are to address these issues, receive a diagnosis, and seek mental health support through additional professionals. The access to these resources has made me feel understood, something I have been seeking for a very long time. It has given me hope that I can restore my identity as the promising and driven student I once was. I do not take these opportunities of education for granted and am incredibly grateful for them. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.


Valerie Victoria
20239418