Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

My name is Nishini Gamage and I am contacting you to request the possibility of being able to waive my requirement to withdraw from the university for one year. Since the beginning of first year, I have been struggling with my mental health and have been trying to deal with it on my own and without help but at the end of this past academic year I had realized that professional help is something that I need to be able to continue my education successfully. Specifically, I think my mental health is getting in the way of me being successful academically because of the fact that I feel as though I do not have anyone to rely on to speak to about certain feelings and thoughts that I had/have, and these thoughts completely cloud my brain and cause me to not be able to complete work properly. Due to this reason since March of 2023, I have begun trying to find a therapist to be able to have someone to talk to in a professional setting as well as give me methods to concentrate better and possibly get accommodations. I do think that some of the work I have been doing alone has been slightly helping me as I think that some of the grades I have gotten this year are much better than what I was able to receive during first year, but I think having a therapist would help me more and would help me to manage these problems if the requirement to withdraw is waived. I absolutely value being able to be a student at Queen's University and I understand that I have done myself an injustice by not getting help sooner and that I have put this privilege of being a student at Queen's University at risk. I would do absolutely anything to be able to go back in time and change it, but I can't unfortunately, and this is why I am trying my best to be able to right my wrongs now. I understand 100% the possibilities of possibly becoming a part time student or seeking permission to enroll in classes and those are things I am prepared to do if my request to waive this requirement to withdraw is fulfilled. Once I find a therapist that suits my needs, I am prepared to give documentation to prove that I am actively trying to better myself and my situation and am also prepared to get in touch with an academic advisor to help me create a realistic plan so that I am able to succeed academically.

Thank you so much for your time.