Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (Academic) Stephenson:
I am writing to you to petition for Winter 2024 and Fall 2024. I am requesting late drops for:
SOCY200 (Winter 2024);
SOCY302 (Winter 2024);
SOCY336 (Winter 2024);
CLST205 (Fall 2024);
PHAR100 (Fall 2024);
SOCY201 (Fall 2024);
SOCY301 (Fall 2024);
SOCY363 (Fall 2024); and
SOCY374 (Fall 2024).
In addition, I am requesting credit standing for:
SOCY389 (Winter 2024).
During Winter 2024 and Fall 2024 I have suffered from physical and mental illnesses that have affected my daily living and my ability to focus on my studies.
In these two terms I have had several symptoms that directly impacted my ability to study. I have had a severe anxiety level, have suffered from debilitating migraines, have had executive functioning issues, and dealt with extreme fatigue. These symptoms had a severe impact on going to classes, studying, and completing assignments. Anxiety led to a severe impact on managing distractions and stress.
In the Winter 2024 term I was unaware of the causes of my symptoms. I wondered if they were due to ongoing concerns about my parents’ health. As the term went on, my symptoms-especially the anxiety-got worse and worse and my ability to function deteriorated to the point where I was overwhelmed and couldn’t do anything.
As the drop deadline approached, I did drop one course in an attempt to reduce my academic burden. I was too anxious to cope with dropping any more courses and the reduction in my executive functioning didn’t let me consider the impact of keeping courses even though I was unwell and couldn’t study properly.
As Winter 204 approached its end I was in crisis. I was unable to leave my house. The more I wanted to reach out for help from Queen’s to address my illness, the worse my symptoms got. I felt trapped. On my behalf, my parents reached out to Support Services. The advice I got from Support Services was to put myself first and to focus on my health and to then deal with the academics after the semester ended. I followed that advice.
In the summer of 2024, I was diagnosed with the thyroid condition Graves disease. I had unknowingly been suffering from it for some time without treatment, affecting Winter 2024 and prior. Among other things, Graves disease interferes with executive functioning, causes fatigue, and produces symptoms that mimic anxiety. All of these are conditions that impacted my ability to attend lectures and do course work in Winter 2024. As soon as I was diagnosed, I started treatment.
Because I want to graduate with an Honours BA and was worried about paying for additional semesters, I registered for Fall 2024. It was my hope that I would succeed since doctors were treating my Graves disease.
Early in the term when some of my symptoms remained, my doctors continued to investigate. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in the middle of the term. (My doctor notes that my anxiety began prior to 2024, so it would’ve affected Winter 2024 and before as well.) When I was adjusting to the medications for the anxiety, I began experiencing terrible migraines as a side effect. I couldn’t get out of bed or think clearly. I started counselling for my anxiety. Since it was still not under control, my doctor increased my dosage; this caused a recurrence of the migraines.
In reading week when I was struggling, I contacted Support Services. We were trying to come up with a plan for me to keep some courses and to drop others so that I could focus on my health while continuing to study. Unfortunately with anxiety continuing to affect my functioning, we couldn’t come up with a plan before the drop deadline. By the time we finalized a plan, I hadn’t been able to study or attend classes for over six weeks and it was impossible to complete any of my courses.
To be successful in Winter 2025 I have taken several steps. To address my health, my doctor is trying to find the correct level of medications for my anxiety; I am in counselling; and I have migraine medication to address my headaches as well as medication for Graves disease. (My medications are attached.) Academically, I have been working with Support Services and Academic Advising to come up with a plan about what courses to take. I have contacted QSAS seeking permanent accommodations for my mental health and am waiting for an appointment with them. I have noted the drop deadlines so I can act if I need to. I think that all these things will help me be successful.
I plan to take appropriate courses to graduate with an Honours BA.
Thank you for considering my petition.
Ainsley Nash
I am writing to you to petition for Winter 2024 and Fall 2024. I am requesting late drops for:
SOCY200 (Winter 2024);
SOCY302 (Winter 2024);
SOCY336 (Winter 2024);
CLST205 (Fall 2024);
PHAR100 (Fall 2024);
SOCY201 (Fall 2024);
SOCY301 (Fall 2024);
SOCY363 (Fall 2024); and
SOCY374 (Fall 2024).
In addition, I am requesting credit standing for:
SOCY389 (Winter 2024).
During Winter 2024 and Fall 2024 I have suffered from physical and mental illnesses that have affected my daily living and my ability to focus on my studies.
In these two terms I have had several symptoms that directly impacted my ability to study. I have had a severe anxiety level, have suffered from debilitating migraines, have had executive functioning issues, and dealt with extreme fatigue. These symptoms had a severe impact on going to classes, studying, and completing assignments. Anxiety led to a severe impact on managing distractions and stress.
In the Winter 2024 term I was unaware of the causes of my symptoms. I wondered if they were due to ongoing concerns about my parents’ health. As the term went on, my symptoms-especially the anxiety-got worse and worse and my ability to function deteriorated to the point where I was overwhelmed and couldn’t do anything.
As the drop deadline approached, I did drop one course in an attempt to reduce my academic burden. I was too anxious to cope with dropping any more courses and the reduction in my executive functioning didn’t let me consider the impact of keeping courses even though I was unwell and couldn’t study properly.
As Winter 204 approached its end I was in crisis. I was unable to leave my house. The more I wanted to reach out for help from Queen’s to address my illness, the worse my symptoms got. I felt trapped. On my behalf, my parents reached out to Support Services. The advice I got from Support Services was to put myself first and to focus on my health and to then deal with the academics after the semester ended. I followed that advice.
In the summer of 2024, I was diagnosed with the thyroid condition Graves disease. I had unknowingly been suffering from it for some time without treatment, affecting Winter 2024 and prior. Among other things, Graves disease interferes with executive functioning, causes fatigue, and produces symptoms that mimic anxiety. All of these are conditions that impacted my ability to attend lectures and do course work in Winter 2024. As soon as I was diagnosed, I started treatment.
Because I want to graduate with an Honours BA and was worried about paying for additional semesters, I registered for Fall 2024. It was my hope that I would succeed since doctors were treating my Graves disease.
Early in the term when some of my symptoms remained, my doctors continued to investigate. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in the middle of the term. (My doctor notes that my anxiety began prior to 2024, so it would’ve affected Winter 2024 and before as well.) When I was adjusting to the medications for the anxiety, I began experiencing terrible migraines as a side effect. I couldn’t get out of bed or think clearly. I started counselling for my anxiety. Since it was still not under control, my doctor increased my dosage; this caused a recurrence of the migraines.
In reading week when I was struggling, I contacted Support Services. We were trying to come up with a plan for me to keep some courses and to drop others so that I could focus on my health while continuing to study. Unfortunately with anxiety continuing to affect my functioning, we couldn’t come up with a plan before the drop deadline. By the time we finalized a plan, I hadn’t been able to study or attend classes for over six weeks and it was impossible to complete any of my courses.
To be successful in Winter 2025 I have taken several steps. To address my health, my doctor is trying to find the correct level of medications for my anxiety; I am in counselling; and I have migraine medication to address my headaches as well as medication for Graves disease. (My medications are attached.) Academically, I have been working with Support Services and Academic Advising to come up with a plan about what courses to take. I have contacted QSAS seeking permanent accommodations for my mental health and am waiting for an appointment with them. I have noted the drop deadlines so I can act if I need to. I think that all these things will help me be successful.
I plan to take appropriate courses to graduate with an Honours BA.
Thank you for considering my petition.
Ainsley Nash