Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (Academic)
I am respectfully petitioning to waive the Faculty's decision requiring my withdrawal from Queen's University for the 2025–2026 academic year. I acknowledge that my academic performance over the past year did not meet university standards. Unfortunately, I faced a series of unforeseen and serious circumstances that significantly impacted my academic performance. I am now receiving the necessary support to ensure my success moving forward.
Since September 2024, I have been struggling with severe mental health challenges, including depression, suicidal thoughts, and intense social anxiety. This intensified shortly after arriving on campus. I had moved three hours away from home, my friends, and my family, and found it incredibly difficult to form new friendships. Despite my best efforts, I remained socially isolated, eating alone, attending events alone, and returning to an empty dorm. Witnessing my peers form bonds and share joyful moments on social media heightened my feelings of loneliness. The one friend I came to Queen's with found support in her roommate, which made me feel behind. That happens normally; therefore, I do not blame her for it, but it made me feel as if I had lost any emotional support I possibly had.
As my depression worsened, I developed an eating disorder that caused me to lose over 30 pounds throughout the year. I began avoiding public spaces, especially campus dining areas because I often felt that I was being stared at and felt out of place. The lack of diversity in academic and social settings made me feel even more like an outsider. I missed several in-person biology labs due to discomfort within my lab group. I was the only visibly racialized person and often felt ignored or dismissed. I felt small.
In November, my mental health was further affected by the reoccurrence of a long-standing personal family issue involving infidelity. I have been aware of this situation for most of my life, but no one else in my immediate family has. Carrying this knowledge alone has always been emotionally heavy. When I discovered that the situation had resurfaced during the fall term, it reopened wounds I had worked hard to suppress. This added sadness, helplessness, and isolation at an already difficult time. I had no one I could confide in, and the shame of the situation made me feel like I couldn't speak about it.
During the second semester, I opened up to my mother and told her I was struggling and needed help. Unfortunately, my experience was invalidated. I opened up about my mental health struggles, severe anxiety, significant weight loss, and growing concern that I might be experiencing depression. Despite sharing these serious concerns, I was told that I
I am respectfully petitioning to waive the Faculty's decision requiring my withdrawal from Queen's University for the 2025–2026 academic year. I acknowledge that my academic performance over the past year did not meet university standards. Unfortunately, I faced a series of unforeseen and serious circumstances that significantly impacted my academic performance. I am now receiving the necessary support to ensure my success moving forward.
Since September 2024, I have been struggling with severe mental health challenges, including depression, suicidal thoughts, and intense social anxiety. This intensified shortly after arriving on campus. I had moved three hours away from home, my friends, and my family, and found it incredibly difficult to form new friendships. Despite my best efforts, I remained socially isolated, eating alone, attending events alone, and returning to an empty dorm. Witnessing my peers form bonds and share joyful moments on social media heightened my feelings of loneliness. The one friend I came to Queen's with found support in her roommate, which made me feel behind. That happens normally; therefore, I do not blame her for it, but it made me feel as if I had lost any emotional support I possibly had.
As my depression worsened, I developed an eating disorder that caused me to lose over 30 pounds throughout the year. I began avoiding public spaces, especially campus dining areas because I often felt that I was being stared at and felt out of place. The lack of diversity in academic and social settings made me feel even more like an outsider. I missed several in-person biology labs due to discomfort within my lab group. I was the only visibly racialized person and often felt ignored or dismissed. I felt small.
In November, my mental health was further affected by the reoccurrence of a long-standing personal family issue involving infidelity. I have been aware of this situation for most of my life, but no one else in my immediate family has. Carrying this knowledge alone has always been emotionally heavy. When I discovered that the situation had resurfaced during the fall term, it reopened wounds I had worked hard to suppress. This added sadness, helplessness, and isolation at an already difficult time. I had no one I could confide in, and the shame of the situation made me feel like I couldn't speak about it.
During the second semester, I opened up to my mother and told her I was struggling and needed help. Unfortunately, my experience was invalidated. I opened up about my mental health struggles, severe anxiety, significant weight loss, and growing concern that I might be experiencing depression. Despite sharing these serious concerns, I was told that I