Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean,
My name is Ishita Rikhi. I am a 4th year life sciences student petitioning for Credit (CR) standing in two first-year courses: MATH 121B (Winter 2023, D-) and CHEM 112B (Winter 2023, C). I completed every component including all assignments, tests, and final examinations. I acknowledge submitting this petition outside the standard deadline and respectfully request it be waived given the extraordinary circumstances below.
In February 2022, before beginning at Queen's, I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. I was placed on a waitlist for an eating disorder clinic but never contacted back. During first year, my family moved from Oshawa to Kingston, meaning I lost access to my doctor.
I began first year in Fall 2022 at the illness's most severe stage, consuming 500-800 calories daily. Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening illness affecting cognitive function, concentration, memory, and decision-making. I experienced severe malnutrition leaving me unable to think clearly, physically weak, and in constant cognitive fog. Despite these symptoms, I attended all classes and completed every coursework component because I was determined not to give up.
My family lived in a rental on Kingston's far side while our house was building. I commuted one hour and fifteen minutes each way by bus. Living at home rather than residence meant I was barely on campus except for classes, with no opportunity to build a support network.
In South Asian communities, stigma surrounds mental illness, particularly eating disorders. When I needed help during first year, my parents hesitated allowing therapy access because they feared documentation would impact me. This cultural barrier, combined with losing my Oshawa doctor, prevented me from accessing mental health support.
At my illness's peak, I was in survival mode. Anorexia nervosa often eliminates the sufferer's motivation to recover or seek help. I used every ounce of energy to stay enrolled, attend classes, and submit assignments.
In February 2024, I sought therapy. I began intensive treatment addressing the control issues fueling my eating disorder. I rebuilt my food relationship using therapeutic techniques. I continue seeing my therapist for ongoing management.
My recovery reflects academically. My GPA jumped from 2.33 in my first semester to 4.30 currently, with cumulative GPA now at 3.38. My third and fourth years consistently maintained GPAs above 4.0, demonstrating what I achieve when my condition is managed.
I didn't petition earlier because during second year, I focused on recovery and survival. During third year, I focused on proving I could succeed academically. Being barely on campus during first two years meant limited exposure to academic resources and advising. Only in third year did I begin accepting help. When I met with an advisor, I learned about petitioning for Credit standing and began this process.
I respectfully request the deadline be waived because anorexia nervosa's life-threatening nature made it impossible to advocate for myself during first year; cultural and geographic barriers prevented accessing help; I focused on recovery during second year and proving myself during third year; and I've provided clear evidence of effective management through consistent GPA improvement.
MATH 121B and CHEM 112B required concentration, problem-solving, and cognitive function, all severely impaired by malnutrition. These winter courses occurred during my illness's most severe period when malnutrition peaked. Mathematics and chemistry's cumulative nature meant as my condition worsened, I fell further behind despite completing all assignments.
Although I've completed all degree requirements, I've decided to continue for a fifth year to develop my academic foundation. Education is deeply important to me, and first-year illness robbed my ability to fully engage during a foundational period.
I'm petitioning for Credit standing because these grades don't reflect what I could achieve when my condition was managed. I completed every component despite extraordinary circumstances, showing up, submitting all assignments, writing all tests and exams, and never giving up.
I'm now stable physically and mentally. While eating disorder tendencies occasionally surface, I now cope through therapeutic techniques and my support system. I've proven through sustained academic excellence that first-year performance was an anomaly caused by a serious medical condition's most severe period.
Beyond academic recovery, I've become an advocate. I founded EDucate, a Queen's club spreading eating disorder awareness. I serve as Co-President of the Queen's South Asian Association, advocating for mental health awareness. I work at the Peer Support Centre as supervisor and am presenting at a conference about my experience. My journey from being too ill to advocate for myself to now advocating for others demonstrates my recovery's depth.
Granting Credit standing would allow my transcript to reflect my academic abilities and remove the lingering impact of grades earned during a life-threatening illness's most severe period.
I've attached documentation from my healthcare provider and therapist confirming my diagnosis, timeline, impact on my functioning, treatment, and ongoing management.
Thank you for considering my petition.
Sincerely,
Ishita Rikhi
My name is Ishita Rikhi. I am a 4th year life sciences student petitioning for Credit (CR) standing in two first-year courses: MATH 121B (Winter 2023, D-) and CHEM 112B (Winter 2023, C). I completed every component including all assignments, tests, and final examinations. I acknowledge submitting this petition outside the standard deadline and respectfully request it be waived given the extraordinary circumstances below.
In February 2022, before beginning at Queen's, I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. I was placed on a waitlist for an eating disorder clinic but never contacted back. During first year, my family moved from Oshawa to Kingston, meaning I lost access to my doctor.
I began first year in Fall 2022 at the illness's most severe stage, consuming 500-800 calories daily. Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening illness affecting cognitive function, concentration, memory, and decision-making. I experienced severe malnutrition leaving me unable to think clearly, physically weak, and in constant cognitive fog. Despite these symptoms, I attended all classes and completed every coursework component because I was determined not to give up.
My family lived in a rental on Kingston's far side while our house was building. I commuted one hour and fifteen minutes each way by bus. Living at home rather than residence meant I was barely on campus except for classes, with no opportunity to build a support network.
In South Asian communities, stigma surrounds mental illness, particularly eating disorders. When I needed help during first year, my parents hesitated allowing therapy access because they feared documentation would impact me. This cultural barrier, combined with losing my Oshawa doctor, prevented me from accessing mental health support.
At my illness's peak, I was in survival mode. Anorexia nervosa often eliminates the sufferer's motivation to recover or seek help. I used every ounce of energy to stay enrolled, attend classes, and submit assignments.
In February 2024, I sought therapy. I began intensive treatment addressing the control issues fueling my eating disorder. I rebuilt my food relationship using therapeutic techniques. I continue seeing my therapist for ongoing management.
My recovery reflects academically. My GPA jumped from 2.33 in my first semester to 4.30 currently, with cumulative GPA now at 3.38. My third and fourth years consistently maintained GPAs above 4.0, demonstrating what I achieve when my condition is managed.
I didn't petition earlier because during second year, I focused on recovery and survival. During third year, I focused on proving I could succeed academically. Being barely on campus during first two years meant limited exposure to academic resources and advising. Only in third year did I begin accepting help. When I met with an advisor, I learned about petitioning for Credit standing and began this process.
I respectfully request the deadline be waived because anorexia nervosa's life-threatening nature made it impossible to advocate for myself during first year; cultural and geographic barriers prevented accessing help; I focused on recovery during second year and proving myself during third year; and I've provided clear evidence of effective management through consistent GPA improvement.
MATH 121B and CHEM 112B required concentration, problem-solving, and cognitive function, all severely impaired by malnutrition. These winter courses occurred during my illness's most severe period when malnutrition peaked. Mathematics and chemistry's cumulative nature meant as my condition worsened, I fell further behind despite completing all assignments.
Although I've completed all degree requirements, I've decided to continue for a fifth year to develop my academic foundation. Education is deeply important to me, and first-year illness robbed my ability to fully engage during a foundational period.
I'm petitioning for Credit standing because these grades don't reflect what I could achieve when my condition was managed. I completed every component despite extraordinary circumstances, showing up, submitting all assignments, writing all tests and exams, and never giving up.
I'm now stable physically and mentally. While eating disorder tendencies occasionally surface, I now cope through therapeutic techniques and my support system. I've proven through sustained academic excellence that first-year performance was an anomaly caused by a serious medical condition's most severe period.
Beyond academic recovery, I've become an advocate. I founded EDucate, a Queen's club spreading eating disorder awareness. I serve as Co-President of the Queen's South Asian Association, advocating for mental health awareness. I work at the Peer Support Centre as supervisor and am presenting at a conference about my experience. My journey from being too ill to advocate for myself to now advocating for others demonstrates my recovery's depth.
Granting Credit standing would allow my transcript to reflect my academic abilities and remove the lingering impact of grades earned during a life-threatening illness's most severe period.
I've attached documentation from my healthcare provider and therapist confirming my diagnosis, timeline, impact on my functioning, treatment, and ongoing management.
Thank you for considering my petition.
Sincerely,
Ishita Rikhi