Petition Letter
My name is James Simmons, and I am petitioning to waive the requirement to withdraw from Queen’s University for 3 years. The extenuating circumstances that I believe make me eligible for this are both through family problems, as well as psychological challenges.
To begin with the family problems, some time ago my younger sister was diagnosed with a type of soft tissue cancer discovered after an injury she suffered from horseback riding. She responded well to treatment and was eventually declared cancer-free. However, early in this school year, it was discovered that the cancer had not only returned, but spread. My sister had to go to the hospital every week to receive lung taps, draining her lungs of fluid that would restrict her breathing. The doctors even told us that the cancer cells were not being killed by conventional medication, and that she would have to switch to more experimental treatment. The most disheartening news of all came when the doctors told us that the treatment she was receiving was potentially only life extending, rather than life saving.
In addition to the problems surrounding the health of my sister, my grandmother, who had been battling dementia, passed away in early January. It was another hard blow for me and my family, which only added to the stress of the situation with my sister.
My family and I were hit extremely hard by this news, which fed into the psychological challenges. In 2022, I was diagnosed with depression and low mood. I saw a therapist and was on antidepressant medication. During my first year at Queen’s in the 2023-2024 school year, my family and I decided to forgo those treatments. Because of those decisions, my first year did not go as planned, and I was required to withdraw from Queen’s for a year. During my time away from Queen’s, I was diagnosed with ADD, shining a light on issues I had previously been dealing with, and opening a path forward to improve. Additionally, I saw a new therapist, who helped me prepare for my return to academics. I believed I was ready to return, but the situation with my sister and my grandmother were unforeseen circumstances that caused my mental health and academics to suffer. The issues of depression, low mood, and ADD all resurfaced, leading to my unacceptable academic performance.
To put it simply, I was not myself during the school year, and my grades suffered. The combination of the news surrounding the health of my sister and the impacts it had on my mental health directly impacted my studies and made the 2025-2026 school year extremely difficult for me. My interest and commitment to my studies dwindled as a result of the depression and low mood, and once things started slipping, I only spiraled further. What is incredibly frustrating for me is knowing I can do better, which is part of why I wish to return so quickly. In the past, academics have never been an area of weakness for me. My high school transcript showed strong academic performance, even with courses at the university level. Under other circumstances, I know I am extremely capable of excelling academically.
To begin with the family problems, some time ago my younger sister was diagnosed with a type of soft tissue cancer discovered after an injury she suffered from horseback riding. She responded well to treatment and was eventually declared cancer-free. However, early in this school year, it was discovered that the cancer had not only returned, but spread. My sister had to go to the hospital every week to receive lung taps, draining her lungs of fluid that would restrict her breathing. The doctors even told us that the cancer cells were not being killed by conventional medication, and that she would have to switch to more experimental treatment. The most disheartening news of all came when the doctors told us that the treatment she was receiving was potentially only life extending, rather than life saving.
In addition to the problems surrounding the health of my sister, my grandmother, who had been battling dementia, passed away in early January. It was another hard blow for me and my family, which only added to the stress of the situation with my sister.
My family and I were hit extremely hard by this news, which fed into the psychological challenges. In 2022, I was diagnosed with depression and low mood. I saw a therapist and was on antidepressant medication. During my first year at Queen’s in the 2023-2024 school year, my family and I decided to forgo those treatments. Because of those decisions, my first year did not go as planned, and I was required to withdraw from Queen’s for a year. During my time away from Queen’s, I was diagnosed with ADD, shining a light on issues I had previously been dealing with, and opening a path forward to improve. Additionally, I saw a new therapist, who helped me prepare for my return to academics. I believed I was ready to return, but the situation with my sister and my grandmother were unforeseen circumstances that caused my mental health and academics to suffer. The issues of depression, low mood, and ADD all resurfaced, leading to my unacceptable academic performance.
To put it simply, I was not myself during the school year, and my grades suffered. The combination of the news surrounding the health of my sister and the impacts it had on my mental health directly impacted my studies and made the 2025-2026 school year extremely difficult for me. My interest and commitment to my studies dwindled as a result of the depression and low mood, and once things started slipping, I only spiraled further. What is incredibly frustrating for me is knowing I can do better, which is part of why I wish to return so quickly. In the past, academics have never been an area of weakness for me. My high school transcript showed strong academic performance, even with courses at the university level. Under other circumstances, I know I am extremely capable of excelling academically.