Petition Letter
Peter Smolej ¿¿ 10062198 ¿¿ Academic Appeal ¿¿ Faculty of Arts and Science ¿¿ Queen¿¿s University
Arts and Science Faculty Office
94 University Avenue, Floor 1
Queen¿¿s University
Kingston, Ontario
Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing to request your consideration in allowing myself to file an academic appeal requesting both ¿¿CR¿ standing and ¿¿DR¿ standing for courses undertaken during my academic career from 2012-2016 here at Queen¿¿s University. Unfortunately, with respect to my personal history, I have struggled considerably over the course of my studies, faced with an evolving set of new challenges year over year. In my first and second year at Queen¿¿s, I struggled with a generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and ADHD, all severe and undiagnosed. In my third and fourth years, I experienced a rapid deterioration in my physical health, compounding the existing difficulties of my concurrent mental health challenges. Numerous medical appointments with twenty-six physicians, scans, surgical procedures and various treatments all contributed to the poor showing in my academic record. These years were also marked with serious personal challenges, including accepting my sexuality, family difficulties, and overcoming a sexual assault.
This appeal covers four years due to my belief that I have finally developed habits and strategies in an effort to cope with my existing and evolving problems, skills absent until now. Since my first year I had planned to submit an appeal, and yet each semester, a new evolving and consuming issue presented, incapacitating me. Without resolve, the guidance I received from the Queen¿¿s ombudsmen and healthcare team was not to rush with an appeal, but to focus on improving my situation such that successive appeals would not be necessary. With at least one more year of undergraduate classes at Queen¿¿s, I believe I have the team, support and skills, to be on the right-footing moving forward. This includes continual support from my healthcare teams in Toronto and Kingston, counselling and coaching through LaSalle, and maintenance of my pharmaceutical regimens after finally discovering a combination that works. However, the knowledge of my transcript, one not reflective of my abilities or circumstances, has continued to weigh heavily on me, and my plans and aspirations for the future. Thus I would like to ask you to consider my circumstances in light of my request, allowing me the opportunity to submit an appeal, where I can further explain the context of my circumstances and the details of my requests. A letter of support and verification is to follow from Dr. Arunima Khanna from Queen¿¿s Student Wellness Services.
Sincerely,
Peter Smolej
10062198
Arts and Science Faculty Office
94 University Avenue, Floor 1
Queen¿¿s University
Kingston, Ontario
Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing to request your consideration in allowing myself to file an academic appeal requesting both ¿¿CR¿ standing and ¿¿DR¿ standing for courses undertaken during my academic career from 2012-2016 here at Queen¿¿s University. Unfortunately, with respect to my personal history, I have struggled considerably over the course of my studies, faced with an evolving set of new challenges year over year. In my first and second year at Queen¿¿s, I struggled with a generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and ADHD, all severe and undiagnosed. In my third and fourth years, I experienced a rapid deterioration in my physical health, compounding the existing difficulties of my concurrent mental health challenges. Numerous medical appointments with twenty-six physicians, scans, surgical procedures and various treatments all contributed to the poor showing in my academic record. These years were also marked with serious personal challenges, including accepting my sexuality, family difficulties, and overcoming a sexual assault.
This appeal covers four years due to my belief that I have finally developed habits and strategies in an effort to cope with my existing and evolving problems, skills absent until now. Since my first year I had planned to submit an appeal, and yet each semester, a new evolving and consuming issue presented, incapacitating me. Without resolve, the guidance I received from the Queen¿¿s ombudsmen and healthcare team was not to rush with an appeal, but to focus on improving my situation such that successive appeals would not be necessary. With at least one more year of undergraduate classes at Queen¿¿s, I believe I have the team, support and skills, to be on the right-footing moving forward. This includes continual support from my healthcare teams in Toronto and Kingston, counselling and coaching through LaSalle, and maintenance of my pharmaceutical regimens after finally discovering a combination that works. However, the knowledge of my transcript, one not reflective of my abilities or circumstances, has continued to weigh heavily on me, and my plans and aspirations for the future. Thus I would like to ask you to consider my circumstances in light of my request, allowing me the opportunity to submit an appeal, where I can further explain the context of my circumstances and the details of my requests. A letter of support and verification is to follow from Dr. Arunima Khanna from Queen¿¿s Student Wellness Services.
Sincerely,
Peter Smolej
10062198