Petition Letter
To the Associate Dean (Studies):
I am writing this letter to appeal the Faculty's decision that I must withdraw from Queen's University for a year, which is from September 2017 to September 2018. I was not surprised when I received this withdrawn letter, but I was quite upset and angry about myself. I wish to urge you to reinstate me for the coming semester.
I admit I had two rough semesters, which are fall term 2016 and winter term 2017, and my grades were terrible as a result. Getting the horrible academic performance is my own responsibility, and I do not mean to make excuses, but I wish to explain my circumstances of last two terms. During the fall term of 2016, I took six courses, and I have failed three of them and dropped one because of my physical illness and academic pressure. At the beginning of November 2016, the second day after I drank a bit of sweetened alcohol, there was an extreme pain on my toe of my right foot. The pain did not go off in days, and it eventually spread out and affected my entire right foot. During the first couple weeks of November, I could not even get off my bed because a tiny movement of my right foot would cause a suffering experience. During this period, eating was also a problem for me, and I could only call deliveries from restaurants since I could not stand for long time to cook. Also, I could not even sleep due to the pain, and I could only fall asleep when my body was exhausted. During the two weeks, I found out that I have got an illness called gout, which is one of the most painful forms of arthritis, and it was caused by high blood uric acid in my body. After two weeks, my illness was getting better, but my foot was still swelling and in pain, and I could only took a slow walk for 10 to 15 minutes. Even though the illness was getting better I still could not fall asleep during night, so I went to Shoppers Drug Mart to buy some Advil to eliminate the pain during night, and I did not know where I could get help with my illness. The illness lasted for a month and half, so I have missed many lectures during this time period, and it also negatively affected on my finals for the 2016 fall term. Because of the pain, I could not concentrate on my exams during the examination periods, and my overall grade of that term was terrible. During the winter term of 2017, I tried to push myself, and I took six economic courses, which are majorly required courses. I have passed all the courses of this term, but I could not handle too many courses at one term, and I poorly did some of the courses. Before I took the courses of the winter term, I did not realize the academic pressure that six courses would have on me, and I overestimated myself. I was trying to get a better result, but my illness and pressure shifted me away from my goal.
I love Queen's University, and it means so much to me to graduate from this school. As an international student, if I am being withdrawn from the school for one year, I may not be able to come back, because of future issues of my study permit. After I received the withdrawn letter, I have spoken to Jennine Ball, who is the undergraduate assistant and advisor for economic department, and she suggested me to change my academic plan from Economic major (Hons) to the General Economic degree. I will take her advice, and change my academic plan. My SOLUS shows that I have taken more than 90 units, which is enough for the total units of a general degree. While I have enough units and required courses to graduate, the only thing that I have to focus on is my GPA. In the coming semester, I will repeat some 200-level courses, which I have failed, and repeat Econ 331 to improve my GPA. Also, I will not take more than five courses in the coming term since I have enough units, and so I will have less academic pressure. With less courses and pressure, I believe I could wisely manage my time, and focus on each course. Also, I know how to avoid my illness since I have quit drinking alcohol and quit eating high purine food. Furthermore, after I change to the General degree, I believe I will be able to graduate in December 2017 with a satisfied GPA.
Please understand that my low GPA, which let me to withdraw from school, does not indicate that I am a terrible student. Please give me a chance to take courses in the fall term of 2017, and I will have a better academic performance. Thank you for considering this appeal.
Sincerely,
Xiang (Nicolas) Wang
10086768
I am writing this letter to appeal the Faculty's decision that I must withdraw from Queen's University for a year, which is from September 2017 to September 2018. I was not surprised when I received this withdrawn letter, but I was quite upset and angry about myself. I wish to urge you to reinstate me for the coming semester.
I admit I had two rough semesters, which are fall term 2016 and winter term 2017, and my grades were terrible as a result. Getting the horrible academic performance is my own responsibility, and I do not mean to make excuses, but I wish to explain my circumstances of last two terms. During the fall term of 2016, I took six courses, and I have failed three of them and dropped one because of my physical illness and academic pressure. At the beginning of November 2016, the second day after I drank a bit of sweetened alcohol, there was an extreme pain on my toe of my right foot. The pain did not go off in days, and it eventually spread out and affected my entire right foot. During the first couple weeks of November, I could not even get off my bed because a tiny movement of my right foot would cause a suffering experience. During this period, eating was also a problem for me, and I could only call deliveries from restaurants since I could not stand for long time to cook. Also, I could not even sleep due to the pain, and I could only fall asleep when my body was exhausted. During the two weeks, I found out that I have got an illness called gout, which is one of the most painful forms of arthritis, and it was caused by high blood uric acid in my body. After two weeks, my illness was getting better, but my foot was still swelling and in pain, and I could only took a slow walk for 10 to 15 minutes. Even though the illness was getting better I still could not fall asleep during night, so I went to Shoppers Drug Mart to buy some Advil to eliminate the pain during night, and I did not know where I could get help with my illness. The illness lasted for a month and half, so I have missed many lectures during this time period, and it also negatively affected on my finals for the 2016 fall term. Because of the pain, I could not concentrate on my exams during the examination periods, and my overall grade of that term was terrible. During the winter term of 2017, I tried to push myself, and I took six economic courses, which are majorly required courses. I have passed all the courses of this term, but I could not handle too many courses at one term, and I poorly did some of the courses. Before I took the courses of the winter term, I did not realize the academic pressure that six courses would have on me, and I overestimated myself. I was trying to get a better result, but my illness and pressure shifted me away from my goal.
I love Queen's University, and it means so much to me to graduate from this school. As an international student, if I am being withdrawn from the school for one year, I may not be able to come back, because of future issues of my study permit. After I received the withdrawn letter, I have spoken to Jennine Ball, who is the undergraduate assistant and advisor for economic department, and she suggested me to change my academic plan from Economic major (Hons) to the General Economic degree. I will take her advice, and change my academic plan. My SOLUS shows that I have taken more than 90 units, which is enough for the total units of a general degree. While I have enough units and required courses to graduate, the only thing that I have to focus on is my GPA. In the coming semester, I will repeat some 200-level courses, which I have failed, and repeat Econ 331 to improve my GPA. Also, I will not take more than five courses in the coming term since I have enough units, and so I will have less academic pressure. With less courses and pressure, I believe I could wisely manage my time, and focus on each course. Also, I know how to avoid my illness since I have quit drinking alcohol and quit eating high purine food. Furthermore, after I change to the General degree, I believe I will be able to graduate in December 2017 with a satisfied GPA.
Please understand that my low GPA, which let me to withdraw from school, does not indicate that I am a terrible student. Please give me a chance to take courses in the fall term of 2017, and I will have a better academic performance. Thank you for considering this appeal.
Sincerely,
Xiang (Nicolas) Wang
10086768