Petition Letter
I am appealing 3 courses which I failed or got a d- in in 2nd year. I am appealing to waive the late deadline because at the time, I was suffering from mental health issues which prevented me from appealing. I had planned to drop out of Queen's and attend another university, but decided ultimately to come back.
At the time, I was suffering from depression and anxiety, which led to a suicide attempt. I had been a victim of sexual assault, and my mental health had deteriorated to the point where I didn't believe passing my courses was possible, and I didn't see the point in appealing because I didn't believe I could graduate. After taking several months to think about my future and work on my mental health, I came back to Queen's, but didn't realize I could appeal after the deadline. I believed that I had to live with my grades. Now I am in fourth year, and after spending my summer interning at the UNODC in Nairobi and being nominated for the Tricolour Award, I am seeing that these grades are affecting my future. A friend appealed her grade and I was informed that I could appeal late, and so I am doing this now.
I understand that to appeal my grades after so long is unusual, however I have come such a long way from 2nd year, and I see real success in my future. I am hoping that Queen's can understand that my successes and failures shouldn't be linked to my mental health issues, and that my past record will show that since 2nd year, I have worked extremely hard to make up for the one year that seems to continually affect my gpa and my future. I have volunteered extensively at Queen's over the past two and a half years, and I was awarded the Universities Canada Award for my academic standing and contributions to the community at the BISC. I truly didn't realize I was able to appeal so late, and although I understand it is rare to waive this deadline I believe my extenuating circumstances should be taken into account.
At the time, I was suffering from depression and anxiety, which led to a suicide attempt. I had been a victim of sexual assault, and my mental health had deteriorated to the point where I didn't believe passing my courses was possible, and I didn't see the point in appealing because I didn't believe I could graduate. After taking several months to think about my future and work on my mental health, I came back to Queen's, but didn't realize I could appeal after the deadline. I believed that I had to live with my grades. Now I am in fourth year, and after spending my summer interning at the UNODC in Nairobi and being nominated for the Tricolour Award, I am seeing that these grades are affecting my future. A friend appealed her grade and I was informed that I could appeal late, and so I am doing this now.
I understand that to appeal my grades after so long is unusual, however I have come such a long way from 2nd year, and I see real success in my future. I am hoping that Queen's can understand that my successes and failures shouldn't be linked to my mental health issues, and that my past record will show that since 2nd year, I have worked extremely hard to make up for the one year that seems to continually affect my gpa and my future. I have volunteered extensively at Queen's over the past two and a half years, and I was awarded the Universities Canada Award for my academic standing and contributions to the community at the BISC. I truly didn't realize I was able to appeal so late, and although I understand it is rare to waive this deadline I believe my extenuating circumstances should be taken into account.