Petition Letter
Dear respective Associate Dean (Studies), Dr. Johanne Bérnard,
My name is Mariam Shafi Khan and I am currently registered as a final year student in the BA Psychology program at Queen's University. I am writing this letter for the permission to waive the one term deadline, to appeal the failing grades I received in the Fall 2014- Spring 2015 semesters at Queen's. At the time, I was dealing with a number of highly stressful personal issues at home that were debilitating to my mental health. My issues at home specifically my mother's battle with her bipolar disorder as well as my father's decision to remarry and have a baby with my step mother, took a tremendous toll on my mental health and my grades.
Moreover, I found myself severely anxious and depressed, barely sleeping resulting in my poor attendance at classes as well. Consequently, I took the initiative to begin regular sessions with a counsellor at Queen's in the Spring semester of 2015. The counsellor was very sympathetic to my case and also taught me several breathing skills to cope with the anxiety I was experiencing at the time. It was also during this time that I discovered the presence of academic advisors, a resource I assumed was exclusive to first year students. The counsellor was very empathetic when she informed that I was still missing credits and would not be able to graduate on time, while also alerting me to my low GPA. This news was informative but filled me with fear further as I was unsure of how to relay this new information to my both my father and mother respectively.
However, I was still fearful of having to admit to my family that I would not be graduating on time as expected. As a result, I withdrew from studying at Queen's for a year, and for the first time did not go back home to Pakistan. I was determined to find work in the meantime to try and save money to complete the final few credits I needed to graduate. This, proved to be more ambitious than I anticipated. In December 2016, when my mother threatened to never talk to me again, that I decided to go home and confront these issues. This is when my father discovered that I had still not graduated from Queen's, and did everything in his power to try and get me back on track. I began weekly sessions with an APA certified psychologist who helped me deal with my personal demons and helped me confront my biggest issue, whether I would be able to successfully receive a study permit. With the help of an accredited lawyer who only granted my case a 35 success rate, my father and I applied for a student permit. Additionally, I managed to seek the help of Ms. Joyce Hunter who gave me the shocking news that if my study permit were to be rejected, I could complete the remainder of my credits online as well. During this time, I was solely focused on trying to improve my mental health as well as complete the credits I needed for Queen's University. As God's magnificent grace would have it, my study permit was approved in September, and I was on the next flight out to Canada. In this previous semester, I focused all my energy on studying and trying to finally graduate.
This brings us back to the present moment in time, where last Thursday I made another appointment with Ms. Hunter who graciously agreed to see me, despite not having advised students for some time now. Unfortunately, although I have completed the credits I need for graduation, my GPA is still too low to graduate. This is a consequence of the failures I received from my classes in Fall 2014- Spring 2015. As I am an international student, and have always had the intention to stay in Canada to work following graduation, I am on a time constraint; I have 90 days from the completion of my final exam i.e. December 14th to apply for a post-graduate work permit, allowing me to stay on in Canada.
My lawyer has told me that all I require is a letter of completion of studies at the very minimum. However, without meeting the minimum GPA requirements for my program, I am ineligible to receive this letter. As a result, I urge you profusely respective Dean of Studies to please carefully review the information above in this appeal letter. I understand it is the Spring semester and I am not alone in my request to appeal the one term deadline, nor do I expect any sort of special treatment because of the struggles I have encountered and continue to experience presently. On the other hand, I also feel it is important to express how in this past semester despite having my aunt and my cat who helped me through my parent's divorce pass away, I continued to strive and managed to do significantly better than I have done throughout my undergraduate experience. I trust that this is evident of my capability and willingness to strive and succeed, but now am better equipped with the skills to cope in times of hardship. Moreover, I also hope that you can understand my situation in terms of how extenuating circumstances beyond my control did hold me back during my studies most significantly in Fall 2014 and Spring 2015.
Additionally, I think it is also pertinent to note how I did take the initiative on two separate accounts to consult with a counselling psychologist both at Queen's as well as at home in Pakistan. With their help, the support from my father and my faith in God, I am here in Canada today, having completed the credits I needed and more hurdle to cross in my journey to graduate. However, this is dependent on whether I am granted permission to appeal the grades I received going as far back as Fall 2014, once again something that is beyond my control at this point. I hope and have faith that you shall at least allow me the opportunity to appeal despite having surpassed the one term deadline. Although, I am still in the process of retrieving a report from my counsellor at Queen's, I have attached the report from my psychologist at home; I trust that this shall suffice for now.
I look forward to hearing from you in any capacity soon.
Sincerely,
Mariam Shafi Khan
My name is Mariam Shafi Khan and I am currently registered as a final year student in the BA Psychology program at Queen's University. I am writing this letter for the permission to waive the one term deadline, to appeal the failing grades I received in the Fall 2014- Spring 2015 semesters at Queen's. At the time, I was dealing with a number of highly stressful personal issues at home that were debilitating to my mental health. My issues at home specifically my mother's battle with her bipolar disorder as well as my father's decision to remarry and have a baby with my step mother, took a tremendous toll on my mental health and my grades.
Moreover, I found myself severely anxious and depressed, barely sleeping resulting in my poor attendance at classes as well. Consequently, I took the initiative to begin regular sessions with a counsellor at Queen's in the Spring semester of 2015. The counsellor was very sympathetic to my case and also taught me several breathing skills to cope with the anxiety I was experiencing at the time. It was also during this time that I discovered the presence of academic advisors, a resource I assumed was exclusive to first year students. The counsellor was very empathetic when she informed that I was still missing credits and would not be able to graduate on time, while also alerting me to my low GPA. This news was informative but filled me with fear further as I was unsure of how to relay this new information to my both my father and mother respectively.
However, I was still fearful of having to admit to my family that I would not be graduating on time as expected. As a result, I withdrew from studying at Queen's for a year, and for the first time did not go back home to Pakistan. I was determined to find work in the meantime to try and save money to complete the final few credits I needed to graduate. This, proved to be more ambitious than I anticipated. In December 2016, when my mother threatened to never talk to me again, that I decided to go home and confront these issues. This is when my father discovered that I had still not graduated from Queen's, and did everything in his power to try and get me back on track. I began weekly sessions with an APA certified psychologist who helped me deal with my personal demons and helped me confront my biggest issue, whether I would be able to successfully receive a study permit. With the help of an accredited lawyer who only granted my case a 35 success rate, my father and I applied for a student permit. Additionally, I managed to seek the help of Ms. Joyce Hunter who gave me the shocking news that if my study permit were to be rejected, I could complete the remainder of my credits online as well. During this time, I was solely focused on trying to improve my mental health as well as complete the credits I needed for Queen's University. As God's magnificent grace would have it, my study permit was approved in September, and I was on the next flight out to Canada. In this previous semester, I focused all my energy on studying and trying to finally graduate.
This brings us back to the present moment in time, where last Thursday I made another appointment with Ms. Hunter who graciously agreed to see me, despite not having advised students for some time now. Unfortunately, although I have completed the credits I need for graduation, my GPA is still too low to graduate. This is a consequence of the failures I received from my classes in Fall 2014- Spring 2015. As I am an international student, and have always had the intention to stay in Canada to work following graduation, I am on a time constraint; I have 90 days from the completion of my final exam i.e. December 14th to apply for a post-graduate work permit, allowing me to stay on in Canada.
My lawyer has told me that all I require is a letter of completion of studies at the very minimum. However, without meeting the minimum GPA requirements for my program, I am ineligible to receive this letter. As a result, I urge you profusely respective Dean of Studies to please carefully review the information above in this appeal letter. I understand it is the Spring semester and I am not alone in my request to appeal the one term deadline, nor do I expect any sort of special treatment because of the struggles I have encountered and continue to experience presently. On the other hand, I also feel it is important to express how in this past semester despite having my aunt and my cat who helped me through my parent's divorce pass away, I continued to strive and managed to do significantly better than I have done throughout my undergraduate experience. I trust that this is evident of my capability and willingness to strive and succeed, but now am better equipped with the skills to cope in times of hardship. Moreover, I also hope that you can understand my situation in terms of how extenuating circumstances beyond my control did hold me back during my studies most significantly in Fall 2014 and Spring 2015.
Additionally, I think it is also pertinent to note how I did take the initiative on two separate accounts to consult with a counselling psychologist both at Queen's as well as at home in Pakistan. With their help, the support from my father and my faith in God, I am here in Canada today, having completed the credits I needed and more hurdle to cross in my journey to graduate. However, this is dependent on whether I am granted permission to appeal the grades I received going as far back as Fall 2014, once again something that is beyond my control at this point. I hope and have faith that you shall at least allow me the opportunity to appeal despite having surpassed the one term deadline. Although, I am still in the process of retrieving a report from my counsellor at Queen's, I have attached the report from my psychologist at home; I trust that this shall suffice for now.
I look forward to hearing from you in any capacity soon.
Sincerely,
Mariam Shafi Khan