Petition Letter
To whom this may concern,
I write this letter with deep regret and embarrassment, but also full of hope and potential. My past few years at Queen¿¿s have consisted of some of the most traumatizing years in regards to my mental wellbeing. As a long-time sufferer of anxiety and depression, my motivation to succeed was greatly affected. For the last couple of years, my living situation has been extremely negative and scary and my self-worth suffered and led me to think that there was no point in trying. From living with toxic friendships to living with dangerous neighbors and landlords, I have not been able to establish a safe environment where I can focus on what I need to do to succeed.
Although I strongly feel that Queen¿¿s has done an amazing job at removing the stigma surrounding mental health and providing essential resources, I was afraid to reach out and admit that I needed help. In second year when things began to spiral for me, I just let it happen and hoped that I could make up for it later. This was detrimental to my experience in third year, where I continued to lack motivation due to my struggles with mental health, and the belief that I had already messed up so much that there was no point in trying to recover. I felt helpless.
The first few times that I tried to reach out for help, doctors assured me that I ¿¿looked fine¿ and that I should have nothing to be worried about. I had counsellor appointments that were triggering experiences for me, and doctors that would refuse to see me again. I felt like every time I tried to reach out, I was shut down.
With all of this being said, for the first time I see myself actually being able to succeed in school. Being sent the requirement to withdraw was a breaking point for me.
For the first time in years, I am regaining the motivation that I lost so long ago. I do consider myself an intelligent young person and one of my favorite things to do is learn. I have always genuinely loved school and although my grades the last few years have suffered greatly, this is not a reflection of my potential for hard-work and success. I am extremely hard-working and am confident that I am ready to prove that.
I write this letter now, past the deadline, as I truly believe that there is now nothing holding me back from proving myself this year. I finally have a stable support system, an amazing counsellor as well as a supportive doctor and regular medication. I genuinely feel that I have reached out and filled my life with all of the essential tools and resources that I need in order to move on successfully and safely. I have found a safe new apartment where I will be living by myself, in a safe environment without distractions. Additionally, I have started seeing a counsellor regularly, who has provided me with a solid education on mental health and has provided me with amazing resources and tools that I am responding well to. I also have a very supportive GP who has prescribed me with a medication that has played a huge role in my recovery. Finally, I have let go and shared everything with my loved ones, which as a result has given me confidence in my future and has assured me that I have the support system that I need.
I ask that you please consider allowing my enrolment in September. I am more motivated now than I have ever been. I sincerely promise that this will not happen again.
Regards,
Sophie Chapple
I write this letter with deep regret and embarrassment, but also full of hope and potential. My past few years at Queen¿¿s have consisted of some of the most traumatizing years in regards to my mental wellbeing. As a long-time sufferer of anxiety and depression, my motivation to succeed was greatly affected. For the last couple of years, my living situation has been extremely negative and scary and my self-worth suffered and led me to think that there was no point in trying. From living with toxic friendships to living with dangerous neighbors and landlords, I have not been able to establish a safe environment where I can focus on what I need to do to succeed.
Although I strongly feel that Queen¿¿s has done an amazing job at removing the stigma surrounding mental health and providing essential resources, I was afraid to reach out and admit that I needed help. In second year when things began to spiral for me, I just let it happen and hoped that I could make up for it later. This was detrimental to my experience in third year, where I continued to lack motivation due to my struggles with mental health, and the belief that I had already messed up so much that there was no point in trying to recover. I felt helpless.
The first few times that I tried to reach out for help, doctors assured me that I ¿¿looked fine¿ and that I should have nothing to be worried about. I had counsellor appointments that were triggering experiences for me, and doctors that would refuse to see me again. I felt like every time I tried to reach out, I was shut down.
With all of this being said, for the first time I see myself actually being able to succeed in school. Being sent the requirement to withdraw was a breaking point for me.
For the first time in years, I am regaining the motivation that I lost so long ago. I do consider myself an intelligent young person and one of my favorite things to do is learn. I have always genuinely loved school and although my grades the last few years have suffered greatly, this is not a reflection of my potential for hard-work and success. I am extremely hard-working and am confident that I am ready to prove that.
I write this letter now, past the deadline, as I truly believe that there is now nothing holding me back from proving myself this year. I finally have a stable support system, an amazing counsellor as well as a supportive doctor and regular medication. I genuinely feel that I have reached out and filled my life with all of the essential tools and resources that I need in order to move on successfully and safely. I have found a safe new apartment where I will be living by myself, in a safe environment without distractions. Additionally, I have started seeing a counsellor regularly, who has provided me with a solid education on mental health and has provided me with amazing resources and tools that I am responding well to. I also have a very supportive GP who has prescribed me with a medication that has played a huge role in my recovery. Finally, I have let go and shared everything with my loved ones, which as a result has given me confidence in my future and has assured me that I have the support system that I need.
I ask that you please consider allowing my enrolment in September. I am more motivated now than I have ever been. I sincerely promise that this will not happen again.
Regards,
Sophie Chapple