Petition Letter
Dear Jenn Stephenson, Associate Dean (Studies)
I am writing to appeal my academic dismissal from Queen University for one year. I was not surprised, but very sad to receive a letter earlier last week informing me of my dismissal. I¿¿m writing with the hope that you will reinstate me for this coming fall. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to explain my circumstances.
I admit that I¿¿ve had a very difficult time regarding my academics, and even though I felt I was trying my hardest I was frustrated to not be reaching my full potential. This was an extremely embarrassing topic for me to discuss with others because I was afraid of being ridiculed for being lazy or simply unintelligent. Frankly, I was afraid that I might just be both of those things. The truth is I was struggling to concentrate during lectures, read through textbooks, and cancel out the noises of the world around me. Subsequently, this led to me doing poorly on test and assignments. I couldn¿¿t keep my life or my own thoughts organized, ending in daily breakdowns. This has been the debilitating way my life functioned since I can remember and until recently I didn't know it was abnormal. So for the first time I decided if I wanted to achieve my full potential and goals I needed to seek help. After talking to my doctor she recommended I get tested for ADHD. It wasn't until last week I was given the results and the diagnoses of ADHD ¿¿ Inattentive Presenting. This has been a lifetime struggle, however the nature of university heightened these issues with long lectures, hours of readings, and settings with various visual and auditory distractions. I understand now that I should have communicated my problems to the academic advisors or learning support at Queens so they could have pointing me in the right directions for help.
I love Queens University, and it would mean so much to graduate with a degree from this school, which would make me the first person in my family to obtain a university degree. I truly value my education and want nothing more than to continue my studies and earn my place at queens with hard work and determination. If reinstated I will submit my psychoeducational assessment to QSAS and seek the appropriate accommodations recommended, speak to academic advisors for advice, and communicate my problem areas to my professors and teaching assistants. I plan on retaking classes (Politics 241 and 243) in order to raise my GPA. I additionally plan to take a 5th and possibly 6th year so that I may reduce my course load to 3 or 4 classes per term. Fortunately, I¿¿ve been prescribed medication to help my concentration. I strongly believe that with medication and accommodations my ADHD will no longer have a detrimental effect on my future academic performance. I¿¿ve been taking medication for a week now and I can confidently say it has changed my life.
Please understand that my low GPA that led to my dismissal is not because I am not motivated or capable of success here at Queens University. My learning disorder has been a debilitating issue in my life, but I am so thankful I now have the tools to manage it. I whole heartily wish I had sought help earlier instead of harboring my embarrassment and endlessly denying I was any different than my peers. Now that I¿¿ve made the first step towards getting help, Id love the opportunity to continue my studies at Queens with the support of the academic services the university offers.
Thank you for your consideration,
Meagan McCarthy
I am writing to appeal my academic dismissal from Queen University for one year. I was not surprised, but very sad to receive a letter earlier last week informing me of my dismissal. I¿¿m writing with the hope that you will reinstate me for this coming fall. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to explain my circumstances.
I admit that I¿¿ve had a very difficult time regarding my academics, and even though I felt I was trying my hardest I was frustrated to not be reaching my full potential. This was an extremely embarrassing topic for me to discuss with others because I was afraid of being ridiculed for being lazy or simply unintelligent. Frankly, I was afraid that I might just be both of those things. The truth is I was struggling to concentrate during lectures, read through textbooks, and cancel out the noises of the world around me. Subsequently, this led to me doing poorly on test and assignments. I couldn¿¿t keep my life or my own thoughts organized, ending in daily breakdowns. This has been the debilitating way my life functioned since I can remember and until recently I didn't know it was abnormal. So for the first time I decided if I wanted to achieve my full potential and goals I needed to seek help. After talking to my doctor she recommended I get tested for ADHD. It wasn't until last week I was given the results and the diagnoses of ADHD ¿¿ Inattentive Presenting. This has been a lifetime struggle, however the nature of university heightened these issues with long lectures, hours of readings, and settings with various visual and auditory distractions. I understand now that I should have communicated my problems to the academic advisors or learning support at Queens so they could have pointing me in the right directions for help.
I love Queens University, and it would mean so much to graduate with a degree from this school, which would make me the first person in my family to obtain a university degree. I truly value my education and want nothing more than to continue my studies and earn my place at queens with hard work and determination. If reinstated I will submit my psychoeducational assessment to QSAS and seek the appropriate accommodations recommended, speak to academic advisors for advice, and communicate my problem areas to my professors and teaching assistants. I plan on retaking classes (Politics 241 and 243) in order to raise my GPA. I additionally plan to take a 5th and possibly 6th year so that I may reduce my course load to 3 or 4 classes per term. Fortunately, I¿¿ve been prescribed medication to help my concentration. I strongly believe that with medication and accommodations my ADHD will no longer have a detrimental effect on my future academic performance. I¿¿ve been taking medication for a week now and I can confidently say it has changed my life.
Please understand that my low GPA that led to my dismissal is not because I am not motivated or capable of success here at Queens University. My learning disorder has been a debilitating issue in my life, but I am so thankful I now have the tools to manage it. I whole heartily wish I had sought help earlier instead of harboring my embarrassment and endlessly denying I was any different than my peers. Now that I¿¿ve made the first step towards getting help, Id love the opportunity to continue my studies at Queens with the support of the academic services the university offers.
Thank you for your consideration,
Meagan McCarthy