Petition Letter
Dear Dean Jenn Stephenson,
With this letter, I hope to clarify and further explain my extenuating circumstances, which, I believe, have affected my academic performance and should be used in consideration to waive my requirement to withdraw for one year. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to explain my circumstances.
Although I was an excellent student throughout high school, I will admit and take responsibility for not trying my best throughout first year because I was more focused on the social aspect of university, such as making friends and participating in extra curricular activities. As a black and visibly Muslim woman, fitting in has always been a bit of a struggle for me in less diverse institutions and although it was difficult at first, I found friends and a supportive community that made me feel like I belong at Queen's.
This past year was particularly difficult for me because of a traumatic incident that happened in October 2018. After this occurred I did not feel safe anywhere besides my home, and felt especially unsafe at school. I chose not to confide in my close friends about what happened to me because of the shame and stigma surrounding the incident, which as a result made me feel like I did not have adequate support. After a while I found it extremely difficult to complete even the simplest tasks. I barely left my house, had difficulties sleeping which made it very hard to get to classes, isolated myself from my friends and family, and was too overwhelmed to realize how much I was starting to fall behind academically. I realized I needed help, and decided to see a counsellor at the student wellness centre on December 12th, 2018. Due to the severe nature of the incident, the counsellor gave me a note to help me postpone some of my midterm tests and upcoming assignments until I felt ready to complete them but informed me that she could not see me as regularly as a therapist would and that I should look into seeing someone as she felt I had symptoms of depression.
When I arrived home for Christmas break my parents realized I was not doing well and insisted that it would be best that I move and continue my studies in Qatar. I felt so demoralized that I agreed and began to go through many rigorous application processes and applied to several American and Qatari universities in Doha. My focus shifted from doing what I can to get better, to writing application letters, attending interviews with representatives, going back and forth to Toronto and trying to start over in a different place. When really, my focus should have been on healing from what happened to me and sorting out my emotions with a professional.
In March, I was finally able to get an appointment to start seeing a psychologist in Toronto and began to work through some of the issues I was having as a result of the incident. Although my sessions were only once a month because of the distance and limited time I had due to living and studying in Kingston, I found them very helpful.
Currently, I am working full time and because I am able to see my new therapist more frequently, I have sessions twice a week, which I believe have been much more helpful in helping me grow and develop healthier coping mechanisms and habits in relation to dealing with trauma. I will continue to see my therapist as needed, and if readmitted, I will use what I have learned and unlearned in therapy to ensure that I do not abandon my health as I did when I was first experiencing the pain of dealing with this incident. I will take a lighter course load and enrol as a part time student in order to become more patient with this process, my studies, and myself. To support this appeal, I have attached a letter written by my current therapist regarding the incident that occurred. I want to highlight that due to certain circumstances I had to switch to a different therapist earlier this month, though all relevant files were transferred to my current therapist. My previous therapist was unable to provide a letter within the specified dates however if necessary I can request one at a later date. The document is password protected and the password is: calm
In light of the extenuating circumstances I dealt with throughout the past school year, I would ask that you take my circumstances into consideration and allow me to have the opportunity to continue to pursue my studies.
Sincerely,
Fatima Osman Aden
With this letter, I hope to clarify and further explain my extenuating circumstances, which, I believe, have affected my academic performance and should be used in consideration to waive my requirement to withdraw for one year. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to explain my circumstances.
Although I was an excellent student throughout high school, I will admit and take responsibility for not trying my best throughout first year because I was more focused on the social aspect of university, such as making friends and participating in extra curricular activities. As a black and visibly Muslim woman, fitting in has always been a bit of a struggle for me in less diverse institutions and although it was difficult at first, I found friends and a supportive community that made me feel like I belong at Queen's.
This past year was particularly difficult for me because of a traumatic incident that happened in October 2018. After this occurred I did not feel safe anywhere besides my home, and felt especially unsafe at school. I chose not to confide in my close friends about what happened to me because of the shame and stigma surrounding the incident, which as a result made me feel like I did not have adequate support. After a while I found it extremely difficult to complete even the simplest tasks. I barely left my house, had difficulties sleeping which made it very hard to get to classes, isolated myself from my friends and family, and was too overwhelmed to realize how much I was starting to fall behind academically. I realized I needed help, and decided to see a counsellor at the student wellness centre on December 12th, 2018. Due to the severe nature of the incident, the counsellor gave me a note to help me postpone some of my midterm tests and upcoming assignments until I felt ready to complete them but informed me that she could not see me as regularly as a therapist would and that I should look into seeing someone as she felt I had symptoms of depression.
When I arrived home for Christmas break my parents realized I was not doing well and insisted that it would be best that I move and continue my studies in Qatar. I felt so demoralized that I agreed and began to go through many rigorous application processes and applied to several American and Qatari universities in Doha. My focus shifted from doing what I can to get better, to writing application letters, attending interviews with representatives, going back and forth to Toronto and trying to start over in a different place. When really, my focus should have been on healing from what happened to me and sorting out my emotions with a professional.
In March, I was finally able to get an appointment to start seeing a psychologist in Toronto and began to work through some of the issues I was having as a result of the incident. Although my sessions were only once a month because of the distance and limited time I had due to living and studying in Kingston, I found them very helpful.
Currently, I am working full time and because I am able to see my new therapist more frequently, I have sessions twice a week, which I believe have been much more helpful in helping me grow and develop healthier coping mechanisms and habits in relation to dealing with trauma. I will continue to see my therapist as needed, and if readmitted, I will use what I have learned and unlearned in therapy to ensure that I do not abandon my health as I did when I was first experiencing the pain of dealing with this incident. I will take a lighter course load and enrol as a part time student in order to become more patient with this process, my studies, and myself. To support this appeal, I have attached a letter written by my current therapist regarding the incident that occurred. I want to highlight that due to certain circumstances I had to switch to a different therapist earlier this month, though all relevant files were transferred to my current therapist. My previous therapist was unable to provide a letter within the specified dates however if necessary I can request one at a later date. The document is password protected and the password is: calm
In light of the extenuating circumstances I dealt with throughout the past school year, I would ask that you take my circumstances into consideration and allow me to have the opportunity to continue to pursue my studies.
Sincerely,
Fatima Osman Aden