Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean,
I am appealing the Faculty's decision that I must withdraw from Queen's for a minimum of one year.
The past few years of my life at Queen's, have been the hardest of my life, and not in a normal way. Coming into university I expected to be stressed out and overwhelmed with school work, but instead my battle has been within myself. When I started school I was excited, and positive, and couldn't wait to start my future and succeed. I knew it was going to be hard, but I was determined to excel, and I was eager to do the work I needed to do to get there. My mental health began to decline rapidly after that point though. I have been suffering with depression, and anxiety for a few years now, and up until recently I haven't gotten better. I ignored it by making the decision not to tell my family, or my doctor, or even my friends. At first I didn't realize what was happening to me, but once I did know, I ignored it, and soon I began to actually view suicide as a valid option for me. I never felt like I could rely on my family, mostly because my parents don't believe in mental illness, despite the fact that we have a family history of it. I also never trusted my doctor enough to actually meet with him in person and discuss it and allow him to help, I think out of fear. This year presented a new challenge for me though, it is not easy to talk about, and only a few people know, but this past year I was raped by a fellow Queen's student. I haven't really known what to do since then. I went to the hospital and got some help there, but ultimately chose not to pursue legal action, simply because I want to forget it ever happened. It causes me pain every time I accidentally think about it and replay it in my head, so that didn't seem like the right decision for me at the time. This summer, after cancelling countless doctors appointments out of fear, I finally talked to my doctor about everything, and I am happy to say that I am now getting the help I need to physically and mentally get better. I am actually taking medication for mental illness, and following up with my doctor, as I should have been for many years now.
The reason why this appeal took me so long to write, was because I wanted to ensure that I was healthy, and capable of returning to my studies and succeeding before I did so. Since going on this medication, I have noticed a big difference in not only my attitude, but my lifestyle, and I feel like I¿¿m finally myself again. I have noticed a difference in my sleeping habits, I have gotten into a routine of waking up at 6am every day, and i'm actually able to go to sleep when I want to now. I've noticed a difference in my eating habits, I have been on a healthy diet and regularly exercising. My work ethic has also really improved, I have my own small business during the summer teaching swim lessons, and this year I put a lot of time and energy advertising and communication with people. As a result, I nearly doubled my clientele. I've been working about nine hours a day teaching, and another two hours, working on my website, advertising, or correspondence. Staying busy with my business, exercising, reading, etc has really changed my lifestyle, and I seem to be excelling. During my time at Queen's, the course content, or work load wasn't the issue for me, my mental health was the big issue, and I really feel like I've returned to who I was before with the help of this medication. I have always been an honors student, and it kills me to think that for the last few years, I haven't been, but I'm confident that if I maintain what I¿¿ve been practicing this summer, I am fully capable of succeeding in my studies at Queen's. My plan moving forward would be to first reach out to the Gender Studies department and academic advising to get help choosing courses that I need for this plan. I would then reach out to Lasalle and set up a few appointments now for the future, since it usually takes a few weeks to get one. I am going to see my family doctor again on Friday, and hopefully we will work out a plan for me to stay physically healthy this year, I will be staying on this medication, but this might also mean coming home to see him once a month. I love the content of Gender Studies courses, but I definitely think I need to work on my learning strategies, so I will be looking into SASS, and maybe even other resources in Kingston that could help. I have always been someone who likes to stay busy, and I do well when I stay busy, so I would like to volunteer this year as well. Right now I plan on volunteering at either the Sexual Assault center or Elizabeth Fry in Kingston. I think the a key component of success for me is consistency, so I would like to set up a very detailed schedule/ routine that I would follow every day for the duration of each term. This would include setting up designated times to go to the library (like in between classes and after classes everyday), it would also include a designated time each day for exercise, cooking, etc. I would like to treat this year as if I were in high school, so instead of coming home in between classes, I would go to the library, for instance from 8am- 5pm every day I would attend classes, work on readings, assignments, etc. I think that this would ensure that I kept up on my work, as well as ensure that I had time for myself and my health. I also made the decision to tell three friends at school about the assault, and I believe that they will act as a support system for me this year. Overall, the biggest step that I¿¿ve taken to get better, was finally talking to my doctor and agreeing to medicate, and I know now that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, it saved my life and changed my life for the better. I want nothing more than to return to school and prove that I can succeed at Queen¿¿s, because for the first time in a long time, I¿¿m excited about my future and I am determined to work hard, and stay healthy. After many years of pain and suffering, I am finally the smart, hardworking, happy and positive person that I used to be, and I want to prove it. This year my only goal is to excel in school and stay healthy. I will follow my plan, consult my doctor, get therapy in Kingston, attend the library daily, plan out each and every assignment, eat healthy and exercise, return to my faith by going to church once a week, and tell someone if I need help. I plan on staying accountable and on top of my school work with the help of my brother, together we will attend the library every day and we have decided that we will help each other stay on top of our work. My only priority is my studies, and I will do anything I need to do in order to succeed, I will meet with my professors and TA¿¿s and discuss my progress throughout the term as well. I am excited about my future, and I am ready now physically and mentally to work hard, and the only thing I¿¿m asking for is one last opportunity to prove that I can succeed and I will. I¿¿m confident in my plan, and I will make sure to hold myself accountable with the help of my doctor, my professors, my family, etc. Overall, by consulting my doctor, and my professors, and by utilizing the many learning, mental health, and sexual assault resources available at Queen¿¿s and in Kingston, I am confident that I will thrive at school this year.
Sincerely,
Brianna Wodehouse
I am appealing the Faculty's decision that I must withdraw from Queen's for a minimum of one year.
The past few years of my life at Queen's, have been the hardest of my life, and not in a normal way. Coming into university I expected to be stressed out and overwhelmed with school work, but instead my battle has been within myself. When I started school I was excited, and positive, and couldn't wait to start my future and succeed. I knew it was going to be hard, but I was determined to excel, and I was eager to do the work I needed to do to get there. My mental health began to decline rapidly after that point though. I have been suffering with depression, and anxiety for a few years now, and up until recently I haven't gotten better. I ignored it by making the decision not to tell my family, or my doctor, or even my friends. At first I didn't realize what was happening to me, but once I did know, I ignored it, and soon I began to actually view suicide as a valid option for me. I never felt like I could rely on my family, mostly because my parents don't believe in mental illness, despite the fact that we have a family history of it. I also never trusted my doctor enough to actually meet with him in person and discuss it and allow him to help, I think out of fear. This year presented a new challenge for me though, it is not easy to talk about, and only a few people know, but this past year I was raped by a fellow Queen's student. I haven't really known what to do since then. I went to the hospital and got some help there, but ultimately chose not to pursue legal action, simply because I want to forget it ever happened. It causes me pain every time I accidentally think about it and replay it in my head, so that didn't seem like the right decision for me at the time. This summer, after cancelling countless doctors appointments out of fear, I finally talked to my doctor about everything, and I am happy to say that I am now getting the help I need to physically and mentally get better. I am actually taking medication for mental illness, and following up with my doctor, as I should have been for many years now.
The reason why this appeal took me so long to write, was because I wanted to ensure that I was healthy, and capable of returning to my studies and succeeding before I did so. Since going on this medication, I have noticed a big difference in not only my attitude, but my lifestyle, and I feel like I¿¿m finally myself again. I have noticed a difference in my sleeping habits, I have gotten into a routine of waking up at 6am every day, and i'm actually able to go to sleep when I want to now. I've noticed a difference in my eating habits, I have been on a healthy diet and regularly exercising. My work ethic has also really improved, I have my own small business during the summer teaching swim lessons, and this year I put a lot of time and energy advertising and communication with people. As a result, I nearly doubled my clientele. I've been working about nine hours a day teaching, and another two hours, working on my website, advertising, or correspondence. Staying busy with my business, exercising, reading, etc has really changed my lifestyle, and I seem to be excelling. During my time at Queen's, the course content, or work load wasn't the issue for me, my mental health was the big issue, and I really feel like I've returned to who I was before with the help of this medication. I have always been an honors student, and it kills me to think that for the last few years, I haven't been, but I'm confident that if I maintain what I¿¿ve been practicing this summer, I am fully capable of succeeding in my studies at Queen's. My plan moving forward would be to first reach out to the Gender Studies department and academic advising to get help choosing courses that I need for this plan. I would then reach out to Lasalle and set up a few appointments now for the future, since it usually takes a few weeks to get one. I am going to see my family doctor again on Friday, and hopefully we will work out a plan for me to stay physically healthy this year, I will be staying on this medication, but this might also mean coming home to see him once a month. I love the content of Gender Studies courses, but I definitely think I need to work on my learning strategies, so I will be looking into SASS, and maybe even other resources in Kingston that could help. I have always been someone who likes to stay busy, and I do well when I stay busy, so I would like to volunteer this year as well. Right now I plan on volunteering at either the Sexual Assault center or Elizabeth Fry in Kingston. I think the a key component of success for me is consistency, so I would like to set up a very detailed schedule/ routine that I would follow every day for the duration of each term. This would include setting up designated times to go to the library (like in between classes and after classes everyday), it would also include a designated time each day for exercise, cooking, etc. I would like to treat this year as if I were in high school, so instead of coming home in between classes, I would go to the library, for instance from 8am- 5pm every day I would attend classes, work on readings, assignments, etc. I think that this would ensure that I kept up on my work, as well as ensure that I had time for myself and my health. I also made the decision to tell three friends at school about the assault, and I believe that they will act as a support system for me this year. Overall, the biggest step that I¿¿ve taken to get better, was finally talking to my doctor and agreeing to medicate, and I know now that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, it saved my life and changed my life for the better. I want nothing more than to return to school and prove that I can succeed at Queen¿¿s, because for the first time in a long time, I¿¿m excited about my future and I am determined to work hard, and stay healthy. After many years of pain and suffering, I am finally the smart, hardworking, happy and positive person that I used to be, and I want to prove it. This year my only goal is to excel in school and stay healthy. I will follow my plan, consult my doctor, get therapy in Kingston, attend the library daily, plan out each and every assignment, eat healthy and exercise, return to my faith by going to church once a week, and tell someone if I need help. I plan on staying accountable and on top of my school work with the help of my brother, together we will attend the library every day and we have decided that we will help each other stay on top of our work. My only priority is my studies, and I will do anything I need to do in order to succeed, I will meet with my professors and TA¿¿s and discuss my progress throughout the term as well. I am excited about my future, and I am ready now physically and mentally to work hard, and the only thing I¿¿m asking for is one last opportunity to prove that I can succeed and I will. I¿¿m confident in my plan, and I will make sure to hold myself accountable with the help of my doctor, my professors, my family, etc. Overall, by consulting my doctor, and my professors, and by utilizing the many learning, mental health, and sexual assault resources available at Queen¿¿s and in Kingston, I am confident that I will thrive at school this year.
Sincerely,
Brianna Wodehouse