Petition Letter
January 2021
To: Associate Dean (Academic)
I would like to appeal to drop DEVS 220 (Fall 2020).
I made the decision to drop DEVS 220 after the drop deadline out of concern for my mental health. Over the course of this term, I suffered from severe anxiety, intrusive thoughts, brain fog and irregular sleep ¿¿ crippling my abilities as a student. At several points, my mental health was so severely affected that it required unscheduled visits to the hospital or Student Wellness Services. Following an evaluation and diagnosis by a psychiatrist, I learned a combination of factors, including a medication I had been taking for almost a year was the likely cause of my anxiety and poor mental state.
My mental health began to decline in September and continued through October. During this time, I dropped two of my Fall 2020 courses (CISC 101 & ASTR 101). I made this decision proactively, knowing I would not be able to manage a full course load for the remainder of the term. After meeting with a psychiatrist, my medications were changed, and my health gradually improved by early November. Once my mental health had improved to the point that I felt I could resume my studies, I met with my professors and established a plan for each course to catch up and submit all required evaluations. However, I soon realized that I would not be able to complete all three courses ¿¿ to the standard I wanted and so late in the term ¿¿ without sacrificing my mental health. Given this, I elected to drop DEVS 220 and reduce my course load further. I dropped on November 19, missing the November 2 drop deadline.
I am no stranger to mental health struggles, and during this term, I leveraged a robust support network that has helped me for many years. I regularly meet with counsellors and advisors at Student Wellness Services, my psychiatrist, private psychotherapist, and family doctor. I am registered with QSAS and have deployed accommodations for all my courses. Outside of professional help, I try to practice mindfulness, meditation, and other self-care strategies to compliment my support network. I am also fortunate to have family and friends that have been supportive of me every step of the way.
With my mental health having improved, I am happy to report that I was able to catch up and complete two courses this semester (GPHY 105 & GEOL 200). Preliminary grades indicate I should do very well in both. I was very interested in the courses I had to drop, so I plan on re-taking them over the Summer and Fall 2021 terms. Next semester (Winter 2021), I am enrolled in 4 courses, but I am prepared to drop courses as necessary to protect my mental health. I will continue to use my support network and hope that I can maintain the academic excellence I have demonstrated over the course of my undergrad at Queen¿¿s.
Thank you for allowing me to explain my situation, I hope you understand.
Sincerely,
Conor Spencer
To: Associate Dean (Academic)
I would like to appeal to drop DEVS 220 (Fall 2020).
I made the decision to drop DEVS 220 after the drop deadline out of concern for my mental health. Over the course of this term, I suffered from severe anxiety, intrusive thoughts, brain fog and irregular sleep ¿¿ crippling my abilities as a student. At several points, my mental health was so severely affected that it required unscheduled visits to the hospital or Student Wellness Services. Following an evaluation and diagnosis by a psychiatrist, I learned a combination of factors, including a medication I had been taking for almost a year was the likely cause of my anxiety and poor mental state.
My mental health began to decline in September and continued through October. During this time, I dropped two of my Fall 2020 courses (CISC 101 & ASTR 101). I made this decision proactively, knowing I would not be able to manage a full course load for the remainder of the term. After meeting with a psychiatrist, my medications were changed, and my health gradually improved by early November. Once my mental health had improved to the point that I felt I could resume my studies, I met with my professors and established a plan for each course to catch up and submit all required evaluations. However, I soon realized that I would not be able to complete all three courses ¿¿ to the standard I wanted and so late in the term ¿¿ without sacrificing my mental health. Given this, I elected to drop DEVS 220 and reduce my course load further. I dropped on November 19, missing the November 2 drop deadline.
I am no stranger to mental health struggles, and during this term, I leveraged a robust support network that has helped me for many years. I regularly meet with counsellors and advisors at Student Wellness Services, my psychiatrist, private psychotherapist, and family doctor. I am registered with QSAS and have deployed accommodations for all my courses. Outside of professional help, I try to practice mindfulness, meditation, and other self-care strategies to compliment my support network. I am also fortunate to have family and friends that have been supportive of me every step of the way.
With my mental health having improved, I am happy to report that I was able to catch up and complete two courses this semester (GPHY 105 & GEOL 200). Preliminary grades indicate I should do very well in both. I was very interested in the courses I had to drop, so I plan on re-taking them over the Summer and Fall 2021 terms. Next semester (Winter 2021), I am enrolled in 4 courses, but I am prepared to drop courses as necessary to protect my mental health. I will continue to use my support network and hope that I can maintain the academic excellence I have demonstrated over the course of my undergrad at Queen¿¿s.
Thank you for allowing me to explain my situation, I hope you understand.
Sincerely,
Conor Spencer