Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean Stephenson,
I am appealing to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year. Receiving the letter from the associate dean requiring me to withdraw was devastating. I love this University, and my program. I feel that withdrawing for a year would put me further behind and reduce my performance in the future. Receiving this letter was especially painful, as I believe that my recent performance does not reflect my abilities as a student. My grades in the first term are a result of mental health problems I have been able to overcome. My poor performance in the second term is due to a medical clerical error, and I will take precautions to make sure it doesn't happen again.
I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I came to university, I was out of my comfort zone. I was 7 hours away from home, and none of my classmates came to Queens with me. I felt lost and alone with no network of friends and family to support me. Due to COVID-19, I found meeting new people an impossible task, and my social anxiety made it difficult to further step out of my comfort zone. With no support network and an active pandemic every aspect of life felt overwhelming. It was frightening and isolating. As a result, I severely underperformed in the first term.
When I received my grades from the first term, I was distraught. Coming to Queens had always been my dream growing up. I love biology, and it was difficult to see myself doing so poorly in it. I immediately sought out a network to ensure there would not be a repeat of first term. I hired a tutor for math. I became involved in club events and activities, and grew my network of friends. Most importantly, I got a mentor - a PhD biology student. I started off the second term strong. I was confident and able to perform well. However, early on in the term, there was a clerical error with my medication. My prescription was being renewed at the pharmacy at my home town, instead of the pharmacy in the ARC. I have attached a letter verifying this mistake. I tried to resolve this issue with the pharmacy multiple times, and then with my doctor. But when the last of my medication was out of my system, I just felt so hopeless and lost. My Therapist, Dr. Nancy feels that my academic course failures are indicative of his mental health functioning at the time and not at all related to his academic achievement abilities. Prior to this, I hadn't been unmedicated for a year - I am completely unable to function without my anti-depressants.
My doctor did not receive the pharmacy's fax until March 12th. I did not receive my medication until the 22nd. However, by then the term was almost over. In the last few days of school, I was stuck playing catchup. I was desperately writing professors for a chance to do missed assignments, and I was scrambling to prepare for finals. Ultimately, I was not able to recover after months of missed school work.
If I am allowed to remain in this program, I will take steps to ensure this will never happen again. I see my support network as a strong success that has positively contributed to my performance at school. I plan to maintain my current network and strengthen it by making better use of academic advisors and Student Wellness Services. They have been incredibly helpful over this process, and I am confident that I will perform better if I consult them throughout the year.
A medical clerical error that takes months to resolve is a very rare occurrence. Before the events of second term, I didn't consider it as a possibility, nor did I understand the consequences of going unmedicated for so long. Now I have a better understanding of the severity of this issue, and I will ensure that I renew up my prescription long before I run out.
Next year, I also plan to take a reduced course load to improve my GPA. After next year I may consider returning to a full course load, but I would only make that decision after consulting an academic advisor.
Thank you for considering my request. If I had any doubts in my belonging in this program, I would not be submitting this appeal. I have a true genuine interest in biology, and I ensure you that I will not repeat my mistakes. I hope you will give me a second chance. Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
James Yates
I am appealing to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year. Receiving the letter from the associate dean requiring me to withdraw was devastating. I love this University, and my program. I feel that withdrawing for a year would put me further behind and reduce my performance in the future. Receiving this letter was especially painful, as I believe that my recent performance does not reflect my abilities as a student. My grades in the first term are a result of mental health problems I have been able to overcome. My poor performance in the second term is due to a medical clerical error, and I will take precautions to make sure it doesn't happen again.
I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I came to university, I was out of my comfort zone. I was 7 hours away from home, and none of my classmates came to Queens with me. I felt lost and alone with no network of friends and family to support me. Due to COVID-19, I found meeting new people an impossible task, and my social anxiety made it difficult to further step out of my comfort zone. With no support network and an active pandemic every aspect of life felt overwhelming. It was frightening and isolating. As a result, I severely underperformed in the first term.
When I received my grades from the first term, I was distraught. Coming to Queens had always been my dream growing up. I love biology, and it was difficult to see myself doing so poorly in it. I immediately sought out a network to ensure there would not be a repeat of first term. I hired a tutor for math. I became involved in club events and activities, and grew my network of friends. Most importantly, I got a mentor - a PhD biology student. I started off the second term strong. I was confident and able to perform well. However, early on in the term, there was a clerical error with my medication. My prescription was being renewed at the pharmacy at my home town, instead of the pharmacy in the ARC. I have attached a letter verifying this mistake. I tried to resolve this issue with the pharmacy multiple times, and then with my doctor. But when the last of my medication was out of my system, I just felt so hopeless and lost. My Therapist, Dr. Nancy feels that my academic course failures are indicative of his mental health functioning at the time and not at all related to his academic achievement abilities. Prior to this, I hadn't been unmedicated for a year - I am completely unable to function without my anti-depressants.
My doctor did not receive the pharmacy's fax until March 12th. I did not receive my medication until the 22nd. However, by then the term was almost over. In the last few days of school, I was stuck playing catchup. I was desperately writing professors for a chance to do missed assignments, and I was scrambling to prepare for finals. Ultimately, I was not able to recover after months of missed school work.
If I am allowed to remain in this program, I will take steps to ensure this will never happen again. I see my support network as a strong success that has positively contributed to my performance at school. I plan to maintain my current network and strengthen it by making better use of academic advisors and Student Wellness Services. They have been incredibly helpful over this process, and I am confident that I will perform better if I consult them throughout the year.
A medical clerical error that takes months to resolve is a very rare occurrence. Before the events of second term, I didn't consider it as a possibility, nor did I understand the consequences of going unmedicated for so long. Now I have a better understanding of the severity of this issue, and I will ensure that I renew up my prescription long before I run out.
Next year, I also plan to take a reduced course load to improve my GPA. After next year I may consider returning to a full course load, but I would only make that decision after consulting an academic advisor.
Thank you for considering my request. If I had any doubts in my belonging in this program, I would not be submitting this appeal. I have a true genuine interest in biology, and I ensure you that I will not repeat my mistakes. I hope you will give me a second chance. Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
James Yates