Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Crow,
I am writing this letter to formally apply for reconsideration of the requirement to withdraw academically from the faculty of Arts and Science for a minimum of one year during the 2021-2022 school year.
On May 26, 2021 I received an email indicating that I was required to withdraw from the Faculty for having failed to achieve a GPA of 1.6 during my first year of study. Although I was extremely distressed to receive this email, it did not come as a surprise to me. I believe extenuating circumstances and factors beyond my control were the reason I was not able to perform to the potential of my academic abilities. As difficult as it is to for me to share, I believe the Faculty should be aware of my circumstances and hopefully reconsider the requirement to withdraw from Queen¿¿s University in September 2021 for one academic year.
As is with all students accepted to Queen¿¿s, it should be noted that I was in good academic standing before entering first year. However, in the summer of 2020 before entering first year, my entire life changed. I was sexually assaulted and as a result, became pregnant. Ashamed of the rape and of the pregnancy, I did not tell anyone, thus entering a dark and extremely isolating period in my life (in the midst of a pandemic). Alone, I terminated the pregnancy. I kept these secrets hidden until the beginning of second semester, before finally deteriorating and opening up to my new roommate at Queen¿¿s. She has become a dear friend and was essential in convincing me to seek help from my parents and from medical professionals. As I went through these motions of experiencing emotional and physical trauma, my grades suffered immensely.
As a result of not reaching out for help sooner, my treatment plan was not truly effective in managing the symptoms of my mental illness until it was too late for my grades to improve. Further, in April of 2021, my brother (who lives at home with my parents and sisters) became very ill with COVID-19. As the only member of my family not living at the residence at the time and with the ability to drive, I drove home during my exam period and stayed in a hotel nearby in Burlington to deliver groceries and medications to my family. I was extremely anxious about my brother¿¿s condition and the possibility of my parents and sister¿¿s also becoming ill with COVID. I believe this hindered my ability to focus on studying for my final exams in April 2021, most of which were for full-year courses that I was already struggling in.
After reaching out for help, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depression Disorder (MDD) and was prescribed a series of medications that have helped immensely in my healing process. I have been consistently working with my family doctor, as well as my therapist, to ensure I am receiving the proper care for my conditions. My doctor has provided me with a note (appended to this letter), which attests that my medical condition had a negative affect on my ability to succeed at University during my first year. The letter also states that in my doctor¿¿s opinion, my progress is deemed to be worthy of returning to Queen¿¿s in September 2021, if granted to do so by the Faculty.
I have already started taking steps to ensure my success in September 2021. In addition to receiving medical counsel, I am also enrolled at Chisholm Academy for a Psychological Assessment that will take place on July 12, 2021. The goal of this assessment is to determine my strengths and weaknesses that are cause for any underachievement in my studies, as well as any links to my mental illnesses. As part of my Academic Plan (appended to this letter), this assessment will likely result in an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that I will be able to use in conjunction with Queen¿¿s Accessibility Services in order to succeed like I know I can. I anticipate the IEP will include valuable information on my learning style, and will include helpful recommendations like more allotted time for tests and assignments, or potentially taking a lighter course load.
Prior to receiving the requirement to withdraw email and in addition to actively treating my condition with mental health and accessibility services, I am currently enrolled in two summer courses. I am retaking HLTH-101 and am taking HLTH-237 (both of which I hold over an 85 average in so far), in an attempt to start improving my GPA. As outlined in my Academic Plan, I plan to retake all courses from first year and continue to meet with my academic advisor, Spring Forsberg (forsberg@queensu.ca), to review my progress on a biweekly basis. As discussed with my advisor, I plan on declaring my major at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, after successfully retaking all courses from first year and achieving a commendable GPA. With the help of my doctor, therapist, academic advisor and on-campus mental health and accessibility services (and of course my friends and family), I whole-heartedly believe I will soar at Queen¿¿s if given the opportunity to return in September 2021.
It is my dream to continue studying human behaviors at Queen¿¿s University as a future Sociology Major. It is my intention to turn the trauma, isolation and darkness that I¿¿ve endured in the past year into a story of hope that may help others. I wish to spread awareness about sexual assault, mental health and the importance of reaching out for help. If granted the opportunity to return to Queen¿¿s this September, I will strive to reach my high academic potential and become beacon of light to other struggling students. Through this experience, I hope to highlight the importance of utilizing the amazing on-campus resources at Queen¿¿s to my peers, those of which have turned my life around for the better.
I sincerely thank you for your time and consideration.
Ivanna Markus
I am writing this letter to formally apply for reconsideration of the requirement to withdraw academically from the faculty of Arts and Science for a minimum of one year during the 2021-2022 school year.
On May 26, 2021 I received an email indicating that I was required to withdraw from the Faculty for having failed to achieve a GPA of 1.6 during my first year of study. Although I was extremely distressed to receive this email, it did not come as a surprise to me. I believe extenuating circumstances and factors beyond my control were the reason I was not able to perform to the potential of my academic abilities. As difficult as it is to for me to share, I believe the Faculty should be aware of my circumstances and hopefully reconsider the requirement to withdraw from Queen¿¿s University in September 2021 for one academic year.
As is with all students accepted to Queen¿¿s, it should be noted that I was in good academic standing before entering first year. However, in the summer of 2020 before entering first year, my entire life changed. I was sexually assaulted and as a result, became pregnant. Ashamed of the rape and of the pregnancy, I did not tell anyone, thus entering a dark and extremely isolating period in my life (in the midst of a pandemic). Alone, I terminated the pregnancy. I kept these secrets hidden until the beginning of second semester, before finally deteriorating and opening up to my new roommate at Queen¿¿s. She has become a dear friend and was essential in convincing me to seek help from my parents and from medical professionals. As I went through these motions of experiencing emotional and physical trauma, my grades suffered immensely.
As a result of not reaching out for help sooner, my treatment plan was not truly effective in managing the symptoms of my mental illness until it was too late for my grades to improve. Further, in April of 2021, my brother (who lives at home with my parents and sisters) became very ill with COVID-19. As the only member of my family not living at the residence at the time and with the ability to drive, I drove home during my exam period and stayed in a hotel nearby in Burlington to deliver groceries and medications to my family. I was extremely anxious about my brother¿¿s condition and the possibility of my parents and sister¿¿s also becoming ill with COVID. I believe this hindered my ability to focus on studying for my final exams in April 2021, most of which were for full-year courses that I was already struggling in.
After reaching out for help, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depression Disorder (MDD) and was prescribed a series of medications that have helped immensely in my healing process. I have been consistently working with my family doctor, as well as my therapist, to ensure I am receiving the proper care for my conditions. My doctor has provided me with a note (appended to this letter), which attests that my medical condition had a negative affect on my ability to succeed at University during my first year. The letter also states that in my doctor¿¿s opinion, my progress is deemed to be worthy of returning to Queen¿¿s in September 2021, if granted to do so by the Faculty.
I have already started taking steps to ensure my success in September 2021. In addition to receiving medical counsel, I am also enrolled at Chisholm Academy for a Psychological Assessment that will take place on July 12, 2021. The goal of this assessment is to determine my strengths and weaknesses that are cause for any underachievement in my studies, as well as any links to my mental illnesses. As part of my Academic Plan (appended to this letter), this assessment will likely result in an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that I will be able to use in conjunction with Queen¿¿s Accessibility Services in order to succeed like I know I can. I anticipate the IEP will include valuable information on my learning style, and will include helpful recommendations like more allotted time for tests and assignments, or potentially taking a lighter course load.
Prior to receiving the requirement to withdraw email and in addition to actively treating my condition with mental health and accessibility services, I am currently enrolled in two summer courses. I am retaking HLTH-101 and am taking HLTH-237 (both of which I hold over an 85 average in so far), in an attempt to start improving my GPA. As outlined in my Academic Plan, I plan to retake all courses from first year and continue to meet with my academic advisor, Spring Forsberg (forsberg@queensu.ca), to review my progress on a biweekly basis. As discussed with my advisor, I plan on declaring my major at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, after successfully retaking all courses from first year and achieving a commendable GPA. With the help of my doctor, therapist, academic advisor and on-campus mental health and accessibility services (and of course my friends and family), I whole-heartedly believe I will soar at Queen¿¿s if given the opportunity to return in September 2021.
It is my dream to continue studying human behaviors at Queen¿¿s University as a future Sociology Major. It is my intention to turn the trauma, isolation and darkness that I¿¿ve endured in the past year into a story of hope that may help others. I wish to spread awareness about sexual assault, mental health and the importance of reaching out for help. If granted the opportunity to return to Queen¿¿s this September, I will strive to reach my high academic potential and become beacon of light to other struggling students. Through this experience, I hope to highlight the importance of utilizing the amazing on-campus resources at Queen¿¿s to my peers, those of which have turned my life around for the better.
I sincerely thank you for your time and consideration.
Ivanna Markus