Petition Letter
A series of personal extenuating circumstances of both medical and emotional concerns have been a part of my academic career at Queens. I started seeking support from student wellness in my very first term and continued to pursue medical support throughout - that also proved challenging between COVID and connecting with the right medical professional. I have been told that the situations/circumstances should allow for accommodations but in the pursuit of confirming either the diagnosis, treatment, or further support, the medicine or the doctor changes and the cycle begins again. Adding to the challenge is a genetic heart condition that makes it difficult to find a medication that I can take, so just as something seems to be working, my ECG or other side effects have interfered. I have always dealt with anxiety and was managing fairly well in my first term when my grandmother passed away suddenly. While I may never have been fine, it would seem a diagnosis of BPD in September 2021 confirmed an underlying condition exists and I struggled greatly with my grief. I continued with school, I continued seeking support, I had a therapist, I sought further help, was referred to a psychiatrist (confirmed a diagnosis), and pursued the prescribed therapy but didn't realize what accommodations might have been available to support me on the academic side of this journey. I have now connected with medical services at Queens who are working with me to confirm what course of action will help me manage my anxiety and what accommodations would be most beneficial. My health and my mental state were very consuming and I was unable to focus on school, especially with a full-time course load.