Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean of Classical Studies
I am appealing to drop GREK 112, fall/winter 2022. Extenuating circumstances have made it clear to me that continuing in a dual major of Classics and English is not feasible for me, especially while pursing concurrent education at the same time. In the fall of 2017, I experienced a significant trauma during my first year of University at Laurier that left me with chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. October of 2022 was the five-year anniversary of this trauma, and this came with significant triggers which have resulted in me struggling to manage my mental health on top of 6 courses and my Practicum. This struggle was exacerbated by the fact that my long-time psychiatrist and therapist both retired in the summer of 2022, leaving me without mental health care for the beginning of my second year. During the month of October I was struggling with my PTSD and depression to the point where my education and health took a back seat: I stopped going to class, I stopped eating, and I could barely get out of bed. I attempted to get help through the Queen's 24-hour counselling-service, however, I was told that they would have to call me back as they were too busy; no one called. In November of 2022, I contacted Barb Lotan in a last-ditch effort to get my education back on track, as she had been an excellent resource for me when I first applied to Queen's University. She encouraged me to get in touch with the Sexual Assault Centre of Kingston to pursue counselling, which I have, with great success. In just a few sessions I have picked up some useful tools for managing my panic attacks and taking care of myself during the day - my class attendance has improved dramatically now that I am not too anxious to function, and I have shown progress in the number of assignments I have submitted, and the grades received on them.
While my mental health has improved and I am attending class again, Barb Lotan and I have decided that it is in my best interest to drop down from a dual major to a single major, removing my Classics degree and keeping the English degree. I realize now that managing a dual major as well as completing a con-ed degree and trying to manage my mental health is not a realistic expectation. On top of dropping to a single major, Barb and I have also decided that it would be best for me to reduce my course load in order to give me the best chance of success in my future at Queen's. As such, we have reviewed my courses and decided that GREK 112 would be the best course to drop, due to its low relevancy to my future career and the fact that it is the one that I have been struggling the most with. My PTSD makes memorization extremely difficult, and much of this course relies on a student's ability to memorize the words and rules of a language. I have spoken with the professor of this class, and he also supports my decision to drop this course, with an open invite to take it in the future if I decide to return to my Classics degree.
My plan for achieving academic success throughout the remainder of my experience at Queen's is to ideally reduce my course load to 4-5 courses per semester, which has proven to be a manageable amount for me, and to pursue a single major with my con-ed degree instead of a dual. I also intend to maintain regular meetings with my counsellor, as well as finding a new psychiatrist. After leaving Laurier due to my original traumatic experience and I have been dealing with a lot of self-doubt and apprehension as to whether I am even capable of completing university after my trauma. However, my return to counselling and conversations with my current and past professors have convinced me that I am more than capable of success if I have the right tools. Every day, I get closer and closer to my goal of being a teacher, and I am so grateful to Queen's for being willing to accommodate my needs as I heal from my trauma and learn to embrace my true capabilities as a student. Every professor I have spoken to in November has been incredibly supportive and flexible while I try to get my education back on track, and it is this support that reassures me that I can do this.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Kelly Wilks
I am appealing to drop GREK 112, fall/winter 2022. Extenuating circumstances have made it clear to me that continuing in a dual major of Classics and English is not feasible for me, especially while pursing concurrent education at the same time. In the fall of 2017, I experienced a significant trauma during my first year of University at Laurier that left me with chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. October of 2022 was the five-year anniversary of this trauma, and this came with significant triggers which have resulted in me struggling to manage my mental health on top of 6 courses and my Practicum. This struggle was exacerbated by the fact that my long-time psychiatrist and therapist both retired in the summer of 2022, leaving me without mental health care for the beginning of my second year. During the month of October I was struggling with my PTSD and depression to the point where my education and health took a back seat: I stopped going to class, I stopped eating, and I could barely get out of bed. I attempted to get help through the Queen's 24-hour counselling-service, however, I was told that they would have to call me back as they were too busy; no one called. In November of 2022, I contacted Barb Lotan in a last-ditch effort to get my education back on track, as she had been an excellent resource for me when I first applied to Queen's University. She encouraged me to get in touch with the Sexual Assault Centre of Kingston to pursue counselling, which I have, with great success. In just a few sessions I have picked up some useful tools for managing my panic attacks and taking care of myself during the day - my class attendance has improved dramatically now that I am not too anxious to function, and I have shown progress in the number of assignments I have submitted, and the grades received on them.
While my mental health has improved and I am attending class again, Barb Lotan and I have decided that it is in my best interest to drop down from a dual major to a single major, removing my Classics degree and keeping the English degree. I realize now that managing a dual major as well as completing a con-ed degree and trying to manage my mental health is not a realistic expectation. On top of dropping to a single major, Barb and I have also decided that it would be best for me to reduce my course load in order to give me the best chance of success in my future at Queen's. As such, we have reviewed my courses and decided that GREK 112 would be the best course to drop, due to its low relevancy to my future career and the fact that it is the one that I have been struggling the most with. My PTSD makes memorization extremely difficult, and much of this course relies on a student's ability to memorize the words and rules of a language. I have spoken with the professor of this class, and he also supports my decision to drop this course, with an open invite to take it in the future if I decide to return to my Classics degree.
My plan for achieving academic success throughout the remainder of my experience at Queen's is to ideally reduce my course load to 4-5 courses per semester, which has proven to be a manageable amount for me, and to pursue a single major with my con-ed degree instead of a dual. I also intend to maintain regular meetings with my counsellor, as well as finding a new psychiatrist. After leaving Laurier due to my original traumatic experience and I have been dealing with a lot of self-doubt and apprehension as to whether I am even capable of completing university after my trauma. However, my return to counselling and conversations with my current and past professors have convinced me that I am more than capable of success if I have the right tools. Every day, I get closer and closer to my goal of being a teacher, and I am so grateful to Queen's for being willing to accommodate my needs as I heal from my trauma and learn to embrace my true capabilities as a student. Every professor I have spoken to in November has been incredibly supportive and flexible while I try to get my education back on track, and it is this support that reassures me that I can do this.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Kelly Wilks