Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Susan Mumm,

I am appealing to drop the following six courses after the designated drop date: PHIL 256, PHIL 201, PHIL 257, PHIL 250, PHIL 204, and RELS 226. Due to mental health challenges, I was unable to adequately perform in these courses.

When I began second year, I felt motivated and excited to be back at Queen¿¿s. I was looking forward to throwing myself into my chosen major, philosophy, and fully engaging in all that Queen¿¿s has to offer. Up until this year I had always been a diligent student who understood and valued the importance of hard work and perseverance particularly when it came to schoolwork. As the year progressed though I became increasingly anxious; not about any one thing in particular, but instead it was a general attitude. I was unable to focus on the work and failed to complete assignments. This was completely uncharacteristic behavior for me, and it only added to my anxiety. As a means of coping with the constant stress I was feeling, the anxiety progressed into a sense of hopelessness. I ceased to have any interest in continuing with the things that I had previously enjoyed doing. My low mood and general disinterest reached a high point after reading week. The first day back I did not get up and go to class, but instead stayed in bed. This was the pattern I followed until the end of the term. I stopped going to class, I stopped to my work, and I lay in bed all day. Obviously, I was falling behind in my studies. But I could not bring myself to complete schoolwork. I would try, but be unable to see the point of doing anything. Since I was unable to complete my work, this translated into sever self loathing, and I would continue to stay in bed going over this in my head. I began thinking about what it would be like if I just disappeared. Wouldn't it be easier if I killed myself When these thoughts appeared, I would try to suppress them, telling myself that everything was fine, that I was fine ¿¿ just don¿¿t think about what is happening, just don¿¿t think about how you are feeling. I began sleeping most of the day. As it turns out, schoolwork becomes very difficult to complete when you spend your time thinking about what it would be like to kill yourself.

I have always placed great emphasis on succeeding in school so I pretended that everything was fine. I did not tell my friends, my housemates or my parents. I could not even really admit to myself that something was wrong. When I stopped going to class in February and remaining in bed for most of the day, it was never a conscious decision. I did not come back from reading week and say to myself, you are not going to go to class or complete your assignments for the next six weeks. It just sort of happened. I kept telling myself that I was fine, that I was just being lazy, but that I eventually would pull it together and get back to my normal self. But I could not, and I still can not. I do not understand what happened this year, and I incredibly frustrated with myself because of this.

I first began to confront what was happening the Wednesday after reading week when I spoke to a counsellor at La Salle. I was driving back to Kingston after the Easter weekend and I told my mother a bit about what was happening, and she took me straight away to the centre. After discussing it with the counsellor, I decided not to write my exams this spring and instead go home and focus on addressing my mental health. I spoke with my family doctor and she prescribed me with antidepressants as a way to manage the situation. I have spoken to a counsellor and will soon begin regular sessions with a psychologist so that I may begin to understand and recover from the year. When I feel that am able to better manage my mental health, I plan on returning to Queen¿¿s University in order to finish my degree. Upon my return, I would ensure that was able to speak with a counsellor of some kind in either the Queen¿¿s or Kingston community. Coming back, I would begin by also taking a lighter course load so as to ease back into the academic environment.

University is so important and I am so privileged to be able to attend. I do want to throw this opportunity away. Please consider my appeal as I try to move forward.