Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Academic Associate Dean,

My name is Beatriz Brodt, a third year Arts & Science student. I am appealing the faculty’s decision that I must withdraw from Queen’s University for a minimum of one year and appealing to drop my failed courses from Fall 2022 and Winter 2023.

This past year has been very difficult for me. I started the school year with a lot of anxiety regarding my low GPA. In the last school year, I was asked to withdraw from Queen’s due my low grades and had to go through the process of appeal. To avoid from this happening again the following year, I decided to quit my job and only focus on school. However, my plan was unsuccessful as the financial stress only made it more difficult to focus on my studies. I reached out to my parents in hopes that they would support me financially during this difficult time, but they were unwilling to do so and have not supported me since leaving high school. I am denied scholarships and grants due to their high yearly income. Also, at the end of August, I had moved into a new house which was an anxiety inducing process. I was adjusting to my medication for mental health and was still working through a lot of family trauma. I was raised in a very strict and toxic environment where my worthiness reflects solely my academic success. I conquered my fear of asking for help, although it was unsuccessful as the individuals I reached out to were not able to provide the help that I was seeking. By the end of the Fall 2022 semester, I had to find and start a new job, so I could afford to pay my bills for the upcoming term. I went to my dad and asked if he could help me pay for tuition - I was only a couple weeks away from having to pay for it and at that point I did not even have enough money to pay my rent; it only resulted in me getting scolded for being unable to budget, not working more, and that it is my fault for not having any money, and that I am supposed to learn the consequences of being irresponsible alone. As a last resort, I set up a meeting with a finical advisor at my bank and asked for a student line of credit so I could continue to afford living. I had to spend the holidays alone, as I could not afford to go to my family, and for dealing with the pain of getting turned down and blamed by my own father. The winter semester did not start very well, my depression was getting worse and worse by the day. I found myself not able to pay attention to my lectures, not able to study, and barely able to get my assignments done. I finished the year with very poor marks, which caused me to feel very guilty, and believe that was not any hope left. I had intense and continuous thoughts of ending my life and was instructed to start a second medication to try to deal with my depression. Only then, was I directed to Student Academic Success Services and was given accommodations to help me to get through school in the upcoming term. I am very hopeful that the new medication and my accommodations will truly help me. I do think that having my four failed courses dropped will ease the anxiety of my GPA being so low and will give me a little bit more room to not stress about my current GPA and focus on my classes. Being on the cusp of receiving a letter to withdraw causes great stress. Dealing with my depression and anxiety has not been easy, but with the help of my therapist, student wellness, and counsellor from Queen’s Student Academic Success Services I genuinely believe I can turn this situation around and reach my greatest potential. My housemates also have given me a lot of support and reassurance. My boyfriend is also very supportive and have shown me the beauty of life, giving me the strength to not give up. Now I have what I had lacked my whole life: a good support system that will encourage me to succeed.

To ensure I can achieve academic success, I have planned out the changes I need to make both academic and personally. I will continue with my therapy on a weekly basis, continue to take my antidepressants, and attend to my appointments at student wellness regarding my medication efficacy. This upcoming term (Fall 2023), I will be taking three classes, decrease the number of hours at my part-time job (no more than 15 hours a week), use my accommodations, and keep contact with my accessibility advisor to ensure my accommodations are well adjusted to my learning. I will make sure to ask for help and clarification with my colleagues and/or professors. Using the help of academic advisors and my accessibility advisor, I will create a schedule that facilitates a good balance between my studies, work, and wellbeing (going on walks, exercising at the ARC, seeing my friends). I will schedule an appointment with Queen’s Student Academic Success Services, so I can find ways to improve as a student, and study more effectively. I am planning on taking a fifth year, and possibly more, to make sure I will not get overwhelmed with my courses and can properly focus on them. I will make sure to not give up and seek support when I am having difficulties. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I truly appreciate it. I hope that it can provide you with a sense of understanding as to why I have struggled academically and why I continue not to give up despite these struggles.


Sincerely,
Beatriz Brodt