Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 10685
Submitted: June 13, 2023 at 9:42:47 PM
First Name: Shada
Last Name: Barkho
Pronoun: she/her
Preferred Name: Shada
Student Number: 20288180
Email: 20sbb4@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: medial PSYC, PHIL
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Shada Barkho
340 Bay Mills Blvd,
Toronto, ON, M1T 2G7
20sbb4@queensu.ca
416-458-8881
June 1, 2023
Dear Associate Dean (Academic),
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to formally petition the Faculty of Arts and Science’s decision that I must withdraw from my studies at Queen’s University for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Throughout this academic year I have unfortunately experienced a number of extenuating circumstances which have inevitably led to my poor academic performance. Firstly, upon moving into my first house without my family, I found myself in an unsafe, and sometimes violent living environment. This severely affected my ability to focus on my studies as well as my overall wellbeing due to the fact that I was not able to feel fully calm in a place that was supposed to be my home. These issues began September 30th and persisted until the end of my lease in April, disrupting both my fall and winter semester.
Additionally, during the fall semester I was faced with the immense pressures of attending court as the primary witness to a crime, specifically sexual assault to a family member. The emotional toll of this experience was over whelming, leading to heightened anxiety and depression which I already struggle with. This caused a decline in my mental health due to the fact that I was forced to constantly remember the details of this crime not only near the court date but for consecutive weeks leading up to it and after to assist the detective in any way needed. Despite my efforts to balance these circumstances with my studies, I found it increasingly difficult to meet attendance requirements and therefore perform academically.
As well as this, I have been struggling with my mental health since entering Queen’s in the fall of 2021 and as of February 2023 have finally received the help I needed. Though I have reached out to mental health services at Queen’s many times and had conversations with a doctor at Student Wellness Services, I was told that since I wasn’t interested in taking medication that the doctor could not do anything for me and therefore could not give me a proper diagnosis nor any academic accommodation. Despite being told that “I wasn’t doing anything to help myself” by a psychiatrist at Queen’s I tried my best to seek help. Now, I am connected with a psychologist and have had bi-weekly therapy appointments to improve my mental health as well as receiving my mental health diagnosis. Unfortunately, this treatment came too late and I was not able to be successful this year.
All of these factors contributed to my inability to concentrate, complete assignments and attend classes regularly despite my best efforts. However I am determined to overcome these challenged and continue pursuing my education at Queen’s University. Since ending off this last term I have been able to move things in a more positive direction and take steps to improve myself overall through the summer and next term if given the chance. I have been able to move away from the house in which I stayed this year and have made alternate living arrangements for the upcoming year and beyond. As well as this I have continued to receive therapy to ensure that I am properly maintaining my mental health. I have found that this along with engaging in regular self-care practises as opposed to medication have been a better option for me. I know cannot change what has happened in the past, (though I often wish I could) I believe that the steps I have taken and will continue to take will lead to a significantly more successful year in 2023-2024 ad beyond; I only hope that I will get the chance to showcase this.
I kindly request reconsideration of the decision to withdraw my studies. I firmly believe that given the circumstances outlined above, I have reason to appeal is decision. With this petition I have provided documentation to support my case and will gladly provide any additional information or documentation required of me. Thank you for taking the time to review my petition, I love Queen’s University, and cant imagine myself anywhere else, not even for a year. I sincerely hope that we can come to a different decision on my enrollment.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Shada Barkho
340 Bay Mills Blvd,
Toronto, ON, M1T 2G7
20sbb4@queensu.ca
416-458-8881
June 1, 2023
Dear Associate Dean (Academic),
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to formally petition the Faculty of Arts and Science’s decision that I must withdraw from my studies at Queen’s University for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Throughout this academic year I have unfortunately experienced a number of extenuating circumstances which have inevitably led to my poor academic performance. Firstly, upon moving into my first house without my family, I found myself in an unsafe, and sometimes violent living environment. This severely affected my ability to focus on my studies as well as my overall wellbeing due to the fact that I was not able to feel fully calm in a place that was supposed to be my home. These issues began September 30th and persisted until the end of my lease in April, disrupting both my fall and winter semester.
Additionally, during the fall semester I was faced with the immense pressures of attending court as the primary witness to a crime, specifically sexual assault to a family member. The emotional toll of this experience was over whelming, leading to heightened anxiety and depression which I already struggle with. This caused a decline in my mental health due to the fact that I was forced to constantly remember the details of this crime not only near the court date but for consecutive weeks leading up to it and after to assist the detective in any way needed. Despite my efforts to balance these circumstances with my studies, I found it increasingly difficult to meet attendance requirements and therefore perform academically.
As well as this, I have been struggling with my mental health since entering Queen’s in the fall of 2021 and as of February 2023 have finally received the help I needed. Though I have reached out to mental health services at Queen’s many times and had conversations with a doctor at Student Wellness Services, I was told that since I wasn’t interested in taking medication that the doctor could not do anything for me and therefore could not give me a proper diagnosis nor any academic accommodation. Despite being told that “I wasn’t doing anything to help myself” by a psychiatrist at Queen’s I tried my best to seek help. Now, I am connected with a psychologist and have had bi-weekly therapy appointments to improve my mental health as well as receiving my mental health diagnosis. Unfortunately, this treatment came too late and I was not able to be successful this year.
All of these factors contributed to my inability to concentrate, complete assignments and attend classes regularly despite my best efforts. However I am determined to overcome these challenged and continue pursuing my education at Queen’s University. Since ending off this last term I have been able to move things in a more positive direction and take steps to improve myself overall through the summer and next term if given the chance. I have been able to move away from the house in which I stayed this year and have made alternate living arrangements for the upcoming year and beyond. As well as this I have continued to receive therapy to ensure that I am properly maintaining my mental health. I have found that this along with engaging in regular self-care practises as opposed to medication have been a better option for me. I know cannot change what has happened in the past, (though I often wish I could) I believe that the steps I have taken and will continue to take will lead to a significantly more successful year in 2023-2024 ad beyond; I only hope that I will get the chance to showcase this.
I kindly request reconsideration of the decision to withdraw my studies. I firmly believe that given the circumstances outlined above, I have reason to appeal is decision. With this petition I have provided documentation to support my case and will gladly provide any additional information or documentation required of me. Thank you for taking the time to review my petition, I love Queen’s University, and cant imagine myself anywhere else, not even for a year. I sincerely hope that we can come to a different decision on my enrollment.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Shada Barkho
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: The focus of my studies thus far at Queen’s University has been psychology and philosophy. I had originally intended on studying psychology upon entering Queen’s, however since I’ve been here I have found the topics in philosophy quite compelling, and decided this year I that would achieve a dual major in philosophy and psychology. I think a dual major would provide me with a good balance to my degree, encompassing both the study of the processes in brain as well as the examination of the mind. I am currently not enrolled in a program plan because I received the letter to withdraw from my studies. As well as this I am in the process of appealing classes which signify the weight of the extenuating circumstances I experienced this year. If my petition to drop these classes get approved, then I will have the requirements to major in philosophy and will have made it off of academic probation. I also plan to shadow the dual honours in philosophy and psychology plan until the end of the 2023- 2024 year where my grades will have improved due to my plan to improve my academic performance. In the case that my petition to drop is not successful, I plan to enroll in a BA psychology until my grades improve, and I can re-enroll in a BAH program. I am aware of the requirements for the options I have mentioned and have been in extensive conversation with the faculty of Arts and Science academic advisors to make sure these options are the right options for me.
I plan to remain in a full course load ranging from 4-5 classes per term. Along with this I also plan to have a part time job throughout the school year. I am confident that this will not affect my studies seeing as how I will only work on weekends so as to not interfere with class time or allotted studying periods throughout the week. I have planned to take courses that I find quite compelling so the content is not something I am at all worried about. For example, I have been looking at taking Critical Thinking in philosophy for a while now and would love the opportunity to take it this winter in hopes that I am able to return to my studies this year.
The strategies I have employed to be successful this year despite the extenuating circumstances outlined in my petition encompass a few methods. Firstly, to combat the chaotic environment my living situation provided me with this year, I have made other living arrangements to ensure that I will have peace of mind while continuing my studies at the university. Pairing this with regular therapy sessions make certain that I have the right recourses to address my mental wellbeing and tackle feelings that need assessing/analyzing. This will help create a better balance between my work and personal life, not allowing one to seep into the other, which I think was a serious issue for me this year. Awareness and acceptance of my mental state has proven to be the most helpful tool to combat my mental health struggles.
I plan to remain in a full course load ranging from 4-5 classes per term. Along with this I also plan to have a part time job throughout the school year. I am confident that this will not affect my studies seeing as how I will only work on weekends so as to not interfere with class time or allotted studying periods throughout the week. I have planned to take courses that I find quite compelling so the content is not something I am at all worried about. For example, I have been looking at taking Critical Thinking in philosophy for a while now and would love the opportunity to take it this winter in hopes that I am able to return to my studies this year.
The strategies I have employed to be successful this year despite the extenuating circumstances outlined in my petition encompass a few methods. Firstly, to combat the chaotic environment my living situation provided me with this year, I have made other living arrangements to ensure that I will have peace of mind while continuing my studies at the university. Pairing this with regular therapy sessions make certain that I have the right recourses to address my mental wellbeing and tackle feelings that need assessing/analyzing. This will help create a better balance between my work and personal life, not allowing one to seep into the other, which I think was a serious issue for me this year. Awareness and acceptance of my mental state has proven to be the most helpful tool to combat my mental health struggles.
Documentation
Professional Letter: QSAS accom.pdf
Document: withdrawl petition .docx
Documentation Detail: petition letter
Document: subpoena .pdf