Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Academic Dean Dr. Jean Stephenson,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to submit a petition for the late drop of the courses BCHM 315 (Protein & Enzymes) and BIOL 334 (Comparative Biochemistry) for the Fall 2023 and Winter 2023 semesters, respectively. I would like to provide a detailed explanation of the difficulties I faced throughout the academic year in order to provide a better understanding of my situation.

To begin, I would like to mention that I entered this academic year with a strong determination to succeed in my courses. However, unfortunate events and poor mental health severely hindered my ability to perform at my best. On September 19th, 2022, the violent murder of an Iranian citizen, Mahsa Amini, sparked widespread protests in Iran, affecting my mental well-being significantly, as my entire family resides in Iran. The continuous worry and concern for their safety consume my thoughts, making it extremely challenging to focus on my responsibilities. Every moment, my mind is preoccupied with thoughts of their well-being and the uncertainty of the situation they are facing. This overwhelming emotional burden has had a profound impact on my ability to concentrate and perform effectively in my coursework.

Additionally, the transition to living independently, which is a choice made by a majority of Queen's University students, inclduing my self. The combination of increasing inflation and insufficient financial support from both OSAP and my parents, made it even more difficult to manage the financial aspects of living independently. The financial strain I have experienced throughout the year has added an immense amount of stress and anxiety to my already challenging circumstances, making it even more difficult to concentrate on my studies.

Moreover, I faced one of the most significant obstacles of my life during this academic year. My pet was involved in a case where I was attacked by a group of individuals and protected by my pet, leading to my family being sued and the potential risk of my pet being taken away from me. This incident had a profound impact on my mental well-being, causing emotional burden and also abstained me physically as I had to travel frequently between Kingston and Richmond Hill to address this incident.
I have always struggled with focusing and staying on track with my academics, however, this year, I noticed a significant increase in this problem, making my academics more challenging as it was playing a major role in my success on top of all the obstacles I had to go through.

I was not able to succeed in BCHM 315 & BIOL 334 rather than my other courses as the issues listed above were stopping me from succeeding in the course. I was also more knowledgeable in other courses which gave me a strong base to do better in the courses.

I did not drop the following courses within 8 weeks due to my assuming that I could have improved my grades as I was trying new coping methods which unfortunately did not work for me.

I would like to emphasize that I have started and actively seeking medical help for my mental health concerns and I am currently awaiting a new appointment with a psychologist. Additionally, I have taken proactive steps to improve my focus and organizational skills by incorporating strategies such as using a planner to schedule my day effectively. Furthermore, I have started practicing meditation and engaging in regular exercise to alleviate the levels of stress in my life.

For the upcoming academic year, I have made plans to retake BIOL 334, as I believe that with the assistance of medical professionals and a planning strategy, I will be able to reach my full potential. However, I do not intend to retake BCHM 315 as I am changing my program, and it is no longer a mandatory course for my new program.
I have also attached my supporting documents with the petition. Feel free to reach out to me through the following contact info:

20fk1@queenu.ca
647-574-6707

I hope you take this letter into great consideration and grant me a full withdrawal from the courses mentioned.

Thank you for your time