Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

My name is Alexia McKinnon and I am petitioning for the late course drop of HIST 109 (Winter, 2023), GNDS 125 (Winter, 2023), SOCY 275 (Fall, 2023), SOCY 226 (Fall, 2023), and SOCY 210 (Fall, 2023). I am also petitioning for credit standing in PSYCH 100 A/B (Winter, 2023) and SOCY 122 A/B (Winter, 2023).
Over the past year I have been severely struggling with both my mental and physical health. On December 8 of 2022 I had sudden onset of severe abdominal pain that sent me to the emergency room where they thought I had appendicitis. I was admitted overnight and got a CT scan but they could not see anything, I was sent home in so much pain I was unable to walk. My mom drove from my hometown to pick me up and bring me home. Due to the timing of the pain starting I had to defer my exams. Over the next semester I got rigorous testing to try and diagnose the pain I continue to feel every day, including multiple internal and external ultrasounds, several collections of bloodwork, swabs, and a colonoscopy. With the amount of pain, I was in (and continue to experience), a full course load plus catching up on the previous semesters final assignments and exams I was too overwhelmed. At this point my mental health was severely declining I was barely leaving my dorm room, wasn’t eating, and was struggling with suicidal thoughts and self harm. I didn’t know how to ask for help, I couldn’t keep up with school and I felt like a waste of money to my parents, I dropped one course and lost my parents some money, the guilt of that caused me to be unable to ask for help. Near the end of the Winter 2023 semester, I broke down in student services and was helped by QSAS, they helped me finish out PSYCH 100 and SOCY 122 because I had put so much work into them in the previous semester. My physical and mental well-being were not good, but I finished the two courses and decided to petition a late drop over the summer for the other 2 courses. During the summer I found a new therapist, received an increased dose of my antidepressants, and struggled through working on my petition. Just writing this letter originally last summer (and updating it now) has been extremely difficult for me. It continues to bring a rush of emotions, making me feel like I failed, and it sends me into a dark spiral of depression. I’m trying to remind myself that I did not fail and that I have a severe mental illness but that’s not always easy. It took several attempts for me to try and tell you my story.
At the end of the summer, I decided to take a decreased courseload at school so starting in September I was only taking 3 courses. I still had not found any answers surrounding my physical health. I thought the reduced courseload would be the solution but unfortunately, I had received the wrong diagnosis for my mental health and was not on the right medication. Over the semester I turned back to self harm and really struggled with impulsive actions and suicidal thoughts. My Fall 2023 semester ended with me in the psych ward on a 72 hour hold. When I got out of the hospital the first thing my mom wanted to do before going back home was find out what to do with school. She helped me talk to an academic advisor (Allison Gowanlock) where we found out I had not properly submitted my petition at the end of August, another insight to where my headspace was. I thought the original petition was under review and just took that long. Apparently, it was never received. Allison helped to map out a plan for me and give me some options including trying some online courses. She has been very helpful.
When I was released from the hospital in Dec 2023 I was referred for psychological assessments and received a diagnosis of Bipolar type 2, Borderline Personality Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder. Since then, I have been put on new medication, am living with my parents as per my safety plan and taking a semester off to focus on my mental and physical health with no added stress. I attend weekly individual therapy and a weekly group therapy program. I am continuing to investigate my chronic pain issue with specialists and am learning how to cope and live with chronic pain. But I need to take things one day at a time, sometimes I need to just focus hour by hour for my mental health. I struggle with irrational thoughts and was so worried about the possibility of losing my place at Queens, the night before online registration in January, I once again wound up in the emergency room. Against my better judgement I still enrolled in 3 online courses for Jan 2024 and tried to finish my fall 2023 courses with the help of accommodations but it was just too overwhelming. I have withdrawn from the 3 online courses prior to the drop date and I’ve added the 3 fall 2023 courses to this petition. Since the onset of all of this in Dec 2022 I’ve not taken a proper break away from school to get back on my feet, I kept trying to push myself to keep going and I know now that that was not the right course of action.
My future plan is to finish a 6 month intensive therapy program before considering going back to school. With my diagnosis, medication and therapy are a permanent way of life for me, which I am happy to have found. When I am strong enough to come back, I plan to take it slow by continuing a reduced courseload and living with friends who are aware and supportive of my condition. My therapist will continue to be available to me on a virtual basis while at school and I have coordinated with QSAS and setup permanent accommodations for the future. I really think I got knocked off my feet on December 8th and have not gotten the chance to get back up yet. My future plan is to have a fresh start and come back with a headspace where I love learning. I just hope you give me the chance to have that fresh start I’m looking for. Before all this started, I was thriving and loving life at Queens, I really hope to have that door stay open for me because I know things will get better.

Warm Regards,
Alexia McKinnon