Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: June 13, 2024
Faculty of Arts and Science
Associate Dean
RE: letter to withdraw

Dear Associate Dean Dr Jenn Stephenson,
My name is Jake Gibson and I was enrolled in first year, beginning in the fall of 2023. I am writing to request an appeal the letter to withdraw from Queen’s University that I received this year.

I started the year really happy and excited to be at Queen’s, in the Faculty of Arts and Science. I was proud to say that I was attending Queen’s, knowing the reputation that the school holds in Canada. I was attending classes and tutorials and enjoyed the campus life. I didn’t have an advisor and didn’t think that I needed one at that time. I was confident I could manage the courses and the workload on my own, without checking in with anyone or reaching out to any support services. At the beginning of the year, I’d say it was, ‘so far, so good.’

The assignments started coming all at the same time. I initially kept up but was getting pretty stressed out. I wasn’t sleeping that well and stopped working out. I didn’t think I could afford the time to go to the gym anymore. To relax on the weekends, I smoked pot with my friends, and it felt good to calm down, and it didn’t matter to me that it was an artificial means of relaxation. I was getting some much-needed rest.

The assignments kept coming. As mid-terms approached, it didn’t seem like there was any sort of reprieve from the regular workload. I couldn’t keep up. Now, I wasn’t submitting all the assignments, as I just couldn’t manage everything. I was smoking more and more, as not only was I not sleeping, but the pressure of all the outstanding work also piling up around me, and it was weighing on me. The sense of failure and shame were present at every waking moment. Despite the poor grades, I couldn’t manage to reach out for help, talk to my TA’s or my profs, or even let my parents know the crisis that was weighing me down.

I was under water. The only peace I could find, was by continuing to smoke. The pressure went away for a short time.

I forgot to check my emails. I didn’t realize the consequences that had arrived in May.

This pattern of being overwhelmed continued through my second term. I turned some assignments in, but not everything. I fell further behind. I knew I was in trouble but couldn’t manage to address it. I was incapable of doing basic things.

My mental health had deteriorated to the lowest low I had ever experienced, and my self-esteem was gone.

I thought I might be placed on academic probation, but I didn’t think I’d be asked to withdraw.

I am gutted.

My parents had warned me early in my high school years of the addiction and alcoholism that ran through my family. It was a constant voice about drinking, and I did try to watch my drinking. But we didn’t really speak of the dangers of smoking pot.

As I write this letter, only six days have passed since my parents have become aware of my year and my smoking. To say it was a difficult weekend, is an understatement.

After speaking at lengths with my parents over the weekend, and on the long ride up to Kingston, we tried to figure out why I was spinning out of control. My mental health was suffering from isolation from my friends when I chose just to smoke by myself. I had cut myself off from others and wasn’t interested in meeting new people. Then, I was struggling to keep up with school, it was one more thing weighing on me. I was alone due to my own behaviour. It was a hard time for me.

I writing to appeal your action to have me withdraw from Queen’s. I am working full time right now and have finished the first of three large contracting jobs. I was working on the setup of the Canadian Open for Golf, and it involved 12-hour days. as the Canadian Open was in Hamilton and I live in Toronto. The physical labour was tough, and the days were long. There was no time to smoke, and I already feel I’m not thinking about it anymore. There’s no time for it. I want to emphasize that I worked 12-hour days for six weeks.

I had mentioned to Haley that I cannot blame my smoking on my roommates. While they occasionally smoked, their smoking was never a problem for them, and they never pushed anything on me. In fact, watching their success with school is good for me.

I can do hard things as seen with my job, and I am confident that I can turn things around in my academic life as well.

I can comfortably say, I have not smoked anything since I’ve been home and have started going out with my friends on the weekend.

I have started an academic plan and have a meeting with an academic advisor as I write this letter. I am meeting with Haley on June 12 at Dunning Hall at 1pm to discuss my options about how to move forward with success and my academic plan.

What I can tell you, is I want to graduate from Queen’s University. I am prepared to do several things to succeed. My academic plan will involve a multi-pronged approach involving:
• Working with an academic advisor and schedule regular meetings at the start of the year and check in with throughout the year. I understand it is appointment based and that I can also come by when I need support
• A peer mentor who can help me manage my stress and workload. I have seen workshops on the PASS site and have noted the different services that I’ll benefit from by attending. I have seen workshops on managing stress, planning and studying effectively, and writing great papers
• I do not plan to take a full course load
• I also plan to play LUG hockey. I played this year and really enjoyed it
• I am also committed to staying in contact with my parents and will review emails and my grades with them
• Most importantly, I know smoking is bad for me on every level and I have cut it out

I sincerely want to continue at Queen’s and feel the action steps I have outlined above will help get me to the finish line. I have the support of my parents and know I’m not alone as I continue my academic life. I really believe that taking time off would be detrimental to me as I would be further removed.

I am appealing to you to please re-consider my standing.

Kindest regards,
Jake Gibson