Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,

This letter is an appeal to expunge specific letter grades on my transcript from the last few years due to extenuating circumstances. At the end of this document, I will provide you with a concise list of which courses I am looking to have expunged.

As you can probably tell by looking at my transcript, my time at Queen's hasn't exactly gone according to plan. I struggled immensely in my first year, resulting in a diagnosis of ADHD. Reflecting on this moment in time, I believe it would have been beneficial for me to take some time away from school and learn what ADHD is and how I can overcome this newfound challenge and turn it into something positive. Being naïve to the whirlwind around me during this time and with the help of my parents, I return to school for my second year without a plan going forward or an understanding of ADHD. As well as being too ignorant to truly accept the help that Queen's and my parents provided for me.

Fast forward to the end of what would have been a traditional student's 4th year, I had very little to show for myself academically. I had a very honest and difficult conversation with my parents when I arrived home and knew that I had to break the cycle that had resulted in poor academic results. So, I decided that I would take a year off to work. During this time, I met with my family physician to talk about ADHD and the proper medication that works for me. (I was very against it during the initial diagnosis)

In the summer of 2023, I decided to return to school and continue my studies, finishing them entirely online as I had passed enough courses in person. I felt that I was more mature and had a better understanding of what would be required to succeed.

(I have attached the complete petition letter in the OTHER DOCUMENTS area as the system wouldn't let me use the entire petition. Even though it's less than 800 words.)