Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,

My name is Simran, and I am a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in the Life Sciences program. I am writing to request a late course drop for CHEM 281, which I was enrolled in during the Fall 2023 term. This petition is addressed to the Associate Dean (Academic), and I hope you will consider my request based on the significant extenuating circumstances I have faced.

In the beginning of Fall 2023, I was determined to manage a heavy course load. I was enrolled in my six courses, including CHEM 281. I worked hard in the early weeks of the semester to keep up with the course load, however as the term progressed, I began to experience mounting stress due to a combination of personal challenges. By December, these challenges reached their utmost peak, leaving me overwhelmed and helpless.

The challenges I faced came from significant personal circumstances that were beyond my control. I am an only child, and my parents are immigrants who came to Canada in 2013. I come from a lower middle class background, and my parents have always worked minimum wage jobs. Coming to Queen’s University for my post-secondary education was a dream come true, but it was also daunting due to the financial challenges involved. My education is primarily funded through OSAP loans, as I receive little financial support from my parents. In early December, my parents informed me that they were leaving for India for an unspecified period of time. I was caught completely off guard, as they had not prepared me for their departure. My father took an indefinite leave from his job as a security guard, and my mother resigned from her position as a receptionist to move to India. I had to adjust to the reality of being on my own with no clear timeline for their return. Managing tuition, living expenses, and piling student loan debt without the safety net of parental support was overwhelming. During Fall 2023, I was under significant financial stress, as shown in the attached loan statement, with an outstanding balance of $18,885. This added to my anxiety and made it difficult to focus on my academics during the period leading up to finals. Despite actively searching for a job, I was unable to find one.

I was already struggling mentally prior to these seemingly life-changing events, and my relationship with my family has never been good. During the exam period, my mental health deteriorated further, and I fell physically ill due to poor self-care, including an extremely poor diet and absolute lack of exercise. Recognizing my condition, I applied for and was granted academic consideration to defer my CHEM 281 exam to January. However, returning to my hometown of Hamilton for the winter break and spending it alone only worsened my struggles. I was neither mentally nor physically unable to focus on studying or preparing for the deferred exam. The timing of these events was difficult, as they occurred just before the winter break and during the peak of my final exam preparation for CHEM 281. I was overwhelmed with anxiety and hopelessness, which impacted my ability to focus on studying.
While I did my best to keep up with my other courses, the intensity of CHEM 281's material and the weight of the final exam made it especially challenging to recover. Despite these challenges, I was still extremely committed to my studies and worked tirelessly to succeed in my other courses during that fall term. I excelled in several of my classes, earning an A+ in LLCU 213, an A in NSCI 323, and A- grades in both EPID 301 and REPD 372. While these grades reflect my dedication and ability to manage the demands of these courses, my performance in BCHM 218 was affected by the same challenges, resulting in a C+. However, the course that was most impacted was CHEM 281. These results reflect my ability to perform well academically under my normal circumstances. However, the unexpected timing and nature of the challenges I faced directly impacted my performance in CHEM 281, preventing me from achieving a passing grade.

I tried to receive another consideration for this course, which was technically approved. However, my professor had not included my name on the deferral list for the summer, as I needed to submit a petition. This left me heartbroken, and I felt utterly defeated by this course. For the longest time, I blocked out the memories of these events in December and January and avoided thinking about CHEM 281 altogether. My biggest regret, however, was not asking for help when I truly needed it. This year, I wanted to take a different approach. I reached out Wellness Services and spoke to Mrs. Wendy Morrison, a mental health therapist. She encouraged me to take the power back into my hands and petition to have this grade dropped. She has even written me a letter of support, and I now wholeheartedly agree with her advice. When I reflect on my third year, I don’t want to be a product of my circumstances. Having this failing grade removed from my transcript would not only signify resilience but also allow me to look back on this time without feeling defeated by events that were beyond my control. I truly hope you will consider my petition and the extraordinary challenges I faced during the Fall 2023 term.

Sincerely,
Simran Powar
Student Number: 20289780