Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,
This letter will depict the circumstances that have lead to my current academic positioning, in an attempt to salvage and continue my studies at Queen’s. My experience within university has been trying and intensive, as is with most students. I received a diagnosis of ADHD in fall of 2021, while still in high school. This late diagnosis meant I was not fully aware of the resources available as well as the reasons why I struggled with certain tasks or concepts. My relationship to this diagnosis has not always been a positive one, as it has taken many months and communication with counsellors to understand the intricacies of my brain and how it works. I excelled in grade school and could not understand why I was having a hard time as I got older. Recently (August, 2024) I have begun more intensive intervention for ADHD including specialized counseling and medication. While this has made some improvements, it is still a work in progress and I struggle every day with understanding why I struggle with things most students do not.
During the fall semester of 2023, a close family friend passed suddenly, leaving myself and my family mourning for our friend. Comparing my school issues to those of a lost loved one felt incredibly unfair at the time, so I refrained from telling my parents that I was struggling in school. This pattern continued into the winter semester, as I only wanted to share good news with my parents, to keep spirits high and attention off of me. I grew up in a small, conservative town, where being queer is not only unheard of but widely frowned upon. I have been struggling with coming to terms with how to express my sexuality since I was 16, and U felt that if my family knew I was struggling, they would find out about the more intricate details of my life as well. This summer I finally told my parents about my academic issues and my identity, and although it went well and I am safe and loved, it has permanently changed my relationship with them and myself. I went to my family physician to receive a recommendation for ADHD medication and that seemed to improve some aspects of my academic career, but I believe my personal barriers due to the circumstances over the past year have lead me to become distant and hesitant to reach out for help, even though I know I need it. I love to learn and would love to be able to continue here at Queen’s, and am already taking steps towards more intensive psychological therapies to address these challenges for the future. I sincerely appreciate your consideration. If documentation is required I can reach out to my primary care provider, however he was only made aware of these issues in August of this year.