Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello there,

I am submitting this petition to request a late drop for the courses I failed during my third year at Queen's University because my academic performance and ability to attend classes during this time was severely impacted by serious mental health issues. I have been facing mental health challenges since high-school but they peaked to an all-time between 2023 and 2024.

In my second year, I faced an incredibly busy and stressful fall semester, all the while juggling multiple club duties and interpersonal issues. I could tell that burnout was imminent, and as I had no stable support system at the time (my entire family was out the country and I was not undergoing any treatment at the time), I decided to take the winter semester of 2023 off. That way, I could have a few months to seek some professional help and improve my health while not sabotaging my (at the time) good GPA.

Unfortunately, that time off was not successful and I continued to spiral more, until finally, in third year, I hit my breaking point. Though I was doing worse than before, I knew I could not afford to take more time off from school. So I resumed taking classes full-time.

During my third year, my depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation was at an all time high and I ended up in numerous hospitals and clinics. I was frequently utilizing Queens' student wellness services and meeting with counsellors as well. To combat these issues, I began a new type of anti-depressants, but unfortunately, this, as well as future medication I would later begin, only exacerbated my condition, causing manic episodes and numerous physical side-effects. My medication backfiring combined with deteriorating mental health led me to skip my exams entirely, in both the fall and winter term of my third year. It was not until the end of my third year that I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), which provided much-needed clarity on why previous treatments were ineffective.

Though I struggled during this dark period of my life, I have worked hard to overcome these challenges and pull myself back together. I began university with strong grades in my first year and was highly involved in extracurricular activities, such as being the Co-Chair of QWeb, a computer-science club with over 70+ members, and had other executive roles in clubs like QHacks, Limestone Capital, and QTMA. Fast forward to this semester, I took 6 courses and successfully passed CISC 235 and CISC 221, which I had failed twice the previous school-year. Though my mental health is not necessarily good, and I am still trying different types of medication and treatment, it is better than before and I am happy to say I am now on an upward trend. I am motivated to build on this progress and graduate next fall. However, the failed courses from my third year remain a significant obstacle as they stain my transcript and are hindering any chance at securing a Computer Science internship or post-graduate opportunities. Though I already secured an internship in my first year, finding an internship now, in my fourth, has been increasingly difficult as it is difficult to succinctly explain the circumstances I faced in my third year during a job interview without compromising myself or their perception of me. I am generally a closed-off person and do not like to disclose issues I face or seek sympathy.

For these reasons, I respectfully ask for consideration of my circumstances. A late drop for these courses would greatly support my efforts to rebuild my academic standing and professional prospects. I am committed to maintaining my current trajectory of success and look forward to making the most of my remaining time at university. I have various supporting documentation I can provide, that time-stamp and confirm these issues I faced. I am currently in the process of securing a confirmation to everything I've disclosed from my family doctor. Thank you for your time.