Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Stephenson,

I am writing to respectfully petition the decision requiring my withdrawal from Queen’s University for a minimum of one year.

In 2022, I was diagnosed with ADHD – Inattentive Type following years of difficulty with focus and completing assignments throughout middle and high school. With treatment, I made significant academic progress and was able to gain admission to Queen’s. However, when I moved to Kingston, I encountered difficulties transferring my prescription and was without medication from November onward. Without that support, my capacity to keep up with academic and personal demands quickly declined.

As my executive functioning declined, so did my mental health. I experienced a deep lack of motivation, isolation, and growing anxiety and hopelessness. I stopped leaving my room and was unable to ask for help. I hid the extent of what I was going through from both my parents and friends, which only made things worse and delayed any chance of getting support. As my academic performance declined, I experienced a persistent sense of hopelessness, withdrawal, and emotional exhaustion that made it increasingly difficult to function day to day. Because I was enrolled in full-year courses, I didn’t have the opportunity to reset or start fresh in January, which added to the feeling of being stuck. I was in a car accident in February which further worsened my mental state. My parents, concerned by the signs that I was struggling, encouraged me to open up to them and then prompted me to connect with an academic advisor. Unfortunately, by that time, it was too late to salvage my year.

Since returning home, I’ve resumed treatment under my doctor’s care. To ensure uninterrupted access when I return to school, my prescription has been adjusted from monthly to quarterly refills. My parents are actively involved in my support and plan to hold regular check-ins to help ensure I stay on track with both my medication and academic responsibilities upon my return to Queen’s. In addition, I am working on establishing stronger daily routines, identifying on-campus support resources in advance, and have created a more structured academic plan to help me stay organized and engaged throughout the term.

This past year has been incredibly difficult, but I am taking meaningful steps to rebuild my health and academic readiness. I believe that with the right support and structures now in place, I can succeed, and I respectfully ask for the opportunity to continue my studies at Queen’s.

Thank you for your consideration,

Megan Pritchard