Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 13318
Submitted: June 10, 2025 at 11:56:23 PM
First Name: Hayley
Last Name: Perry
Pronoun: She/Her
Preferred Name: Hayley
Student Number: 20475876
Email: 23psq5@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BSc
Plan: Psych
Level of Study: 1
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing to respectfully petition the faculty’s decision requiring my withdrawal from Queen’s University for a minimum of one year. I understand the seriousness of my academic performance that led to this decision, but I am asking for reconsideration due to personal and medical extenuating circumstances that were beyond my control. I have taken steps to identify and rectify those problems, and believe I am in a strong position to return to Queens for the 2025-2026 school year.
This academic year I experienced extenuating circumstances that were beyond my control that have directly affected my academics due to mental health illness. These challenges were worsened by my realisation that I did not want to continue with the BSc route anymore, through attending lectures and labs I had realized that it is note the route I wanted to pursue a future in. After I realized I wanted to change the type of bachelor’s degree I wanted to pursue I switched out of the second semester science course that I was able to. Going into school the first year I was so sure of what I wanted to do so to being faced with that change only hindered my mental health. With my illness I found it difficult to function and take care of myself properly let alone be able to adequately focus on my studies, it had gotten to a point where my friends and family had noticed a change in me and were worried. I started experiencing symptoms around the middle of the fall semester, once I realized that what I was experiencing wasn’t temporary I sought out help from an outside source and decided to attend counselling. I had asked around and found out about Queen's free counselling, I had never gone to therapy before but wanted to improve and trying on my own had not worked and attended multiple sessions throughout the year. Despite talking to a therapist my illness had not changed and talking together we agreed it would be beneficial to speak to my family doctor about going on medication as I was not feeling much improvement through only talk therapy. Unfortunately, by the time my therapist and I had made the plan of staring on medication, and I contacted my doctor, I had been informed that he was retiring soon and therefore was booked full of appointments and had no availabilities during my winter break. Due to not being able to see my doctor during winter break the earliest time I was able to see him was during winter reading week. It was during this appointment that my therapist and I’s assumption was confirmed, and I received a diagnosis and a prescription. When I returned to school after the break I started on the medication as advised. Unfortunately, during this time the strike was happening, my therapist appeared to be on some sort of extended leave, and I was experiencing negative side effects that were common when starting this medication. I did not start feeling the positive effects of the medication until weeks later as that is how long it takes for my medication to give its full therapeutic benefits and by this time exams and my school year had been finished.
Moving forward I believe that I would do well at queens next year. Since continuing with my medication consistently and passing the full therapeutic benefit benchmark myself and others around me have noticed a positive change. Since staying on this medication, I no longer feel ant of the negative side effects I first felt when starting it during the school year and have only felt the positive. I have been back to functioning healthy and productively again. I know going back to school can be stressful and hard, but I know I will be able to handle it. I have dealt with the stress of finding and starting three new part time jobs and have been excelling in all, as stated by my bosses. I also plan to set up regular sessions with a therapist to continue to monitor and keep on top of my illness so on the chance I do feel myself regressing we will already have a plan in place ready to enact. Along with continuing with my medication that has been helping me and setting up regular sessions I know what my plan is for next year and the following years by following the BA route instead. I know that when I return, I will be placed on academic probation and understand that I will have to meet grade requirements. I plan to take a lighter course load the first semester back (taking four instead of five courses) and if I find myself struggling, I have money set aside for tutoring if needed, which I know I can access through ASUS. I love queens and have taking a lot of steps and work to better myself and would love the opportunity to return this coming academic year.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best Regards,
Hayley Perry
I am writing to respectfully petition the faculty’s decision requiring my withdrawal from Queen’s University for a minimum of one year. I understand the seriousness of my academic performance that led to this decision, but I am asking for reconsideration due to personal and medical extenuating circumstances that were beyond my control. I have taken steps to identify and rectify those problems, and believe I am in a strong position to return to Queens for the 2025-2026 school year.
This academic year I experienced extenuating circumstances that were beyond my control that have directly affected my academics due to mental health illness. These challenges were worsened by my realisation that I did not want to continue with the BSc route anymore, through attending lectures and labs I had realized that it is note the route I wanted to pursue a future in. After I realized I wanted to change the type of bachelor’s degree I wanted to pursue I switched out of the second semester science course that I was able to. Going into school the first year I was so sure of what I wanted to do so to being faced with that change only hindered my mental health. With my illness I found it difficult to function and take care of myself properly let alone be able to adequately focus on my studies, it had gotten to a point where my friends and family had noticed a change in me and were worried. I started experiencing symptoms around the middle of the fall semester, once I realized that what I was experiencing wasn’t temporary I sought out help from an outside source and decided to attend counselling. I had asked around and found out about Queen's free counselling, I had never gone to therapy before but wanted to improve and trying on my own had not worked and attended multiple sessions throughout the year. Despite talking to a therapist my illness had not changed and talking together we agreed it would be beneficial to speak to my family doctor about going on medication as I was not feeling much improvement through only talk therapy. Unfortunately, by the time my therapist and I had made the plan of staring on medication, and I contacted my doctor, I had been informed that he was retiring soon and therefore was booked full of appointments and had no availabilities during my winter break. Due to not being able to see my doctor during winter break the earliest time I was able to see him was during winter reading week. It was during this appointment that my therapist and I’s assumption was confirmed, and I received a diagnosis and a prescription. When I returned to school after the break I started on the medication as advised. Unfortunately, during this time the strike was happening, my therapist appeared to be on some sort of extended leave, and I was experiencing negative side effects that were common when starting this medication. I did not start feeling the positive effects of the medication until weeks later as that is how long it takes for my medication to give its full therapeutic benefits and by this time exams and my school year had been finished.
Moving forward I believe that I would do well at queens next year. Since continuing with my medication consistently and passing the full therapeutic benefit benchmark myself and others around me have noticed a positive change. Since staying on this medication, I no longer feel ant of the negative side effects I first felt when starting it during the school year and have only felt the positive. I have been back to functioning healthy and productively again. I know going back to school can be stressful and hard, but I know I will be able to handle it. I have dealt with the stress of finding and starting three new part time jobs and have been excelling in all, as stated by my bosses. I also plan to set up regular sessions with a therapist to continue to monitor and keep on top of my illness so on the chance I do feel myself regressing we will already have a plan in place ready to enact. Along with continuing with my medication that has been helping me and setting up regular sessions I know what my plan is for next year and the following years by following the BA route instead. I know that when I return, I will be placed on academic probation and understand that I will have to meet grade requirements. I plan to take a lighter course load the first semester back (taking four instead of five courses) and if I find myself struggling, I have money set aside for tutoring if needed, which I know I can access through ASUS. I love queens and have taking a lot of steps and work to better myself and would love the opportunity to return this coming academic year.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best Regards,
Hayley Perry
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: Moving forward I believe that I would do well at queens next year. Since continuing with my medication consistently and passing the full therapeutic benefit benchmark myself and others around me have noticed a positive change. Since staying on this medication, I no longer feel ant of the negative side effects I first felt when starting it during the school year and have only felt the positive. I have been back to functioning healthy and productively again. I know going back to school can be stressful and hard, but I know I will be able to handle it. I have dealt with the stress of finding and starting three new part time jobs and have been excelling in all, as stated by my bosses. I also plan to set up regular sessions with a therapist to continue to monitor and keep on top of my illness so on the chance I do feel myself regressing we will already have a plan in place ready to enact. Along with continuing with my medication that has been helping me and setting up regular sessions I know what my plan is for next year and the following years by following the BA route instead. I know that when I return, I will be placed on academic probation and understand that I will have to meet grade requirements. I plan to take a lighter course load the first semester back (taking four instead of five courses) and if I find myself struggling, I have money set aside for tutoring if needed, which I know I can access through ASUS. I love queens and have taking a lot of steps and work to better myself and would love the opportunity to return this coming academic year.
Documentation
Professional Letter: Hayley Perry.pdf
Document: Hayley Perry-0.pdf