Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 1394
Submitted: September 5, 2015 at 12:48:29 AM
First Name: Shannen
Last Name: Oxley
Student Number: 10022149
Email: 1sko@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: SOC
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Deans,
I am submitting a request to waive the 21-day appeal deadline, so that I may appeal to drop the following courses: CHEM112, MATH 126, SOCY 309, and SOCY 389.
Throughout the last four years of my undergraduate program I have struggled with chronic anxiety and poor physical health, which are the cause of my poor academic performance:
¿¿ 2011-2012: I sought help from the resources accessible at Queen¿¿s such as the counseling service at LaSalle, and was referred to see Hagar Akua Prah, the outreach counselor for sexual assault, and trauma specialist. When seeking help from her, I found my anxiety increased due to living through past experiences.I suffered from panic attaches, insomnia, and headaches, while becoming more socially withdrawn. I stopped going to see Hagar after two months due to it being too overwhelmed, hoping that if I stopped with my treatment, that I would be better able to focus on school, but was unsuccessful.
¿¿ 2012-2013: In my second year I tried to focus on maintaining my metal health by being active, and maintaining a healthy diet. I joined the Varsity Triathlon Team; I was eating healthy, and was starting off my year to a great start. I however got diagnosed with Costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects ones rib bones to the sternum. The symptoms mimic that of a heart attack, along with the feeling of broken ribs. Breathing became extremely difficult, and my recovery proven to be more problematic that the doctors thought. I sought help at the Queen¿¿s Physiotherapy clinic in the ARC, and after about a half a year of treatment, I was able to walk comfortably with mild discomfort, and by a year I was starting to run again. During my rehabilitation, walking to and from school was not an option due to the pain. I had friends taking notes, and sending in assignments, but my absence from class was reflected in my marks.
¿¿ 2013-2014: I began dating my current boyfriend. Many problems arose, causing me to seek help from the Sexual Assault Centre in order to help me with my current anxiety with school, past experiences, and new obstacles I was facing with my new partner. I joined one of their groups called The Adult Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse. In the beginning the group was overwhelming. I fled to the comforts of my home in Ottawa numerous times in order to feel safe. I felt more alienated than ever, feeling stuck in the way that I needed to be home, but had to be at school. I missed many classes, assignments, and practices with my team. I went back to school with a promise to myself to go to class, and be more productive, but on my bad days, those promises felt like weights that I could not begin to lift. I suffered panic attacks; mood swings, crying fits, depression, and finally feelings of self-harm. I pushed through thanks to the support of my friends, family, and boyfriend, and continued to work through my issues. However, the course of my third year proved to be a constant struggle, and at the end of the day, not attending classes, and missing assignments ultimately led to my poor academic achievements.
¿¿ 2014-2015: In my forth year I had the tools I needed to deal with my anxiety. I was on anxiety medication, attending school at Saint Lawrence College, while also attending Queens University for two sociology classes. I was attending my classes and learning to work through my anxiety when my grandfather passed away. Once again I was travelling home, only this time I was not heading home to reduce my anxiety. Instead my anxiety increased as I drew closer knowing that in order to attend my grandfather¿¿s funeral I would have to be in the same room as my assaulter. My fears and anxiety became overwhelming even for an experienced anxious person. My pills became insignificant along with my tools to cope. I came back to school a week later filled with more anxiety than ever. It would take me four months to learn how to cope with my new level of anxiety, causing me to once again fall short on being a productive and successful student. As a result, I was also unable to submit a proper academic appeal to drop my courses within the deadline.
I have been working hard with my family, friends and physiatrist in order to cope with my anxiety disorder. Including, moving home, as well as seeing my childhood psychologist in order to better understand myself as well as my situation. This year I plan to stay at home so that I can be with the support system that will help me pursue my goals. I wish to attend online courses, as well as enroll in another post-secondary institution closer to home so that I may finish my sociology degree with Queen¿¿s. I also intend to enroll in the Kinesiology Undergraduate Program in September 2016 in order to pursue my passion to become a physiotherapist in order to helping others heal their physical as well as emotional scars.
However, due to my low GPA I am unable to attain a Letter of Permission to study in another post-secondary institute. By dropping the courses listed above, it will raise my GPA so that I may receive permission to continue to pursue my studies within the best of my abilities.
Sincerely,
Shannen Oxley
10022149
I am submitting a request to waive the 21-day appeal deadline, so that I may appeal to drop the following courses: CHEM112, MATH 126, SOCY 309, and SOCY 389.
Throughout the last four years of my undergraduate program I have struggled with chronic anxiety and poor physical health, which are the cause of my poor academic performance:
¿¿ 2011-2012: I sought help from the resources accessible at Queen¿¿s such as the counseling service at LaSalle, and was referred to see Hagar Akua Prah, the outreach counselor for sexual assault, and trauma specialist. When seeking help from her, I found my anxiety increased due to living through past experiences.I suffered from panic attaches, insomnia, and headaches, while becoming more socially withdrawn. I stopped going to see Hagar after two months due to it being too overwhelmed, hoping that if I stopped with my treatment, that I would be better able to focus on school, but was unsuccessful.
¿¿ 2012-2013: In my second year I tried to focus on maintaining my metal health by being active, and maintaining a healthy diet. I joined the Varsity Triathlon Team; I was eating healthy, and was starting off my year to a great start. I however got diagnosed with Costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects ones rib bones to the sternum. The symptoms mimic that of a heart attack, along with the feeling of broken ribs. Breathing became extremely difficult, and my recovery proven to be more problematic that the doctors thought. I sought help at the Queen¿¿s Physiotherapy clinic in the ARC, and after about a half a year of treatment, I was able to walk comfortably with mild discomfort, and by a year I was starting to run again. During my rehabilitation, walking to and from school was not an option due to the pain. I had friends taking notes, and sending in assignments, but my absence from class was reflected in my marks.
¿¿ 2013-2014: I began dating my current boyfriend. Many problems arose, causing me to seek help from the Sexual Assault Centre in order to help me with my current anxiety with school, past experiences, and new obstacles I was facing with my new partner. I joined one of their groups called The Adult Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse. In the beginning the group was overwhelming. I fled to the comforts of my home in Ottawa numerous times in order to feel safe. I felt more alienated than ever, feeling stuck in the way that I needed to be home, but had to be at school. I missed many classes, assignments, and practices with my team. I went back to school with a promise to myself to go to class, and be more productive, but on my bad days, those promises felt like weights that I could not begin to lift. I suffered panic attacks; mood swings, crying fits, depression, and finally feelings of self-harm. I pushed through thanks to the support of my friends, family, and boyfriend, and continued to work through my issues. However, the course of my third year proved to be a constant struggle, and at the end of the day, not attending classes, and missing assignments ultimately led to my poor academic achievements.
¿¿ 2014-2015: In my forth year I had the tools I needed to deal with my anxiety. I was on anxiety medication, attending school at Saint Lawrence College, while also attending Queens University for two sociology classes. I was attending my classes and learning to work through my anxiety when my grandfather passed away. Once again I was travelling home, only this time I was not heading home to reduce my anxiety. Instead my anxiety increased as I drew closer knowing that in order to attend my grandfather¿¿s funeral I would have to be in the same room as my assaulter. My fears and anxiety became overwhelming even for an experienced anxious person. My pills became insignificant along with my tools to cope. I came back to school a week later filled with more anxiety than ever. It would take me four months to learn how to cope with my new level of anxiety, causing me to once again fall short on being a productive and successful student. As a result, I was also unable to submit a proper academic appeal to drop my courses within the deadline.
I have been working hard with my family, friends and physiatrist in order to cope with my anxiety disorder. Including, moving home, as well as seeing my childhood psychologist in order to better understand myself as well as my situation. This year I plan to stay at home so that I can be with the support system that will help me pursue my goals. I wish to attend online courses, as well as enroll in another post-secondary institution closer to home so that I may finish my sociology degree with Queen¿¿s. I also intend to enroll in the Kinesiology Undergraduate Program in September 2016 in order to pursue my passion to become a physiotherapist in order to helping others heal their physical as well as emotional scars.
However, due to my low GPA I am unable to attain a Letter of Permission to study in another post-secondary institute. By dropping the courses listed above, it will raise my GPA so that I may receive permission to continue to pursue my studies within the best of my abilities.
Sincerely,
Shannen Oxley
10022149
Documentation
Professional Letter: SKMBT_C22013110614030 copy 2-2.pdf
Document: Dear Professors of Shannen Oxley.docx