Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing to respectfully petition the Faculty’s decision requiring my withdrawal from Queen’s University. I understand that my academic performance during the 2025-2026 school year was unsatisfactory. I would like to provide context regarding the mental and physical health challenges that led to this outcome and the steps I am taking to address them.
Throughout the year, I continued to struggle with my previously diagnosed depression and ADHD. Despite my efforts to address these challenges after my previous petition, I was unable to achieve the stability necessary for academic success. I also struggled to consistently remain on prescribed medications due to side effects and ongoing gastrointestinal health concerns, which complicated treatment and contributed to periods of instability. Together, these challenges affected my ability to concentrate, remain organized, attend classes consistently, and maintain an effective academic routine.
After my previous petition, I intended to improve both my academic standing and my overall well-being. However, I did not fully realize how significantly a separate and progressively worsening health condition was contributing to my struggles. I mentioned psoriasis in my previous petition, and the condition continued to worsen substantially throughout the following year and had a far greater impact on my ability to function than I thought at the time.
I have lived with plaque psoriasis since early highschool, but it was not nearly as bad as it has gotten in recent years. Phototherapy showed substantial improvement in the past but I did not have access to it once I moved to Kingston. Despite the efforts to manage the condition, my symptoms continued to get worse over the years. By late 2025, psoriasis affected most of my body and was accompanied by nail involvement, joint pain, fatigue, discomfort, and persistent flare-ups. The visible nature of the condition significantly worsened my existing tendency towards social isolation and negatively affected my confidence, motivation, and overall mental well-being. As my physical and mental health deteriorated together, I became increasingly withdrawn from both daily activities and my academic responsibilities.
After enduring several years of worsening symptoms, I was finally able to get an appointment in Kingston and was able to access dermatology care in Spring 2026. My dermatologist documented extensive plaque psoriasis involving more than 10% of my body surface area, affected nails, joint symptoms, which raised concern for possible psoriatic arthritis. Previous treatment attempts, including methotrexate, were ultimately unsuccessful. And additional bloodwork identified elevated liver function markers and triglycerides, which prevented the use of one planned medication and required a change in treatment. Due to the extent of my disease, previous treatment failures, and concern for possible psoriatic arthritis, a new treatment plan involving Tremfya has now been initiated, and a referral to rheumatology has been placed. This assessment provided a much clearer understanding of the severity of my condition and its impact on my ability to function. More importantly, I was able to get a treatment plan specifically designed for my situation.
Although treatment is still in its early stages, I am now in a substantially different position than I was during the academic year in question because this condition is now being actively managed and monitored through ongoing medical care. I believe this gives me a stronger foundation to manage both my physical and mental health challenges moving forward and to make meaningful progress toward academic success. I respectfully ask the faculty to consider my petition and allow me the opportunity to continue my studies. Thank you for taking time to read my petition.

Sincerely,
Abishek Gobinath
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