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Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

Over the course of the 2025 to 2026 school year, I struggled with two major psychological challenges: having, at the time, undiagnosed ADHD and being sexually assaulted by another student. Coming to Queens for my first year and adjusting to life outside the United States was difficult in many ways, from having to figure out cross-border banking on a regular basis, to signing up for a Rogers account, to living on my own. In the Fall Semester, I approached university the same way I did in high school, by pushing everything to the last minute until I was an anxious wreck and finally had enough motivation to submit my work. This led me to failure near the end of the semester, and untreated ADHD left me unable to study appropriately for my exams. I would set up a workstation and sit there with my notes open for hours at a time, never reviewing them. I immediately tried to find out how to be diagnosed when I went home for the winter break, and found that I could set up an appointment with a physician assistant in town after my first year. I went into the winter semester using coping skills and organizational tools that I did not have the prior semester after talking to peers who also struggled with ADHD. I have since sought treatment, and I am taking prescribed stimulant medications to help mitigate the symptoms of ADHD.

One month before exam season in the winter semester, a formerly close friend of mine and I were at a party together. Not wanting to walk all the way to West Campus, I asked if I could crash on his couch for the night. He agreed. That night, I was sexually assaulted, and it felt like my entire world froze. I went into a deep depression where I could not find the motivation to leave my room, and my class attendance dropped. I could not force myself out of bed, and when I did, it was mostly just to get food. I did reach out to a Queen's therapist, but due to the long waitlist, I was deterred from seeking the long-term mental health help I would require. I could no longer focus on anything other than leaving for the summer and retreating to my home. At times, I could not shower or get fully undressed without memories of that night flooding back to me. I tried reaching out to services outside Queens, but none could provide the immediate aid I needed. I never filed a police report because I was unsure how to process the event. During exam season itself, I confided in friends about what had happened, and I slowly regained composure and became self-sustaining again. I had panic attacks throughout the month whenever I tried to open and review the class material, because I felt stupid for not understanding it, and I got into a mindset that I would fail anyway. I showed up to final exams just to get them done, with no hope of doing well. I am still looking for telecommunication therapists to help me process this experience.

I have the ability to write this petition now because the news about Jenny Racicot's assault is coming to light. Through Racicot's recall of the event, I feel seen and that there is a potential of being believed. It also validated that it is still sexual assault when the abuser is impaired, a concept I struggled with. I can also write this petition because of how well the ADHD treatment is going. Ritalin helped me immensely to have a structured work schedule and complete tasks that otherwise would never get done. Thank you for considering my petition for the late course drops, and I'm excited to go into my second year strong.