Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

New Information: Dear Associate Dean of Arts and Science,

I am writing to you as a third year student in the faculty of Arts and Science at Queen's University. More specifically I am writing to you in order to request a waive of the deadline for academic appeals in the Winter 2015 semester. As someone who has been struggling in what seemed to be an uphill battle with mental illness, I went through an especially rough time in my second year. In my second semester, my marks dropped significantly and I received some final grades that were truly uncharacteristic of myself. At the beginning of my first semester of second year, I recognized that there was a problem and I reached out for help from Queen's Health Counselling and Disability Services. I continued sessions with a counsellor through these services over the year, but unfortunately my conditions remained relatively stagnant despite temporary short-term feelings of relief or alleviated stress. These periods did not last long, and as a result I found extreme difficulty in putting any energy toward the completion and achievement in my academics. By the end of my second semester, I had come to an all-time low and drove myself into a state of extreme distress. I was feeling lost, hopeless, and most of all unmotivated. Unfortunately this lead to an encounter with medical professionals and a short-term period in the hospital. It was at this point that I decided that I did not want to allow my mental illness to get the best of me, I did not want to define myself by my conditions and I wanted to get better.
Since this rock-bottom time at the end of my second semester, I strive toward bettering myself and my mental health every day. I look back on my experiences and I do not feel regretful, I feel thankful that I was able to pull myself out of my mental state and make a change, it was a real turning point for me and I take it as a life lesson. After my episode at the end of the Winter 2016 semester, I made the decision to move back home in order to be in a safe place to heal, and sought out treatment with a professional. I completed a treatment plan according to Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and worked very closely with my counsellor on routine appointments throughout a four month period. I was so accustomed to my idle state that for the first time in a long time, I was finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Through therapy I had learned many different coping mechanisms and ways in which I could reframe my thought and behavioural patterns. I maintain close contact with my counsellor and continue to seek out and participate in treatment sessions as I deem necessary. I continue to make a stride forward every day, and I feel better than ever. I realize that some days are harder than others, but then I reflect on my past and remind myself that whatever obstacles may present themselves, there is always a way to get through. It's not always easy, but I am absolutely dedicated to making steps only forward instead of falling back.
With an altered state of mind and more optimistic outlook on life, I have become a more active member of the Queen's community by joining clubs and developing relationships with my peers and academic superiors. I have noticed a great deal of change in my motivation, and both long-term and short-term goal setting. I have recently had meetings with both a career advisor and an academic advisor. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I was aware of the opportunity that I had to request credit standing (CR) in the courses that are greatly impacting my Grade Point Average. As soon as I was informed of this possibility, I took the chance to write an appeal letter and request a letter from the therapist that I participated in treatment with. There is a noticeable change in my grades obtained this semester, and as a keen and driven student, I hope to have a GPA that is truly reflective of my efforts and capabilities. I hope to attend grad school in the near future, and I truly hope that this rough patch in my life does not hinder my chances in being admitted to my desired program. I am committed to making another step forward every day, and being the best student and member of the community that I can be. I look back on my past as a learning experience, and I am only moving forward from here.