Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean of Studies (Artsci),

I am requesting the faculty¿¿s permission to drop CHEM282 (Winter 2016) passed the drop deadline, in order to re-take the course in my 4th year at Queen¿¿s.

Throughout the semester, I have been fighting extremely low moods, as a result of my mental health issues I have had previously, proliferating again. I had struggled with CHEM282 throughout the semester greatly and as the days wound down toward the examination period, my anxiety, and feelings of depression had increased greatly. Essentially, I was really stuck in a dark place. Throughout the semester, I lost hope in myself, causing negative and damaging thoughts to consume me, taking over my daily life. These types of mental health problems began during the Fall 2014 semester when I received a very significant concussion, which had impeded my academics and overall quality of life for approximately 8-10 months. I experienced post-concussion symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, cognitive problems concentrating and memorizing detail, and harsh anxiety problems for approximately a full year after my 1st concussion. I experienced a 2nd concussion, during the Fall 2015 semester, which caused my mental health issues to reappear and increase in intensity. The main psychological/mental health issues that were raised during the Winter 2016 semester were, extreme anxiety, depressed moods and irritability, which greatly impeded my academic standing in the course. During this year¿¿s academic session (both semesters), I had to request several extensions on assignments in several other courses, in order to complete them to the best of my ability. I have felt incompetent in being able to overcome this hurdle in my life currently, and I feel like a letdown to not only myself, but also a major disappointment toward my family and friends. Despite initial efforts in the course, my extreme levels of anxiety, along with other psychological/mental health issues being aggravated, caused myself in facing what seemed to be, an impossible task to overcome in my academics.

Once I realized my mental health was being degraded greatly, I contacted several people for counselling. Sara Ali, who is the Retention Coordinator and works within Athlete Services was one person I contacted. She understood my situation, and was extremely helpful in guiding me through the appeal process. The health professional I have seen throughout my concussion injuries and mental health issues, was Dr. Michael O'Connor MD MMEd FRCPC, who treats many Queen¿¿s University Varsity athletes. He was always extremely insightful and it was easy to follow-up with him throughout the year at any time, whenever I needed someone to speak to. I plan to keep in close counsel with Dr. O¿¿Connor over the summer, and throughout the rest of my life at Queen¿¿s.

I believe that I will be able to fully recover from the mental health issues I have had, by specifically seeking further help and personal counselling, along with the undivided support of my family and friends. My future plan, is to take CHEM282 during the Winter 2017 session, once I have rehabilitated from my mental health issues that have affected me this semester. Over the summer and winter, I will partake in tutoring, to efficiently prepare for the course the next coming year. I know by attaining an adequate level of mental health through personal counselling and along with personal tutoring in the course, that I will be able to do well in CHEM282.