Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am appealing to drop three courses after the academic deadline for the Winter 2016 semester. The reason I am making this appeal is due to the fact that I have been struggling with my mental health for the past several months, which has directly inhibited my ability to focus on and stay on top of my academics.
My extenuating circumstance first began to affect me and my academics in the latter half of my grade twelve year in high school. Due to what I was experiencing, I was not able to hand in projects on time, I could not focus on readings or studies, and every other aspect of my life began to fall apart. Coming into Queen¿¿s I immediately sought the help of a councillor to help manage this problem in hopes that it would not worsen. However, as the year went on, my circumstance only got worse.
In my first semester at Queen¿¿s, my mental health significantly deteriorated despite the help I was receiving. It was because of these stressors that I could no longer live a healthy lifestyle. I did not sleep, eat or exercise, as I stayed confined to my room in my mental state. On the occasion it got out of hand, I was hospitalised several times as I feared for my own safety and well-being. This directly affected my academics as I could not focus on reading, writing or studying for any period of time due to my circumstance taking over my ability to do so. I also found it very hard to get out of bed to continue going to lectures and seminars because my body just would not allow me. This also continued mid way through the second semester. Having gone through these episodes, I continued to see my councillor and he provided me with the necessary support and skills to cope with these episodes. At the end of the second semester, although I was drained, I managed to pull through. My intention was to use the Winter break as my reset button, a way for me to look beyond what had happened in the past few months, take care of myself, and get right back on track. Once I got back to school, that is exactly what I had accomplished.
For the first 3 weeks of the second semester, it seemed as though I was getting my life back. I was happy, going to class, staying on top of my academic workload, keeping my social circles open, until it all fell apart again. For what I believe to be the sixth time, I was hospitalized again. I felt as though I had failed myself and those who have done everything to support me. At this time, I fell back into the routine of not going to class, staying in my room, becoming very unhealthy by sleeping all day, staying up all night. It was a very scary and stressful period. It was at this time I went to see a psychiatrist on the recommendation of my doctor at LaSalle. Throughout the entirety of my first year I have been seeing Dr. Nguyen, and like my councillor she has been supporting me in various ways. When things began to worsen first semester she prescribed me with medication to combat my mental illness, however the side effects of it were much too significant to continue using. Fast forward to second semester, I expressed to her symptoms of another mental illness that was not initially considered the first time around, which is why I went to see a psychiatrist on her account. As it turned out, after meeting with the psychiatrist, I do express several symptoms and indicators of this mental illness, which upset me, but did not bring me down. My doctor and I mutually decided that trying a new medication would be a viable solution. Since I have started taking this new medication, my mood has been gradually getting better, and I feel a lot better about myself and my life style choices.
While I was in my low but serious mood, a significant amount of work had piled on like readings, assignments, tests and much more. At this point in time I feel as though these three courses I am appealing to drop are not salvageable in any way, as there is literally months¿¿ worth of work and readings, let alone the exams I would have to study for. By allowing me to drop these courses after the academic deadline you would be allowing me to look beyond my struggles and weights of my first year and letting me begin to properly take care of my mental wellness. It would greatly reduce any weight of stress that continues to lay on my shoulders. I have made the effort to see an academic advisor and we have created a 5- year plan together that works for me and my requirements to graduate. I believe that with the support I have been given, and with the next few months ahead of me, I can and will become better. I could have easily given up at any point in my first year, but I did not, because I know I can get through this, I know I will. While I am home I will be seeing a councillor on a regular basis to continue gaining the support and skills to manage my circumstance.
I hope you consider my appeal and situation.

Daniel Maheu