Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Lora Marie Sanborn, Student 10007103
15 Muirdale Avenue
Toronto, ON
M9R 2V3

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Dr. Johanne Bénard
Associate Dean (Studies)
Faculty of Arts and Science, Dunning Hall - First Floor
94 University Avenue
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
K7L 3N6

Subject: Dropping courses from my transcript

To the Associate Dean (Studies),

I am appealing to drop a number of courses off of my transcript that I failed (Winter 2014 term: ARTH 370, PHIL 296; Summer 2014 term: ARTH 354, DEVS 100, HIST 260; Summer 2015 term: ASTR 101, and HIST 272).

As mentioned in my previous appeal, the extenuating circumstances beyond my control that prevented me from doing well academically were that my diagnosed depression and anxiety issues dramatically worsened more than ever before (starting in the fall of 2013), and continued to worsen until I started regularly seeing a cognitive behaviour therapy specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto (starting around September 2015). By going to regular appointments with her, I have been finally able to successfully combat the conditions I have been struggling with, and am feeling significantly better now than I have in years. Before this I tried various medications as prescribed to me, in addition to the maximum number of sessions of cognitive behaviour therapy offered through Queen¿¿s Counseling Services, but both of these did not end up being significantly helpful.

Before my depression and anxiety issues were successfully addressed, I found it incredibly difficult to do things such as going out of my house and being in places other people might be. I had a lot of anxiety surrounding this, which fueled my depressive thoughts and feelings (poor self esteem, felt like a failure, etc.). I also found it hard to concentrate and apply myself; felt very tired for the majority of the time; experienced panic attacks/melt downs that were easily triggered; and had self-harming behaviors. In terms of my schoolwork, this impacted my confidence in submitting assignments. I experienced intense anxiety thinking about submitting my coursework; the combination of that and my other symptoms was so bad that I ended up not being able to submit the bulk of my work in the courses listed (hence the failing grades).

The reason why I kept enrolling for courses even after my failures was that I was ¿¿ and still am ¿¿ committed to getting my degree. I did not want to prolong completing it, and as I was proactive in trying to get well, I thought I would be able to pass the courses. Although I was not able to do so, thankfully with the help I received from the aforementioned cognitive behaviour specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital, I am doing a drastically better now and genuinely feel that I can do well academically.

I am also on a medication that I am proven to be best suited for, genetically speaking, as discovered through my participation in the Individualized Medicine: Pharmacogenetic Assessment & Clinical Treatment (IMPACT) study run by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto (I have included as part of my documentation verification of the genetic test ¿¿ my name is at the bottom right on the form). Going forward, I intend to continue taking this medication, and will implement the tools I have been taught through my cognitive behaviour therapy sessions. Additionally, I am making sure that I am eating a healthy diet and am exercising each day. While my treatment is ongoing, both my therapist and myself are confident that I will continue to improve. I intend to still pursue my studies at Queen¿¿s, continue my learning, and get my degree.

Thank-you for taking the time to read my appeal letter; I hope to hear back from you regarding the decision reached.

Sincerely,
Lora Marie Sanborn