Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: May 15th, 2016

Shannon Petrie-10126975
10 Cedar Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M4E1K2


Dear Associate Dean (Studies),

My name is Shannon Petrie and I just finished my second year as a Queen¿¿s University Bachelor of Science student in a Biology Major and an Environmental Science Minor. I am applying to appeal for credit standing for BIOL 202 (Winter, 2016), BIOL 206 (Winter 2016), BCHM 218 (Winter 2016), and BIOL 334 (Winter, 2016).

I have been struggling with many extenuating circumstances beyond my control, that have impaired and directly affected my academic performance. I have been struggling with my mental health for approximately 10 years and have recently been diagnosed with PTSD, severe depression and severe anxiety by a psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. Each of these mental illnesses have continuously caused me to have panic attacks frequently, especially concerning high stress situations in regards to school work, as well as lack concentration, and willpower to study as intently as I wish. These illnesses began as a result from struggling to help cope and care for with my mother who was an alcoholic. As well, I had to deal with my father who was abusive towards my brother, my mom and me, mentally and physically. My mother later died when I was 12 years old, and that became a huge trauma for me. Soon after, my father went on to engage in a relationship with a woman named Paola Zerafa, and after a very tense and problematic year living in Toronto with her, my brother, my dad, and two new stepsisters, we moved to Orangeville, Ontario to live on a farm. The fighting continued and my brother and I were alienated very quickly and worked on the farm continuously in order to be in okay terms with my dad. After coming to school at Queen¿¿s University, I became unwanted and unneeded by my father and step-mother, and therefore after a year of failed efforts in maintaining a relationship with my father, during the summer of 2015, my brother and I were told to leave the house with all of our possessions. We left to live at my aunt¿¿s house, however continuously struggled with the implications of our failed relationship with our father and how he thought of us. Within September of 2015, my father disowned us, however continuously sent us aggressive and abusive emails leading into January of 2016, which impaired my focus and degraded my mental health overall. Although I attempted to contact him and show that I wished for a relationship still, he replied with an aggressive and abusive email, that severely impacted my overall mental health once again. Moreover, my brother and I found out that my dad had managed to deflect a large amount (around 50,000) of his debt and unpaid tax interest onto us, and therefore we have been fighting this for the past couple of months, since December 2015, attempting to deal with lawyers and tax auditors while still completing all work and trying to maintain good academic standing. Furthermore, I was under the impression that I was to be given a certain amount of money each year for my studies, entrusted to me from my mother, but in the control of my father. However, due to the disownment I do not have access to the money that was entrusted to me. As well, due to the constant work at the farm over the past 5 years, I was not allowed to get a job in case it hindered my availability to work at the farm, and therefore have not been able to save up any money in order to pay for school. Due to both of these points, I have been struggling with paying for school and therefore had to get a job during the school year, which sometimes affected my stress levels and ability to focus on school, as money has been a constant issue due to me being financially independent. Ultimately, all of these events, as well as a sexual assault within grade 12 and then October of 2015, have contributed to a lack of focus and general ability to perform at my best potential. It has been a continuous process that has led me to understand that I have come to a point in which I am unsuccessful in dealing with these hardships on my own. The constant panic attacks, loss of sleep, depressive moods and severe anxiety have ultimately led to my decision and need to access external help, as listed below, which will hopefully help my mental health going forward into next year.

Ultimately, I hope to improve my mental health and increase my success within the next year and therefore have started to and will continue to take the following steps should my appeal be granted. I have started to see and will continue to see one of the psychologists at the La Salle Building named Laura (since April 2016). This will allow me to work through issues affecting me daily, and will allow for me to be supported within my academic pursuits as well, in case my mental health or family problems hinder my academic abilities further. She also suggested that I start continuous and long-term care at the Frontenac Community Mental Health Services clinic in Kingston Ontario. Therefore, I will be meeting with a psychologist at this centre throughout the summer and into the next year to provide continuous support for my mental health and start Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which is a more long-term solution to my mental illnesses. Moreover, I have gone to the Sexual Assault Centre in Kingston, Ontario in order to target the problems I am experiencing directly related to the sexual assaults. This should allow for an increase in support that could allow me to work through any issues that have developed due to these events, that have increased my depression and anxiety. Lastly, I have met with my doctor, Dr. Jenny Molson, at the La Salle Building in order to gain a greater perspective into different possible routes I can take to target my mental illnesses, and I am exploring medication that has been suggested for my situation, that may help me handle my mental illnesses while continuing counselling. Medication may allow for increased ability to handle anxious and depressing thoughts, throughout the challenges of my courses. Lastly, I have taken on three jobs during the summer, including a SWEP position in the lab of Dr. Peter de Groot, an events staff position at the K-Rock Centre, and I am continuing my position as a service staff member at the P&CC on campus. These jobs will increase my financial stability and ease the need for continuous work during the school year, which should ultimately decrease my anxiety concerning paying for school and living expenses while continuing my academic pursuits. Ultimately, I have taken many steps towards getting help, which I will continue into next year in order to increase the possibility of success in my academic pursuits. These changes should ultimately increase my success within my courses and support my academic goals moving forward within my degree.

I would like to thank you for your time and consideration, and if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Shannon Petrie
10126975