Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Nancy Gan
4380 Courtice Road
Bowmanville, ON L1C 3K4
647-729-6748
12ng8@queensu.ca

May 19th, 2014

To the Associate Dean of Studies

I am appealing the Faculty's decision that I must withdraw from Queens for a minimum of a year.

Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:
During the semester of 2013-2014, a number of events took place beyond my control that contributed to my truly abysmal academic performance (or lack thereof) in the winter semester of 2014. In the fall of 2012, a maxillofacial surgeon performed a botched wisdom tooth removal surgery that led to the accidental removal of one molar. The chronic pain and subsequent infection from the procedure affected me during the entirety of my first and second semesters at Queens. The infection forced me to delay the root canal procedure until late December of 2013, though the pain persisted well into March of 2014. The pain and medication created drowsiness, poor concentration, poor impulse control, and I became highly irritable. My irritability made me feel socially awkward towards my friends and roommates, especially my roommates. My relationship with them deteriorated and I became isolated and excluded from their lives. I loathed and hated myself for not being able to be a friend, but at a certain point, it felt as though they did not want to associate with me more than they had too. Out of courtesy, they did not tell me that I was different, but the person they used to call their friend was a mess that they wanted to discard. Their rejection was the beginning of my depression -I lost my study group, my motivation, and the support that all students need from their friends.

By this point, I had experienced enough rejection, wrath and anger than I could handle. In a deep state of depression, I wanted no connection with human sentiment, so I disconnected myself from life. I stopped going to class, did not check my email, answer my phone, study, read textbooks, or do anything remotely that forced me to think. I locked myself in my room and did not come out unless absolutely necessary. I felt anxious every time I had to talk to someone, either face to face or over the phone. My hygiene habits slipped and I found myself sleeping at odd hours for more than 14 hours per day, every day. Although my roommates did not say it out of courtesy, my roommates thought I was disgusting -indeed, disgusting was not apt enough. However, I was unable to run away. I would overhear my roommates discussing assignments, their plans, and what they wanted to do for their future. In my state of isolation and depression, I began to feel guilt and shame about what I had done. I felt guilty because not many people were as fortunate as I was -living under a roof, going to such an excellent school -and here I was, wasting away, wasting everything that people have died for a chance at. I felt shame for much the same reasons: taking everything for granted, being inconsiderate to my parents, my peers, and my school. The guilt was too much, so I attempted to commit suicide on the evening of May 17th by overdosing on grade 2 Tylenol that had been prescribed to me for tooth pain. I initially took 10-12 milligrams, but when I woke up a few hours later, I so desperately wanted to end my life that I swallowed all of the remaining pills with alcohol in a desperate attempt to create an even toxic reaction. All in all, I took 24 milligrams -and yet the next morning, I still woke up. After I threw up blood, I decided I needed to make amends, so I called the ambulance and was admitted to emergency care at Kingston General Hospital where I was treated. Ever since that incident, I have slowly begun to make amends. I became honest with my family, found a minimum-wage job, and sought medical advice. I, my family physician, and my family all agree that I need to seek Psychological counseling. Although my family Doctor (Dr. Najemus Sadiq) has begun the referral process for a Psychiatrist, he has advised me that wait times are long. At the moment, I have been taking prescribed antidepressants (Cipralex) that has made me feel better, but I have been advised that the solution lies in Psychological counseling.