Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Johanne Benard May 25, 2017.
Associate Dean (Studies)
Faculty of Arts and Science

Dear Dr. Benard:
The Request:
I am writing to have failing grades of F for PHIL 115 and WRIT 125 removed from my academic record at Queen¿¿s University.

Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:
As I understand it, an extenuating circumstance is defined ¿as a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student¿¿s control and debilitating to his or her academic performance¿¿. As I will explain, the extenuating circumstances in my case were beyond my control and will hopefully allow me to waive academic regulations in reference to the two failing grades mentioned above. I will also provide official documentation from the Queen¿¿s Support Office to add details from the professionals that offered help to me when I needed it.
My final year of high school was my best academic year ever, achieving an overall average of 89 and afforded me the privilege of admission to Queen¿¿s University. I had incredible excitement and enthusiasm for my new life to come and then, in the summer before starting Queen¿¿s, and while I was away on vacation, my parents decided to split which came as a complete shock to me and my sister. I wanted to stay optimistic, but found myself assigned a room in Waldron Hall which left me often feeling isolated and alone. I tried moving closer to my friends in another residence but was unable to do so. By September 9th, my parents officially ended their marriage which sent me into a tailspin. I was crying a lot and felt incredibly depressed and upset. My mother had to drive from Toronto to Kingston to try calming me down but I was not doing well. I really needed the support of my friends but, because they were all in main campus residences, I had a hard time seeing them and often got the feeling that my negative energy caused them to want to avoid me. I was eating badly and found myself sleeping excessively and often being alone in my room. I was clearly depressed. I filed an application to switch residences but later found out that it was never received by the housing office. It was increasingly difficult for me to get to class and do my work so I dropped History and only made it to English and Economics which were held closer to my dorm on the east side of campus. I finally met with a counselor who specializes in residence life issues who urged me to move residences immediately. I moved 3 days later into a quad room in Leonard Hall which already had 3 people in it. This seemed to be a better arrangement for me and over the Christmas break, I began to feel better and returned to school with more confidence and even added an online Writing course to my schedule. Tragically, a close friend overdosed and died in Boston where he was attending school and I found this to be a major setback for me. I really could not focus on my courses and found myself in a constant state of stress. I knew I was failing my Philosophy and Writing classes and had upsetting interactions with my TA Julia Savage and a professor who just thought I was a lazy student undeserving of a pass. Needless to say, I was in a deep hole and didn¿¿t know how to relieve my depression and anxiety. I relied heavily on the support of my parents to help me get through this awful experience. I went home to Toronto more often and found my return trips to Kingston stressful and unpleasant. I was lost in depression and anxiety. Now that the school year has ended, I have been able to calm myself by reflecting on what happened and realizing that I was not really at fault but rather a victim of circumstances that were not in my control.
Future Plan:
After time to reflect and with the support of my parents and counselors, I am excited to return to Queen¿¿s and start anew in September 2017. I have secured a wonderful living arrangement with good friends who will provide me the friendship that I so desperately needed in my first year. I also realize that I will not have the bouts of loneliness I often felt last year. I know I am smart and have now had the time to understand that my poor performance was not truly my fault but rather an unfortunate symptom of the turmoil in my family and personal life. I have already enrolled in COGS 100 this summer and want to prove to myself and others that I can move forward and find academic success again. I am truly motivated to get under way as soon as possible and return to school with a fresh and ambitious attitude. Looking back at my success in high school, I know I can be a success again. I just need the chance to prove it.

Sincerely,

Oliver Burke
Queen¿¿s Student ID 20025436