Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 3560
Submitted: June 5, 2017 at 10:50:55 PM
First Name: Bowen
Last Name: Reid
Student Number: 10179476
Email: 14br12@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: SOCY
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Academic Appeal ¿¿ Bowen Reid (10179476)
Dear Associate Dean (Studies),
a. The Request:
Please consider this as my formal appeal of my academic standing in the following courses due to on-going mental health challenges over the course of the 2016-17 academic year. Dr. Benard has already agreed to waive the one term deadline.
i. I am appealing to have SOCY 227 and SOCY 275 listed as dropped courses
ii. I am also appealing for credit standing (CR) in SOCY 226 and POLS 250
b. Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:
I had my first panic attack in October of my first year at Queen¿¿s. I had often experienced feelings of overwhelming anxiety since beginning my university studies, but on this occasion I was so panicked and scared that I called an ambulance. I was admitted to the hospital and monitored through the night due to tachycardia. I was not medicated nor was there any follow up appointment. I continued to struggle for the rest of my first year with anxiety and motivational challenges, however out of embarrassment, I did not tell anyone until second year, leaving myself to deal with my problems alone. Because I was struggling mentally and emotionally, I was unable to achieve the academic standing required to major in one of my two programs of choice (Politics or Film). As a result, I had few options and defaulted to majoring in Sociology, while also taking Politics courses in hopes of transferring to that department in third year. Unfortunately, my mental health challenges continued, partially aggravated by studying a subject in which I had no interest and did not enjoy.
My frustrations with studying Sociology came to a head when I realized that my SOCY 275 term paper was misplaced, and that I had failed the course, despite the fact that I submitted the completed paper in person on Oct. 27. This realization occurred in the midst of December exams (the 6th), significantly increasing my feelings of stress and anxiety, and having a direct negative affect on my performance on exams, especially SOCY 226. Despite my immediate offer to reprint the paper, my provision of proof that it was completed prior to the due date, and my subsequent appeal to both the AGC (Dec. 9) and to the Associate Dean of Studies, I was informed that my appeal could not be heard. Of course, this final decision came four months later, renewing my feelings of despair just prior to the start of April exams.
Further, my girlfriend who I loved deeply ended our relationship the day before my December exams started. She then renewed our relationship in January, only to break up with me again a few days before April exams. The timing of these two break-ups could not have been worse and seriously affected my ability to study and prepare for my exams. It was the first of these breakups that really sent me into a downward spiral: academically, mentally, and emotionally.
When I returned home after December exams, my parents asked me to meet with a professional counselor, someone that I could speak with confidentially about my challenges. I subsequently had two counselling sessions with Michael Isaac, a Clinical Social Worker with a private practice (Hoffman & Isaac). I consented to Michael sharing information from my sessions with my parents in order to enable them to also assist me where possible. Michael also provided his cell phone as a point of contact should I need to speak with him when back in Kingston.
Unfortunately, my choice of housemates this year (four 2nd year engineers) added to my mental health struggles and compounded my academic challenges. They were manipulative, took advantage of me, stole from me, constantly disrespected my property, and often bullied me whenever I was home. I became increasingly anxious when in the house, and by second semester I rarely worked or slept there because of the toxic environment. This persisted until I finally moved out at the end of April. My housemate and girlfriend challenges had a direct impact on my mental state and my ability to achieve academically. While I completed most of my POLS 250B final essay and the take home exam for SOCY 227, I was not able to finish them by the deadline and did not submit them. I was also unable to complete the second essay in SOCY 227. I was essentially living in the library and frequently on the couch at my girlfriends (when together), and I was really struggling with being able to focus on my courses and assignment completion. I was self-medicating, crying daily, and feeling very depressed and unmotivated.
It was at this time in mid-April that I found myself in crisis, as I had feelings of wanting to cause myself harm. I called Michael Isaac and he contacted my parents to discuss whether he should call the police and an ambulance. My father called my grandfather who lives 40 minutes away and had him come to check on me. A couple of weeks later (May 3), after returning home to Newmarket, I again had feelings of self harm and called an ambulance to my home. The police and ambulance responded and I was hospitalized. While in hospital and again the following day I met with a Psychiatrist (Dr. Rupinder Kaur Johal). I was prescribed Apo-Escitalopram (for depression) and Apo-Clonazepam (for anxiety). Since returning home for the summer, I have also renewed my visits to my Counselor, Michael Isaac.
c. In Future:
I have already made several steps towards improving my mental and academic well-being for the coming year. I now see my Counselor regularly and am taking my prescribed medications as suggested, and will continue to do so moving forward. I have already moved out of my previous student house and will not be living with any of my past housemates in order to be surrounded by a better group of people for a healthier living arrangement. I have also stopped talking to my ex-girlfriend and have blocked her from my social media in order to move on from her and to decrease my ongoing struggles with rumination. With regard to my misplaced paper, I will ensure that I get a signed receipt for any future assignments submitted in hard copy.
Should my appeal be granted, I am hopeful that my resulting GPA will enable me to change my academic major to either politics or film, and thereby shift my academic focus to a subject in which I am interested. If I am unable to switch programs, I will at the very least look towards taking electives in the areas of study I enjoy, with hopes of changing programs in future. With the assistance of counselling, I have developed many coping strategies for my mental well-being, and I plan to continue them so I no longer feel the urge to self-harm. I am confident that my improved mental health and coping strategies will help me to get back on track and reach my academic goals moving forward.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bowen Gregory Reid
ID 10179476
14br12@queensu.ca
416-844-5289
Dear Associate Dean (Studies),
a. The Request:
Please consider this as my formal appeal of my academic standing in the following courses due to on-going mental health challenges over the course of the 2016-17 academic year. Dr. Benard has already agreed to waive the one term deadline.
i. I am appealing to have SOCY 227 and SOCY 275 listed as dropped courses
ii. I am also appealing for credit standing (CR) in SOCY 226 and POLS 250
b. Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:
I had my first panic attack in October of my first year at Queen¿¿s. I had often experienced feelings of overwhelming anxiety since beginning my university studies, but on this occasion I was so panicked and scared that I called an ambulance. I was admitted to the hospital and monitored through the night due to tachycardia. I was not medicated nor was there any follow up appointment. I continued to struggle for the rest of my first year with anxiety and motivational challenges, however out of embarrassment, I did not tell anyone until second year, leaving myself to deal with my problems alone. Because I was struggling mentally and emotionally, I was unable to achieve the academic standing required to major in one of my two programs of choice (Politics or Film). As a result, I had few options and defaulted to majoring in Sociology, while also taking Politics courses in hopes of transferring to that department in third year. Unfortunately, my mental health challenges continued, partially aggravated by studying a subject in which I had no interest and did not enjoy.
My frustrations with studying Sociology came to a head when I realized that my SOCY 275 term paper was misplaced, and that I had failed the course, despite the fact that I submitted the completed paper in person on Oct. 27. This realization occurred in the midst of December exams (the 6th), significantly increasing my feelings of stress and anxiety, and having a direct negative affect on my performance on exams, especially SOCY 226. Despite my immediate offer to reprint the paper, my provision of proof that it was completed prior to the due date, and my subsequent appeal to both the AGC (Dec. 9) and to the Associate Dean of Studies, I was informed that my appeal could not be heard. Of course, this final decision came four months later, renewing my feelings of despair just prior to the start of April exams.
Further, my girlfriend who I loved deeply ended our relationship the day before my December exams started. She then renewed our relationship in January, only to break up with me again a few days before April exams. The timing of these two break-ups could not have been worse and seriously affected my ability to study and prepare for my exams. It was the first of these breakups that really sent me into a downward spiral: academically, mentally, and emotionally.
When I returned home after December exams, my parents asked me to meet with a professional counselor, someone that I could speak with confidentially about my challenges. I subsequently had two counselling sessions with Michael Isaac, a Clinical Social Worker with a private practice (Hoffman & Isaac). I consented to Michael sharing information from my sessions with my parents in order to enable them to also assist me where possible. Michael also provided his cell phone as a point of contact should I need to speak with him when back in Kingston.
Unfortunately, my choice of housemates this year (four 2nd year engineers) added to my mental health struggles and compounded my academic challenges. They were manipulative, took advantage of me, stole from me, constantly disrespected my property, and often bullied me whenever I was home. I became increasingly anxious when in the house, and by second semester I rarely worked or slept there because of the toxic environment. This persisted until I finally moved out at the end of April. My housemate and girlfriend challenges had a direct impact on my mental state and my ability to achieve academically. While I completed most of my POLS 250B final essay and the take home exam for SOCY 227, I was not able to finish them by the deadline and did not submit them. I was also unable to complete the second essay in SOCY 227. I was essentially living in the library and frequently on the couch at my girlfriends (when together), and I was really struggling with being able to focus on my courses and assignment completion. I was self-medicating, crying daily, and feeling very depressed and unmotivated.
It was at this time in mid-April that I found myself in crisis, as I had feelings of wanting to cause myself harm. I called Michael Isaac and he contacted my parents to discuss whether he should call the police and an ambulance. My father called my grandfather who lives 40 minutes away and had him come to check on me. A couple of weeks later (May 3), after returning home to Newmarket, I again had feelings of self harm and called an ambulance to my home. The police and ambulance responded and I was hospitalized. While in hospital and again the following day I met with a Psychiatrist (Dr. Rupinder Kaur Johal). I was prescribed Apo-Escitalopram (for depression) and Apo-Clonazepam (for anxiety). Since returning home for the summer, I have also renewed my visits to my Counselor, Michael Isaac.
c. In Future:
I have already made several steps towards improving my mental and academic well-being for the coming year. I now see my Counselor regularly and am taking my prescribed medications as suggested, and will continue to do so moving forward. I have already moved out of my previous student house and will not be living with any of my past housemates in order to be surrounded by a better group of people for a healthier living arrangement. I have also stopped talking to my ex-girlfriend and have blocked her from my social media in order to move on from her and to decrease my ongoing struggles with rumination. With regard to my misplaced paper, I will ensure that I get a signed receipt for any future assignments submitted in hard copy.
Should my appeal be granted, I am hopeful that my resulting GPA will enable me to change my academic major to either politics or film, and thereby shift my academic focus to a subject in which I am interested. If I am unable to switch programs, I will at the very least look towards taking electives in the areas of study I enjoy, with hopes of changing programs in future. With the assistance of counselling, I have developed many coping strategies for my mental well-being, and I plan to continue them so I no longer feel the urge to self-harm. I am confident that my improved mental health and coping strategies will help me to get back on track and reach my academic goals moving forward.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bowen Gregory Reid
ID 10179476
14br12@queensu.ca
416-844-5289
Documentation
Professional Letter: Bowen Reid - Off Campus Physicians note.pdf