Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Rachel Pekeles
10211627
July 12th, 2017

Dear Dr. Johanne Bénard,
My name is Rachel Pekeles and I am a first year concurrent education student at Queens University. I am requesting to receive aegrotat standing in PSYC 100 this academic year (2016-2017). I have yet to complete the course because I differed the exam to September 2017 assuming my condition would be better, however it has only gotten worse and I will be unable to take it. In fact, I am differing the following year to focus on my mental health.
Throughout the year I have struggled with a vast array of mental health concerns such as a mood disorder, BPD and anxiety which have been so severe I have spent the majority of my first year primarily learning how to cope from day to day, advocate for myself and stay safe. I have spent countless hours in doctors¿¿ offices, therapy, counselling appointments and hospitals. This past semester I have been prescribed many medications, such as anti-psychotics, that have had extraordinarily debilitating side effects, which resulted in my missing many classes this past semester. I find it nearly impossible to focus, and currently any academic stress I experience drives my mental health downward. Although I am regularly a very academically oriented person, as a result of my circumstances I am finding studying at this time to be extraordinarily detrimental to my health and safety. I attempted to keep my mental health under control by reaching out to doctors, therapists and psychiatrists. However, I have become increasingly sick to the point where I have considered taking my own life to avoid my inevitable academic failure.
Should my request be granted, I will take many steps to improve my current situation over the following year, as to prevent this situation from recurring in the following academic year (2018-2019). For example, at home I am attending extensive therapy programs, and working with a psychiatrist to address my complex needs. I have also committed to extending my undergraduate degree so that I can take a lighter course load in the upcoming years. I sincerely hope we can work to reach an agreement which allows me to focus on my health and safety, and grants me an opportunity to start fresh in the following academic year.
Sincerely,
Rachel Pekeles