Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean of Studies,

My name is Taylor Moore and I am a 5th year con-ed student returning this fall to complete my undergrad, with the hopes of completing teachers college in Fall of 2018. I am appealing to drop DRAM 211, and ENIN 301 (Summer 2017).

Over the past four months I experienced mental health issues beyond my control, influencing my ability to complete simple daily tasks, including my online courses. I have struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life, sought help all through high school with Dr. Shyamala Kiru, and once at Queen¿¿s during the Winter Term in 2015 with a councillor at the Student Wellness Center. April 2017 I finished my winter term at Queen¿¿s and desperately waited for my summer job to begin in the middle of June. I moved two hours away from home to work at a restaurant in Muskoka, Ontario where I lived with four other girls. During the beginning of summer I thought a lot about my time at Queens, how all of my friends have graduated and how I was so unsure whether or not I was on the right track to graduate with a BAH, and continue on to Teachers College. I began to feel overwhelmed, depressed and lost above all. Unsure who to reach out to in order to find the answers I needed regarding my marks, I did not talk to anyone about this matter, not my boyfriend, close friends, or family.
Some of the reasons behind my mood and behaviour changes this summer have to do with what I have endured the last few years. My grades at Queens do not reflect who I am as a healthy, and active member of the student body. In second year my mom split with her boyfriend of ten years, the father figure in my life. In third year my mom became extremely ill with an undiagnosed disease causing her to loose some of her motor control. Months waiting on MRI and cat scan results, switching doctors, diapers, catheters, anti-depressants, and so much more had negative affects on my schooling as I made family my utmost priority. Winter term of third year (2015) I only completed 1 of my 6 courses (including PROF 310) as I spent most of my days at home with my mom. Unfocused and unmotivated I never submit the appeal I should have to remove the failing grades from that term. Because of these grades still on my transcript I did not graduate on time, and spent most of 2016/2017 alone wondering if I could graduate and attend teachers college, a dream profession of mine for as long as I can remember.
Summer 2017, I had hopes to complete my summer courses to raise my GPA and graduate with a BAH. I became so incredibly ill, stressed, and depressed I barely left my bed some days. I stopped eating, I stopped going to work, I have never felt so unmotivated in my life. There were countless thoughts of self-harm and a few executed attempts. I eventually reached out to my friends and family who helped me receive the help I desperately needed. I was able to see a Dr. mid August, Dr. Neary, who helped me through all of the pain I was feeling. At this point it was too late to drop the courses I was enrolled in however I was advised to stop working and focus on getting back to school and looking into the steps needed in order to finish what I came to Queen¿¿s for.

My plan if this appeal goes through is to be enrolled in PROF 310, finish my undergrad, and graduate with my BAH. I am unable to retake PROF 310 right now because I am on academic probation, if this appeal is approved before Friday the 22nd I will have the opportunity to retake it and become the teacher I¿¿ve always wanted to be. I now understand how important it is to reach out, and use the resources the school provides in order to get the help I needed. I desperately wish I could go back in time and talk to an advisor and councillor much earlier on. I feel as though my mental health is more stable than ever right now, which is exactly why I want to focus all of my energy on school, getting better grades, and doing what I love. Thank you for your time, I hope DRAM 211 and ENIN 301 will be dropped on my transcript, as I was severely depressed all summer.

Thank you again,

Taylor Moore, 10096779