Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing this letter in hopes to appeal five of my courses throughout my 2016 year at Queen¿¿s University. Over the period of three semesters, winter, summer, and fall, I was faced with an extenuating circumstance not only distracting me from my learning, but completely removed me from my studies. My mom suffered immensely from an illness that was undiagnosed for an extended period of time beginning in January 2016. She then started to suffer from depression and I made the difficult decision to leave Queen¿¿s right as the 2016 winter term was ending, only completing 1/5 courses. In between the time when my mom first became ill, and I left Kingston to go home, I too began to show signs of depression and anxiety that progressed as time went on. Very little of my time throughout winter 2016 was spent at school. My mom had given me her car, as she was unable to drive, or walk, that way I could travel back and forth to care for her. I sought help on campus from a councillor while I was at school, as well as an academic advisor, Heather Carter, recognizing that my marks were suffering from the circumstances I was facing. Although I became aware of how this was affecting my marks I was unable to take the actions required due to the severity of my mental health issues. Once I arrived home for good in April, and failed 4 out of my 5 classes, I became extremely stressed and enrolled myself in 2 summer courses, while still looking after my mom. I was eager to make up for the courses I did not finish, however I was not aware of how unstable I still was, and the courses did know go as I intended. Unfortunately my mother¿¿s illness did not improve throughout that summer. Her depression was taking over our family¿¿s lives and my mom¿¿s health became my upmost priority. All of my time and concentration was focused on my mother, praying she would not give up on my sisters and I. Towards September 2016 my mom began to show signs of improvement. She was walking and regained some of her bodily functions making me feel as though I could return to Queen¿¿s for the 2016 fall semester, with a small course load of 3 classes. After spending months with my mom, supporting her through this awful time I hadn¿¿t been taking care of myself. When I arrived for fall semester my depression and anxiety was at its worst. I was completely unmotivated and had no energy left to focus on why I was at school to begin with. Ignoring my emotions and still worrying about my mom back home, I only passed 2/3 of my courses. Eventually, around the beginning of my 2017 winter semester at Queen¿¿s my mom started to feel significantly better, and some of my anxious feelings and depression diminished. They did not disappear however, and even though my mom had made substantial emotional improvement, I continued to suffer. From winter 2016 into summer 2017, the circumstances in my life left me emotionally exhausted, unmotivated, and feeling completely worthless. I spent over 12 months worried about my mom I never had the time to focus on my own health or think about how this was affecting my Con-Ed degree. There were countless thoughts of self-harm and a few executed attempts. I eventually sought professional help Summer 2017 with Dr. Neary, who I continue to see regularly.
I have turned my life around and truly recognize how much of an impact mental health can have on a person¿¿s life. It has come to my attention, after months of being unable to focus on my schooling when I needed to most, that I now may not be able to return to Queen¿¿s for the 2018 Winter Semester. I want to appeal these five classes so I can finish my Con-Ed degree at Queen¿¿s University, a goal of mine for as long as I can remember. With these five classes appealed I can work towards my Bachelor of Arts Honours, alongside completing PROF 310, two things only possible if this appeal is approved. Now that I have been focusing on my personal wellbeing, my marks this past semester have been better than ever. I was completely removed from school mentally even when I was there physically throughout the winter, summer and fall terms of 2016. Although my marks did not significantly improve into the 2017 term, I finally received the help I desperately needed that summer and have had an extremely successful fall 2017 term. I know if this appeal goes through I can complete the courses I need, and attend teacher¿¿s college fall 2018, as I am more motivated and emotionally stable than ever before. In addition, if I was faced with an extenuating circumstance again I would get the help required to work through my anxiety and depression immediately. Please consider how important this truly is to me, it is harder than imaginable to talk about this time as it was the worst year of my life. I was unable to appeal these classes when I needed to as it was even more difficult then, and because of that my future is currently jeopardized. Again, teaching is and always has been my passion; I want nothing more than to finish my BAH at Queen¿¿s University and stay in the Con-Ed program, completing teachers college in 2018.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Taylor Moore, 10096779