Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am writing this appeal to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year. Perseverance has been the word that has defined me throughout my life after high school. Growing up in my hometown of Georgetown, Guyana, which is in located in South America. I had access to anything I needed. I took comfort in the fact that I was always close to my friends and family so I thrived in such a familiar environment. However, my fortune changed when I moved to Canada to continue my studies.I was no longer in my comfort zone and I subsequently struggled in both my personal and academic life. After completing my freshman year, I was left with a huge dilemma: Do I quit and let life pass me by Or do I adapt and make the best of my time here Throughout my entire first year, I struggled to cope both academically and mentally. The transition to a new life after high school and out of my family's home was very traumatic for me. My mental health began to take a toll on me and my physical health as well. I began to lose weight, lose sleep and lose my appetite. Moving to Canada was a major culture shock for me. I no longer had my siblings or parents to comfort me, so it felt as though I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. I found it very difficult to make friends as well. I spent most the year by myself without any friends or family. This led me to feeling depressed. I began to lose interest in almost everything I once cared about, including my studies. As a result, I struggled in my classes. I struggled to wake up in the mornings and even in the afternoons to attend my classes. As a result, my grades started to drop. During my high school years, I excelled academically so I never thought I would struggle in my studies here. Struggling with assignments, classes, quizzes and exams occurred throughout my entire first year. Assignments and exams are what I struggled with the most. Whenever I had assignments or exams, I would automatically lose motivation. Although I would get my assignments done and turn them in on time, it would never be to the best of my ability. I knew I could have done better but I simply was not motivated. Having a loss of motivation and determination led me to fall back on my academics. I have so many dreams that I know that I can accomplish. Through self-care I will keep myself grounded and motivated. In the past I gave up too easily but now I have the tools needed to persevere. I have been taking care of my mental and physical health as of recently. During my time of difficulty, I managed to sign up for a program called Bounce Back. At the beginning of the winter term, I met with a peer mentor once a week, who provided me with confidential one-on-one academic support throughout the months I had left. During these meetings, we talked about how to manage my time more effectively, how to identify issues impacting my academics, how to develop effective study skills and exam strategies and how to develop healthy lifestyle habits. These meetings helped me to better understand how to go about setting my academic goals throughout the year. In addition to that, I have been going to personal counseling once a week. My counselor has worked with me to help me overcome my mental health issues and personal setbacks. Also, my family support has increased tremendously. My parents and siblings visit more often, which makes home seem not so far away. In addition to all the personal improvements that I have made, my sister just recently began her first year at Queen's. Having her here has provided me with a sense of home and further emotional stability.