Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean, Faulty of Arts and Science

I am writing this letter as an appeal to withdraw from my courses. These courses include: POLS 110 (FALL 2017 AND WINTER 2018), HIST 121 (FALL 2017 AND WINTER 2018), HIST 124 (FALL 2017 AND WINTER 2018), PHIL 115 (FALL 2017 AND WINTER 2018) and PHIL 153 (WINTER 2018). I am requesting to withdraw from these courses because of extenuating circumstances beyond my control. I was depressed for the majority of first semester and all of second, and I withdrew into myself and did not reach out for help. This appeal was recommended to me by an academic advisor.

I should have the courses appealed because I was depressed. I rarely left my room, and ate only one meal a day for months if I ate at all. I had incredible stress and anxiety, and I barely slept. I was unable to leave my room without paralyzing fear and self consciousness, and any time I talked to anyone I just lied through my teeth. I would literally step out of rooms sometimes just to scream noiselessly into pillows because it was so mentally challenging pretending to be alright. I missed home and my parents tremendously but I didn't want to admit to myself or them that I was flagging behind so I put on a facade that everything was ok and never let them in while my world was crumbling. I never found my footing at Queens and once the first two months or so went by the initial anxieties took over the excitement that had dominated my early tenure as a student. I struggled to make any friends I thought I could really relate to, and I felt like everyone else was doing something at this university except me. I struggled to find meaning in my life and in my courses, and I lost motivation. My delinquency started with a few missed classes because hey I was tired, then I skipped meals because it was too cold to walk so far and it snowballed into me at a few points not leaving my room for basically a week at a time other than a meal most days. I lost 15 pounds and had it not been for the Christmas break I would have lost more weight.

I have begun to take serious steps to help myself so this kind of thing will not repeat. I am on an antidepressant that I take daily. I have begun to see a mental health counsellor, and we are making progress in helping get my life back together. I have told the truth to my parents and those around me, so I no longer feel as alone as I did before. I have gotten a job for the summer and I have signed up at a gym. I now have regained all the weight I lost, and I eat three meals a day now.

I am including a picture of my prescription, a reference to mental health support, and at the end of this letter the reference information for the doctors contacted.

My academic plan is to take a year off and gather hold of my life. I wish to eventually pursue a degree in History, with a possible minor in political studies or global development. I plan to avoid the same pitfalls by actively seeking help and support from my family and resources available to me. I also plan to write out full study guides to help motivate myself, and to spend more time in a library instead of studying in my room. I also plan to travel home more often on the weekends, as I realized seeing my family is an incredibly important part of my life. sorry for the late appeal, I wanted to understand what I wanted to do with my life, not what my parents or friends pressured me into.

Thank you for your consideration of my appeal.
Sincerely,
Luke Harnden

Dr. Ryan Macarthur 519-265-4848
Walmart walk in clinic (519) 780-8585
Juliana V. Mental Health Counsellor 519-265-4848