Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Dr. Johanne Bénard
Associate Dean (Studies)
Queen's University


I am appealing to drop the classes of my Winter 2018 semester after the deadline. These classes are DRAM350 (6.0), MUSC380 (3.0), and DRAM419 (3.0). During this semester I was most affected by a mental health issue that had developed over the previous year. This issue primarily affects focus, attention span, sleep patterns, coping mechanisms, and the underlying conviction that the work is at all possible. The progression of this issue can be seen in my academic performance.

During the Winter 2017 semester, I failed my first course. This indicated that long held sentiments had developed into something different. I began visiting Student Wellness. First I saw an intern counsellor and then a regular counsellor in Counselling Services, as well as Dr. Billing in Health Services. I was only able to find work in Ottawa and was unable to continue with Student Wellness.

Returning in Fall 2017, I limited my course load and extracurricular commitments to give myself time to work through this mental health issue. However, the financial consequences of the summer and the fact that my father, my primary financial support, lost his job meant that I balanced two part-time jobs. This was my first time working during the academic year. This may have been beneficial as both environments were supportive but I still found myself struggling to find effective treatment. The time that I had to study was still wasted in working against this mental health issue. Simply attending lectures seemed impossible, frightening, and pointless. What had previously been discomfort with returning to an intimidating environment was now the feeling that I did not have the right to return, I would waste the professor's time, and I would humiliate myself. This thought pattern would sometimes reach a panicked state.

I had returned to Student Wellness, to the same doctor and a new counsellor Kelly Mannen. Treatment was marred by the process of finding an effective prescription. I also had difficulty utilizing the techniques and thought patterns discussed with Counselling Services. In my own time and space, these methods evaporated from my mind or ceased to make sense when I wrote them down.

The holiday break was marked by a new prescription with harsh side effects. Returning for the Winter 2018 semester, I was very hesitant to try more medication and tried to delve into other treatment methods. I kept my extracurricular involvement to a minimum and resigned a volunteer position. During this semester, Dr. Billing found a prescription with no evident side effects. I focussed on attending my lectures and appointments, relying on my peer support system and the cumulative effects of the new prescription. I was successful, especially in comparison to the previous semester. However, this act highlighted the core impact of this mental health issue. The time I had to study and complete my work was consumed by destructive thought patterns, damaging coping mechanisms such as binge-eating, or complete blankness. While I participated and was aware in class, the time outside was lost between work and the exhausting challenge of simply concentrating on the page in front of me.

Faced with this, my original plan in April 2018 was to graduate, continue with treatment in an environment separate to the university, and eventually return to improve my GPA and continue with graduate work. For unrelated reasons, I was unable to graduate.

My new intention is to complete my degree part-time in the upcoming academic year. Then I will be able to improve my GPA while still benefitting from an official degree. Thankfully, I am able to continue with treatment at Student Wellness. This summer I have already begun with a new counsellor Marjorie. I am minimising my exposure to the university communities I found so aggravating to this mental health issue. I have a new support system at home in the form of a long-time friend, a small peer support group within the Classics department, as well as the mental health work of this summer to build on.

My reason for submitting this appeal is this future plan. I have identified the semester in question as exemplary of my failures and the most difficult point. I am hoping to move forward without carrying such a bulk of these past failures. I recognize that I have much to do if I wish to be accepted to a postgraduate program. Writing this letter has been extremely difficult as it contends with all of the difficulties of this mental health issue. However, this letter is now written and it is a step I am building on for my future university career.

Sincerely,

Elaine Sandness
10108108