Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am applying for a Credit Standing for the courses Spanish and German from my first year here at Queen's University. The reason I am applying for this is that at the time I was enrolled in these courses I was suffering from severe anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, among other mental illnesses for which I still continue to suffer from to this day. These were so severe to a point that I was eventually admitted to the hospital under the mental health act of Ontario by the police.

While I was in these classes despite these conditions I continued to try to good solider and took prodigious efforts to try to achieve a suitable mark but to no prevail. With this said I strongly believe that the mental illness I was experiencing at the time had an extenuating impact on my performance and didn't allow me to perform to the degree I expect of myself and know I am capable of. I couldn't focus, had trouble sleeping, had trouble leaving my room and acting like a normal person would, was reduced to tears, tried to take my own life, and was incapable of coping well with this illness. Since experiencing such events which saw me hospitalized twice I have sought help to better handle these afflictions through the student health services here on campus and at home through my family doctor. Together we've been seeing improvements and continue to work towards full recovery.

I am requesting that these are appealed because even though they have no weighting towards my professional or academic aspirations they continue to negatively impact me and fester anxiety. These courses have removed me from consideration from numerous opportunities for career and academic advancement again despite not being something that I wish to pursue further in my life and they've taken the role of an anchor to my progress both mentally and professionally/academically. I plea that you consider these circumstances I have expressed and experienced, give it due consideration and grant this appeal. I sincerely hope you can understand these experiences and understand my position.

Sincerely, Walter Bolduc