Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: a. Request:
I am appealing to the Dean to overlook the 21-day deadline to submit an academic appeal and would like request that all failures on my transcript are changed to DR.

b. Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:
During the Winter 2018 and Summer 2018 terms my academic performance was impeded by depression, anxiety and addiction. Previously, I had registered with Queen¿¿s Student Accessibility Services for accommodations for my anxiety and depression. During the Winter 2018 and Summer 2018 terms I was seeing my psychiatrist Dr. Jokic for anxiety and depression. I did not disclose to her that I was using drugs to escape my negative feelings and anxieties because I was ashamed at my unhealthy coping strategies. Through continued substance abuse my thinking became irrational and issues and emotions snowballed as I avoided addressing them. I did not seek help when I fell behind in my coursework and eventually failed a course in the Winter 2018 term. Rather, I elected to make a second attempt at the course in the subsequent Summer 2018 semester. In July, a distressing event caused me to decide to stop self-medicating and I stopped my drug use. I went through a painful withdrawal and my depression got worse. I confided my situation with my parents and Dr. Kolar (Dr. Jokic¿¿s temporary replacement). I was in withdrawal during the Summer 2018 examination period and was unable to write my exams. Since July, I have been recovering from addiction and my mental health has improved to the point presently where I feel well enough to address my academic situation. In my recovery from addiction, I regularly attended support programs at Addiction and Mental Health Services. In addition to abstinence from drugs, I began discussing my story more honestly and I attended weekly sessions with a psychologist and created a relapse prevention plan. I read books on anxiety, addiction and depression. I continue to engage in healthy behaviors like better self-care, meditation, mindfulness and CBT. I am working on practicing gratitude, stretching the boundaries of my comfort zone, adjusting my expectations and being patient.

c. Future plan:
I will be taking economics courses at Queen¿¿s during the Fall 2019 term in the aim of fulfilling an economics degree plan. I will be retaking ECON 212. I plan to meet regularly with my professors and QSAS advisors and keep an open line of communication to combat my cognitive distortions like mind-reading and catastrophizing. I will ask for help as I need it, not as a last resort. I will continue to see my psychiatrist Dr. Jokic. I will abstain from drugs. I will continue to work on behaviors core to my wellness including self-care (diet, sleep, exercise), meditation, mindfulness and CBT. I will combat perfectionism by adjusting my expectations and being patient.