Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing a letter of appeal in light of a potential review of my winter and fall 2019 courses.

The transition from London, England to Queen¿¿s University has not been as smooth as intended. Upon arrival at Queen¿¿s University, I then encountered many life-changing events which began with getting cut from the Queen¿¿s varsity basketball team. This was the beginning of my health issues.

Since I have been battling to keep my grades up. I have had to endure a decline in my ability to focus. I struggled to confide in anyone or seek help as I was not aware that something was wrong. When the fall 2018 semester came around and the problem had not subsided, I decided to seek help. I was informed by practitioners at the Queen¿¿s university wellness centre that I showed symptoms for major depression and generalised anxiety disorder. I was then placed on antidepressants.

Once my condition became known to my family they thought it would pass. Therefore, I decided to keep on studying. The thought of dropping courses or taking a semester off did not occur to me as I believed I would be letting the people who support me down. I was not advised to drop any of my courses, mainly because I was unsure of where to go to seek help.
In December 2018 my condition proceeded to worsen when my cousin passed away. This was a tough time as can be expected. The passing led to me being unable to perform adequately in order to write my fall 2018 final exams so they were deferred and written in January.

After visiting various doctors on numerous occasions, in March I was placed on Anti-depressants and Benzodiazepines. Upon returning to Queen¿¿s Fall 2019 I had the hope of starting fresh and completing my courses to the best of my abilities. Unfortunately, the medication was only doing more harm than good. It prevented me from carrying out general academic obligations. This then led to another deferral of my midterms in hopes of being able to complete my courses adequately. This too was not the case.

I confided in a few friends about my situation and they then revealed they encountered similar events. I was advised to go back to the doctor once more. I also sought academic advice and considerations to assist me with my studies. In December 2019 after visiting my doctor and explaining my symptoms in more depth, I was then placed on ADHD medication. The new medication has been working up to date. As I am returning to a mental state in which I can perform optimally in all aspects of my life. I have monthly doctor reviews where my medication is adjusted according to my needs.

I await your generous considerations.

Yours Sincerely,

Joshua Blake-Williams