Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 715
Submitted: January 27, 2015 at 2:47:51 PM
First Name: Joshua
Last Name: Blake
Student Number: 10057859
Email: 11jb106@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: GPHY
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: GPHY 208
Term: Fall
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: GPHY 227
Term: Fall
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: GPHY 243
Term: Fall
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: GPHY 229
Term: Fall
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: GPHY 258
Term: Fall
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies)
I am appealing to have the failures for GPHY 208, GPHY 227, GPHY 243, GPHY 229 and GPHY 258 removed from my transcript.
Starting in grade 10 I began experiencing episodes of depression. Despite this, I was able to maintain my grades and mental stability through the rest of high school and into my first year at Queens BISC. Unfortunately, during the summer of 2013, I became very depressed and during the Fall 2013 semester at Queens I was unable to attend classes and participate in the learning environment. I decided to seek help in the new year, 2014, and started seeing a therapist. I took Winter 2014 semester off to think about my future path at university and to help my mother who was going through cancer treatment in the USA. This time helped me to collect my thoughts and gather a foot hold on what I wanted to do and if I wanted to continue academics. After discussions with my parents and therapist, and time to think for myself, I was ready to attend Queens for Fall 2014.
I started again in the Fall 2014 semester with good classes, an acceptable living situation and a determination to succeed through university. I was doing very well up until the end of October when I started experiencing depressive symptoms again. I lost my appetite and in doing so experienced large weight loss. I felt a significant decrease in motivation towards my academics and other activities that I enjoy, such as yoga and the gym. I became a much more reclusive person, preferring solitude rather than companionship of friends. I realized that it was time to get help.
After admitting, during the Fall term of 2014, that my mental health was suffering. I sought help from Queens Student Health Services. Where I started talking to Dr. Alyson Biedermann who prescribed SSRI medication. I started to take the medication and its affect on my mental state has been nothing but positive.
My plan is to find an external therapist to talk too and, in combination with, medication, therapy and a healthy schedule, I believe that I will be able to not only complete this semester but also succeed in my courses.
I am fortunate enough to have parents that are supportive of me and my needs. I hope my appeal is successful so that I may get on and continue my studies with a more clear outlook and mindset. Thus, in turn, perform better in my academics.
Sincerely yours,
Joshua Blake
10057859
I am appealing to have the failures for GPHY 208, GPHY 227, GPHY 243, GPHY 229 and GPHY 258 removed from my transcript.
Starting in grade 10 I began experiencing episodes of depression. Despite this, I was able to maintain my grades and mental stability through the rest of high school and into my first year at Queens BISC. Unfortunately, during the summer of 2013, I became very depressed and during the Fall 2013 semester at Queens I was unable to attend classes and participate in the learning environment. I decided to seek help in the new year, 2014, and started seeing a therapist. I took Winter 2014 semester off to think about my future path at university and to help my mother who was going through cancer treatment in the USA. This time helped me to collect my thoughts and gather a foot hold on what I wanted to do and if I wanted to continue academics. After discussions with my parents and therapist, and time to think for myself, I was ready to attend Queens for Fall 2014.
I started again in the Fall 2014 semester with good classes, an acceptable living situation and a determination to succeed through university. I was doing very well up until the end of October when I started experiencing depressive symptoms again. I lost my appetite and in doing so experienced large weight loss. I felt a significant decrease in motivation towards my academics and other activities that I enjoy, such as yoga and the gym. I became a much more reclusive person, preferring solitude rather than companionship of friends. I realized that it was time to get help.
After admitting, during the Fall term of 2014, that my mental health was suffering. I sought help from Queens Student Health Services. Where I started talking to Dr. Alyson Biedermann who prescribed SSRI medication. I started to take the medication and its affect on my mental state has been nothing but positive.
My plan is to find an external therapist to talk too and, in combination with, medication, therapy and a healthy schedule, I believe that I will be able to not only complete this semester but also succeed in my courses.
I am fortunate enough to have parents that are supportive of me and my needs. I hope my appeal is successful so that I may get on and continue my studies with a more clear outlook and mindset. Thus, in turn, perform better in my academics.
Sincerely yours,
Joshua Blake
10057859
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: A letter of support from Dr. Alyson Biedermann. Handed into receptionist in Dunning Hall at 2:30pm on Jan 27th 2015.