Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Sir or Madam ;
I am asking to late drop my courses from the Fall semester of 2020 of my Global Development Studies program due to medical reasons. The specific courses are : ANAT 100, DEVS 100A, DEVS 220, FILM 240, and LIBS 100.
January 2020: These last 15 have been the most difficult of my life, mentally, emotionally, and physically. A year ago January (2020) my doctor advised that I seek counseling to deal with my anxiety as it was interfering with my daily life, school life, and affecting me on many levels. I was waiting to see a counselor when COVID hit and everything went into lockdown. Things for me took a very bad turn as I waited and waited for my mental state to improve however I soon realized that without help, this was impossible. I tried very hard, with my mom¿¿s constant support, but with COVID restrictions, I was unable to get any counseling at that time.
September 2020 : I was very excited when September arrived to start the Online Global Development Studies program with Queens which I had waited 8 months to start. I hoped that my university studies would me my salvation since they would be delivered online and perhaps that would alleviate some of my anxiety. Around this same time, my doctor diagnosed me with ADHD which explained some of the things I had been experiencing throughout my life. I hoped the medication would help me to focus the way I should as concentrating was becoming extremely difficult (particularly with school).
In early September, my doctor had me try two different ADHD medications (Concerta and Sandoz-Amphetamine) but after weeks of taking one, then weeks of trying the other ¿¿ neither worked. By the end of September 2020, my mind started to go to darker places and I felt more helpless. Every day I woke up wondering if I would ever feel normal again ¿¿ some days I could not get out of bed. My mind was not only falling apart but my body was now being affected ¿¿ I couldn¿¿t bring myself to start anything, including university and my courses. I was getting more and more behind in school as I just shut down and couldn¿¿t do any work.
October 2020 : I was so stressed as it was already the beginning of October and I had not even started most of my courses which caused even more anxiety. The world around me became (and still is) overwhelming ¿¿ I was consumed with anxiety and helplessness on all levels. At one point, I felt things might be better if I was dead. By the middle of October, I was unable to do any university school work ¿¿ nothing. My focus and concentration were so hindered that I even failed my N Drivers Road test twice (November 2020 and again in April 2021).
November 2020 : Finally in early November, I found a counselor and started sessions with her. This is helping me however as she has explained, I have a lot to work through with my mental health and it will take time. I feel tremendous guilt with respect to school as my mom has worked hard to support me and I have failed her (and myself). I feel like a loser in life and am ashamed that I am in this head space and every day gets worse and worse. My counselor is patient and encourages me that there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel but it will not happen overnight.
Regarding my university, I am not capable of continuing at this time. Perhaps I shouldn¿¿t have tried again back in September 2020 but I honestly thought it might help but it appears I was wrong. I failed all of my courses in the Fall semester because I hardly started them and just couldn¿¿t go on. I was too ashamed and overwhelmed to withdraw then and didn¿¿t share this with my mom (whom I currently live with) - she only found out when the Winter term started.
My request to Queens University is to please allow me to late drop the courses I have noted due to my mental health situation and my inability to continue my studies during that time of schooling. I am working on my mental health every day and taking the necessary steps to get better. The stress of worrying about my grades is extremely upsetting to me. I am finally getting the help I need and I look forward to the future when I can resume my studies with Queens and my chosen program.
Attached are letters from my Doctor, Dr. Angela Andruchow (Jan. 2020) and my Counselor, Courtney Turnell, whom I have been receiving weekly therapy from.
I would greatly appreciate your consideration of this request.
Thank you.
Logan Lalonde