Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To: The Associate Dean of Studies

Due to some unfortunate circumstances in which my academic performance has been severely affected, I wish to request for a credit standing in PHYS 117 from Fall/Winter 2013-2014 and to drop late GEOL 104 from Winter 2014, MATH 121 from Summer 2014.

The end of April prior to my commencement of studies at Queen's University, I experience an accident that caused a rather severe concussion. With a history of concussions, I experienced some unfavorable symptoms, which included: intolerable headaches, concentration and memory problems and also some uncharacteristic behavior. These symptoms did not go unnoticed among my teachers who noticed a slip in my responsiveness towards academics and extra-curricular activities. Months went by and although the symptoms seemed to improve slowly, they did not fully resolve themselves over the summer months as I had hoped. Upon coming to Queen's I had come to forget about some of the issues that I was having, until the fantasy of being at Queen's wore off and it began to dawn on me that although I had moved on to university, my symptoms might not have passed.

The period of adjustment to a higher degree of education and an unknown city was hard enough but my symptoms made it extremely difficult. I struggled in concentrating during the lectures with other student fidgeting and talking, I had difficulties absorbing and focusing on required readings and reviewing notes, as well as the prolonged time it took for me to process a question on an assignment or quiz. My memory was not excellent but the fact that I was having issues concentrating made it worse. The more I forced myself to concentrate the more headaches I experienced and so the cycle ensued. I believed I could persevere, although at the end of fall semester I noted that I was in need of assistance. I went to academic counseling where as a first year I was directed to a student for assistance, where I was not sufficiently presented with options. I felt very distraught, academically isolated and ashamed. I stressed myself to rebound, to miraculously do better but things unraveled from there. I was able to pass most courses by taking my time on assignments knowing that they could help compensate for my poor memory skills during the tests and exams. I was able to struggle through most multiple-choice exams with somewhat success for they allowed for me to have some recollection of the course material. Unfortunately courses that were weighed heavy on full recollection of course material such as MATH 121, GEOL 104 and PHYS 117, I did not do well in at all.

I knew I was not fulfilling my full potential, I consider myself quite proficient in academics and honestly I had difficulty acknowledging that I was in dire need of assistance. Although my symptoms were improving they hindered my performance greatly. This past year I was prepared to gain aid through Queen's services which I took advantage of and have been, but regrettably just as I was beginning to recover significantly from my dwindling symptoms I experienced another unforeseen incident at the end of October of this year, where I sustained another concussion. Although this time it was quite different, I know that I have to deal with it differently and that although I cannot see the injury, it is an injury nonetheless and it needs to be properly taken care of. I have taken many steps to gain any aid that I can; academically from Queen's Services as well as medically from my family doctor and hematologist for I have a rare bleeding disorder. I was advised that taking a reduced semester would allow myself the needed time to succeed academically and overcome my looming symptoms. As a result my symptoms are resolving themselves slowly as I manage to my health. I plan to finish up my deferred exams and complete the two courses that I am taking so that I may achieve the goals I have set. I plan not to do any new courses over the summer so that I will not be under any stress and may be able to accelerate my healing, so that I may return in the fall mostly recovered. I acknowledge that I will have to take an extra year in order to achieve my program goals. Although this has been a trying time, I like to think of it as an opportunity to have become stronger and that I can endure obstacles thrown in my path.

I sincerely thank you in advance for hearing me out on this issue and I hope you will take everything into consideration with your decision on my appeal.

Sincerely,
Ashley Buske