Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 8880
Submitted: March 21, 2022 at 8:04:43 PM
First Name: Vonara
Last Name: Kalahe Pathirana
Student Number: 20176941
Email: 19vvsk@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BScH
Plan: LISC
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline, Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Code: MICR 360
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor's Name: Katrina Gee
Code: ANAT 312
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Les MacKenzie
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Barbara Crow, Katherine Rudder, and Louise Winn,
I am appealing to change my grades to credits for two courses: MICR 360 and ANAT 312 (Fall, 2021). As you can see from my transcript, there is not only a slight decrease in my grades due to the pandemic affecting my ability to learn and having ineffective learning methods in second year, but also a huge dip in my first semester of third year due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control.
There were three major incidences throughout the semester and many smaller ones, but I will only briefly address the timeline of the 3 main issues. In the second last week of September, a major act against me that occurred for the past year was brought to light to me. This sent me into a very deep, dark, depressive state, including oversleeping, under-eating, and suicidal thoughts. This was only the beginning of my spiral.
I immediately spoke to my professors to get help for my absences in classes/labs/missed quizzes and sought out a therapist through student wellness. I am certain professors Robert Campbell (whose full year BCHM 310 course I had to drop), Chip McCrimmon (ENIN 240), Duncan Hunter (EPID 301) and Leslie Mackenzie (ANAT 312) will attest to me speaking to them early October about my poor mental state. I was paired up with therapist Michelle Soroko and I have only poor reviews. She met me twice; during the first time I told her about the situation at hand and during the second time she asked me to list all the trauma I have ever experienced in my life. After I did so, she said that the root of all my issues was an incident that happened in grade 11, and she told me that she is going to pass me off to a specialist. I disagreed because grade 11 was 4.5 years prior and the two incidences were nothing alike. She told me that she would speak to the specialized therapist and get back to me within the next day or two. I sent her a follow-up email and got no response. A week later I went into the student wellness offices and explained my situation with Michelle to the receptionist, she took my name, number and email and said she would get back to me the next day but that also did not happen.
Another week goes by, and on October 25th my friend Jack Quipp passes away. He was a third year Geology/Mining Engineer student at Queen s University, but more than that he was my neighbour and my dear friend. I reluctantly sought out therapy through student wellness again and was paired up with Brooke McLatchie. She has been wonderful at helping me through my fluctuating healing journey, I only wish she was more available and that we were paired up sooner. I have only met her 3 times in the past 3.5 months, starting mid-November. She has sent me documentation supporting this appeal.
The reason I did well in EPID 301 and ENIN 240 is because the professors were extremely accommodating to my circumstances. My MICR 360 course was set up as 2 midterms, each work 20%, and a 60% final exam, and the professor was not accommodating at all to my circumstances. My ANAT 312 course was set up with 2 midterms, 1 exam, and many assignments with various weights and it was an extremely difficult course with limited leniency. The reason I did not drop these two courses earlier was because I thought I could recover my grades. The MICRO 360 exam was worth 60% and the ANAT 312 had a practical and written final so I thought that I could get good grades, fix my semester, and turn things around. I wanted to believe in myself but unfortunately, I was not quite there yet mentally.
This semester has been a lot better for my mental health because I have found ways to handle my anxiety and depression and I am also taking courses that have the flexibility to let me heal in my own way and allow for some minor obstacles. I am planning on taking a year off for a QUIP Internship in order to provide my life with more structure while also gaining experience in my field. This will help me avoid burnout from years of online learning and give me a routine to hold onto so I can come back a stronger student for my fifth year.
I am grateful for the opportunity to appeal these courses and look forward to continuing my education at an institution that supports growth, health and wellness, and positive personal development.
Sincerely,
Vonara Kalahe Pathirana (20176941)
I am appealing to change my grades to credits for two courses: MICR 360 and ANAT 312 (Fall, 2021). As you can see from my transcript, there is not only a slight decrease in my grades due to the pandemic affecting my ability to learn and having ineffective learning methods in second year, but also a huge dip in my first semester of third year due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control.
There were three major incidences throughout the semester and many smaller ones, but I will only briefly address the timeline of the 3 main issues. In the second last week of September, a major act against me that occurred for the past year was brought to light to me. This sent me into a very deep, dark, depressive state, including oversleeping, under-eating, and suicidal thoughts. This was only the beginning of my spiral.
I immediately spoke to my professors to get help for my absences in classes/labs/missed quizzes and sought out a therapist through student wellness. I am certain professors Robert Campbell (whose full year BCHM 310 course I had to drop), Chip McCrimmon (ENIN 240), Duncan Hunter (EPID 301) and Leslie Mackenzie (ANAT 312) will attest to me speaking to them early October about my poor mental state. I was paired up with therapist Michelle Soroko and I have only poor reviews. She met me twice; during the first time I told her about the situation at hand and during the second time she asked me to list all the trauma I have ever experienced in my life. After I did so, she said that the root of all my issues was an incident that happened in grade 11, and she told me that she is going to pass me off to a specialist. I disagreed because grade 11 was 4.5 years prior and the two incidences were nothing alike. She told me that she would speak to the specialized therapist and get back to me within the next day or two. I sent her a follow-up email and got no response. A week later I went into the student wellness offices and explained my situation with Michelle to the receptionist, she took my name, number and email and said she would get back to me the next day but that also did not happen.
Another week goes by, and on October 25th my friend Jack Quipp passes away. He was a third year Geology/Mining Engineer student at Queen s University, but more than that he was my neighbour and my dear friend. I reluctantly sought out therapy through student wellness again and was paired up with Brooke McLatchie. She has been wonderful at helping me through my fluctuating healing journey, I only wish she was more available and that we were paired up sooner. I have only met her 3 times in the past 3.5 months, starting mid-November. She has sent me documentation supporting this appeal.
The reason I did well in EPID 301 and ENIN 240 is because the professors were extremely accommodating to my circumstances. My MICR 360 course was set up as 2 midterms, each work 20%, and a 60% final exam, and the professor was not accommodating at all to my circumstances. My ANAT 312 course was set up with 2 midterms, 1 exam, and many assignments with various weights and it was an extremely difficult course with limited leniency. The reason I did not drop these two courses earlier was because I thought I could recover my grades. The MICRO 360 exam was worth 60% and the ANAT 312 had a practical and written final so I thought that I could get good grades, fix my semester, and turn things around. I wanted to believe in myself but unfortunately, I was not quite there yet mentally.
This semester has been a lot better for my mental health because I have found ways to handle my anxiety and depression and I am also taking courses that have the flexibility to let me heal in my own way and allow for some minor obstacles. I am planning on taking a year off for a QUIP Internship in order to provide my life with more structure while also gaining experience in my field. This will help me avoid burnout from years of online learning and give me a routine to hold onto so I can come back a stronger student for my fifth year.
I am grateful for the opportunity to appeal these courses and look forward to continuing my education at an institution that supports growth, health and wellness, and positive personal development.
Sincerely,
Vonara Kalahe Pathirana (20176941)
Documentation
Professional Letter: v appeal doc.pdf
Professional Letter Detail: Student Wellness Support of Appeal