Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear members of the Associate Dean,

I am appealing the Faculty's decision that I must withdraw from Queen's for a minimum of one year. Even though I prepared myself for the notice, it is never easy to accept such a result. I am writing in hopes of waiving the withdrawal, allowing me to use next semester as a chance to improve my academic performance. Thank you for giving me such an opportunity to explain my situation.
Last semester was a challenging time, and it directly reflected in my grades. I realize that this will not excuse the fact that my performance was unsatisfying. However, I would like to explain my situation. I started this semester after moving out of my last residence because of the house's deteriorating condition. The house itself was too old and having all kinds of problems from the water pipe to roof leaves me no choice but to move in a brief time. I had confidence that I could manage the pressure until the repercussion of my father's death hit me again. My father passed away two years ago, and because it happened suddenly, I had to take a gap year to manage all the affairs he left behind. Early this year, some of my father's friends informed me that he kept his personal life away from our family as if he were another person. It was a shocking news to the family that even got my grandmother hospitalized, and the relationships between my parent's family became much more intense. Therefore, I spent quite an amount of time dealing with all the pressures that came alongside this news. It took up most of my study time, and this eventually affected me in the long term. I barely got enough sleep and was unable to focus on my schoolwork. And up to now, I already understand that I should have communicated with my professors, seeking both academic and mental support from related departments of our school. I thought I would eventually cope with the pressure, but I was wrong, and it is a mistake I will not easily forget.
I understand the chance I had at Queen's University is precious, and the resources I had at Queen's are far more than I expected. I love this university, and it would mean so much if I graduate from Queen's, not only to me but also to my family. I will be the first member of my family to achieve a full-time university degree, especially from a university with a worldwide reputation and ranking. If I got a chance to be reinstated, I would focus on my schoolwork, putting it first in my daily planning, and manage my daily schedule more reasonably. Meanwhile, I will stay connected with both my professors and advisors, reach out for resources and information on time, and try my best not to waste my time.
It might seem powerless that I am making such promises, however, please understand that the unsatisfying academic does not indicate I am a student who is unwilling to push forward or try my best. On the other hand, I am a hard-working student who experienced an unfortunate time and eventually found a way to cope with it. I hope you will give me another chance. Thank you for considering this appeal.

Sincerely,

Hanpeng Wu(20180227)