Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Academic),

I am writing to request if I may return to Queen's for the upcoming fall semester after my requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years is ending.

My performance the last two times I was at Queen's was disastrous to say the least. I believed at the time I was suffering as many students do with the difficulty of transitioning to University at a young age, and mental health issues stemming from my past and exacerbated with the expectations of college. While I have been away from Queen's over the past few years, I have been made aware that I display the symptoms of ADHD. My friend brought it up to me this year that I probably had it after recently been diagnosed herself. I vaguely knew of ADHD before this year and had a stereotype in my mind of a hyperactive, disruptive child. As my family is from a poor country with little to no access to mental health resources, it was an issue that I was never made aware of growing up. I spoke with my family doctor and was prescribed medication for it with plans to gradually increase the dosage until I found the effective amount. I have recently been formally diagnosed with the ADHD, Combined Type by a psychologist as I made the decision to return to Queen's and pursue my post-secondary education. The medication and diagnosis have been life-changing, it has provided me focus and clarity for the first time in my life. The shame, guilt and frustration with my previous failures is something this diagnosis has given me relief from as well. My lifestyle has also been shifting fundamentally, with an increased emphasis on exercise, diet, sleep and more as I become aware of how my condition affects all aspects of my life and how much I need structure. My procrastination, underachievement, anxiety, and depression were typical of being undiagnosed and untreated for years. Now that I am aware of exactly where the problem lay with my academic difficulties, I know what tools to use to move forward.

I am interested in pursuing a degree in Computer Science and am familiar with the plan requirements. I understand I would need to appeal to drop courses, and if unable to transfer, I will attempt another degree in Arts & Science instead. If allowed to return to Queen's, I would like to enroll as a part-time student for the fall semester and will re-take only prerequisite courses throughout the year. In the past, I struggled with procrastination and lack of focus. The medication has helped enormously, and I am currently self-studying math to build strong study habits before returning to school. My priority is to slowly build a solid foundation and build confidence so that I can succeed. Getting organized by creating a realistic study plan, breaking down tasks so that I don't get overwhelmed and procrastinate as I did in the past has been a great start. I believe my success is dependent on how effectively I take advantage of the resources at Queen's, such as QSAS for accommodations, and SASS. My academic skills and work habits are the areas of concern I am most focused on as my executive function is lacking, and Academic Advisor Deborah Leach has kindly directed me to Learning Strategist Gail Eaton-Smith specifically. I plan to meet weekly to develop my study skills, time management, and to keep me accountable throughout the school year. I have a private therapist whom I can schedule Zoom appointments with as well if my mental health struggles or Make Way For Me Clinic in Kingston which has expertise in ADHD. I am fortunate to have a government part-time, work from home job as a Customer Service Representative which I only work weekends and STAT holidays. The position will allow me to study while waiting for (few) calls on weekends and will enable me to comfortably support myself financially while at Queen's. I also have money saved up over the last few years from working, so financial stress is not an issue as it was when I was younger and not on OSAP.

I am deeply grateful for my time away from Queen's the last few years. It was the right decision from the faculty and for me, and while devastating at the time, it allowed me to mature and become self-aware. Thank you for taking the time to consider my appeal.


Sincerely,

Enkhjin Munkhbat