Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Stephenson,
I am petitioning the faculty??s decision to drop all my courses in 2021-2022 (Fall and Winter) year off my transcript due to extenuating circumstances. My extenuating circumstance that had interrupted my ability to perform well in my courses that year were due to mental health barriers.
To elaborate further, during the 2021-2022 school year I had the opportunity to run my own window cleaning franchise, I ended up performing quite well. However, although I was able to run such a successful business, I neglected finding time for myself. Come August, I was quite burnt out and as a result, shut down. Once the school year had started, I had gained a considerable amount of weight while dealing with my depression. This led me to getting cut from the Queen??s men??s varsity rugby team early September. Alongside with getting cut from the rugby team and feeling the burnout from running the business over the summer, I started to feel a heavy decline in my energy and motivation. It came to a point where I would stay in bed all day, not thinking about any of my courses, and have no interaction with people including my housemates at the time. My housemates then intervened and decided to have a conversation with me. I decided to reach out to the men??s rugby coach, Dave Butcher to see if there were any options for assistance. Coach Butcher directed me to Becky Haist, the mental health coach for Queen??s Athletics. I had a few meetings with Becky and went over some strategies that would help me. After a few meetings, and trying strategies discussed in the meetings, I had thought things were getting better, so I had mentioned to Becky that I was feeling better. However, that was not the case.
Come second semester, my mental health had gotten worse, it seemed as nothing was working in my favor ?? on top of failing a few courses in first semester, some unforeseen financial complications arose, resulting in my vehicle being repossessed by the bank. I had to work many more hours in order to support myself financially. I am a financially independent student, as well as having to support my mother as my father does not support our family in that matter.
Currently, I am in a far much better place ?? I was promoted to a management position at my current workplace and have been working there since the summer and during my year off. Regarding my mental health, I have been able to separate my work life and my personal life in order to have more leisure time for myself. I am also in a better spot financially and can support myself without worries of not making ends meet. I have recently been able to find a healthy balance which has been quite beneficial for my mental health.
As for my plans for the 2023-24 academic year, I am aware that I need 87 more credits to finish my degree with honors. I am planning to take 5 courses a semester until I can graduate. I am also planning on dropping my minor (DEVS) so that I can focus on my ECON major with a possibility of adding the ENIN certificate if possible. Regarding balancing work, studies, and personal life, I will be using a daily planner to organize my weeks and months with a priority on academics. I have also surrounded myself with a group of people who are much more ambitious and that are willing to push each other. I believe these factors will help me with my study habits and maintaining steady motivation. In the event that my mental health declines again, I am committed to reach out for help through Queen??s or through a private counselor.
Ultimately, with all things considered, I believe that I will perform well as a student in the next coming year. I am in a far better place than I was during the last academic year and am willing to push myself to succeed. I believe I belong here at Queens University. I hope you take my petition into consideration. After taking this year off and working this year, I have learned a lot regarding what is effective, and what does not work in terms of my mental health ?? I was able to find the systems that can be put in place to avoid burnout that prioritize my mental health. I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this matter. I will be providing supporting documents from my meetings with Becky. I appreciate you taking the time to read over and consider my petition to drop my courses from the 2021-2022 academic year.
Sincerely,
Omar Komeha
I am petitioning the faculty??s decision to drop all my courses in 2021-2022 (Fall and Winter) year off my transcript due to extenuating circumstances. My extenuating circumstance that had interrupted my ability to perform well in my courses that year were due to mental health barriers.
To elaborate further, during the 2021-2022 school year I had the opportunity to run my own window cleaning franchise, I ended up performing quite well. However, although I was able to run such a successful business, I neglected finding time for myself. Come August, I was quite burnt out and as a result, shut down. Once the school year had started, I had gained a considerable amount of weight while dealing with my depression. This led me to getting cut from the Queen??s men??s varsity rugby team early September. Alongside with getting cut from the rugby team and feeling the burnout from running the business over the summer, I started to feel a heavy decline in my energy and motivation. It came to a point where I would stay in bed all day, not thinking about any of my courses, and have no interaction with people including my housemates at the time. My housemates then intervened and decided to have a conversation with me. I decided to reach out to the men??s rugby coach, Dave Butcher to see if there were any options for assistance. Coach Butcher directed me to Becky Haist, the mental health coach for Queen??s Athletics. I had a few meetings with Becky and went over some strategies that would help me. After a few meetings, and trying strategies discussed in the meetings, I had thought things were getting better, so I had mentioned to Becky that I was feeling better. However, that was not the case.
Come second semester, my mental health had gotten worse, it seemed as nothing was working in my favor ?? on top of failing a few courses in first semester, some unforeseen financial complications arose, resulting in my vehicle being repossessed by the bank. I had to work many more hours in order to support myself financially. I am a financially independent student, as well as having to support my mother as my father does not support our family in that matter.
Currently, I am in a far much better place ?? I was promoted to a management position at my current workplace and have been working there since the summer and during my year off. Regarding my mental health, I have been able to separate my work life and my personal life in order to have more leisure time for myself. I am also in a better spot financially and can support myself without worries of not making ends meet. I have recently been able to find a healthy balance which has been quite beneficial for my mental health.
As for my plans for the 2023-24 academic year, I am aware that I need 87 more credits to finish my degree with honors. I am planning to take 5 courses a semester until I can graduate. I am also planning on dropping my minor (DEVS) so that I can focus on my ECON major with a possibility of adding the ENIN certificate if possible. Regarding balancing work, studies, and personal life, I will be using a daily planner to organize my weeks and months with a priority on academics. I have also surrounded myself with a group of people who are much more ambitious and that are willing to push each other. I believe these factors will help me with my study habits and maintaining steady motivation. In the event that my mental health declines again, I am committed to reach out for help through Queen??s or through a private counselor.
Ultimately, with all things considered, I believe that I will perform well as a student in the next coming year. I am in a far better place than I was during the last academic year and am willing to push myself to succeed. I believe I belong here at Queens University. I hope you take my petition into consideration. After taking this year off and working this year, I have learned a lot regarding what is effective, and what does not work in terms of my mental health ?? I was able to find the systems that can be put in place to avoid burnout that prioritize my mental health. I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this matter. I will be providing supporting documents from my meetings with Becky. I appreciate you taking the time to read over and consider my petition to drop my courses from the 2021-2022 academic year.
Sincerely,
Omar Komeha