Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean,
My name is Julia Wysotski and I am studying Art History at Queen’s University. I have attended Queen’s for the past three years and am writing this appeal in hopes that, with accommodations in place, I can continue my studies at the school I love.
I am currently in the process of being diagnosed with ADHD. This mental illness has affected my academic performance since early high school, and after years of struggling I am finally working with a supportive doctor to get some concrete answers and medication. This mental illness is debilitating. Despite my goals and efforts, ADHD has made me struggle with tasks as simple as opening my laptop, to handing in critical assignments. In 2023, I was told to take a year away from Queen’s due to my poor grades. Unfortunately, the mandatory year off was a mistake as professors allowed me to catch up on work into the summer and meet the requirements. This changed my GPA enough to not warrant a year off, yet I was still required to withdraw due to an administration error. During this time, I successfully held down a job here in Kingston and did a lot of self-reflection. I stayed in Kingston during that year off so I could access Queen’s services and continue working towards success.
My return to school this past academic year has been very difficult, as despite all my efforts at self-improvement, I still fell short. With the knowledge of an impending ADHD diagnosis I will finally be able to access much needed supports, accommodations and medication to overcome my struggles.
I am ashamed of my failures and have historically kept them a secret. This has changed, and I am now leaning on family and friends who know my situation and can be there for me emotionally and academically. In the past three years at Queen’s, I have utilized all the supports I had access to including, Student Wellness, a Peer Advisor and most notably and consistently, Student Academic Support Services and Academic Advising.
Despite my low grades, I am extremely passionate about Art History and am thrilled with the education I have received. My attendance in class is stellar and I always take detailed notes as I truly do wish to learn. I research art history both for class and on my own time, simply because I love it. I excel with attendance, whether that be to classes, scheduled tests, or academic appointments and have no problems understanding and retaining the content I receive. With the new knowledge of my upcoming diagnosis, I will be able to complete assignments and prove my worth in this field. I am determined to be successful in Art History, and wanting so badly to remain at Queen’s University. Attached is my doctor's note. If there is anything else I can include with this appeal, please allow me the opportunity to do so.
Thank you for taking my letter into consideration.
Sincerely,
Julia Wysotski
My name is Julia Wysotski and I am studying Art History at Queen’s University. I have attended Queen’s for the past three years and am writing this appeal in hopes that, with accommodations in place, I can continue my studies at the school I love.
I am currently in the process of being diagnosed with ADHD. This mental illness has affected my academic performance since early high school, and after years of struggling I am finally working with a supportive doctor to get some concrete answers and medication. This mental illness is debilitating. Despite my goals and efforts, ADHD has made me struggle with tasks as simple as opening my laptop, to handing in critical assignments. In 2023, I was told to take a year away from Queen’s due to my poor grades. Unfortunately, the mandatory year off was a mistake as professors allowed me to catch up on work into the summer and meet the requirements. This changed my GPA enough to not warrant a year off, yet I was still required to withdraw due to an administration error. During this time, I successfully held down a job here in Kingston and did a lot of self-reflection. I stayed in Kingston during that year off so I could access Queen’s services and continue working towards success.
My return to school this past academic year has been very difficult, as despite all my efforts at self-improvement, I still fell short. With the knowledge of an impending ADHD diagnosis I will finally be able to access much needed supports, accommodations and medication to overcome my struggles.
I am ashamed of my failures and have historically kept them a secret. This has changed, and I am now leaning on family and friends who know my situation and can be there for me emotionally and academically. In the past three years at Queen’s, I have utilized all the supports I had access to including, Student Wellness, a Peer Advisor and most notably and consistently, Student Academic Support Services and Academic Advising.
Despite my low grades, I am extremely passionate about Art History and am thrilled with the education I have received. My attendance in class is stellar and I always take detailed notes as I truly do wish to learn. I research art history both for class and on my own time, simply because I love it. I excel with attendance, whether that be to classes, scheduled tests, or academic appointments and have no problems understanding and retaining the content I receive. With the new knowledge of my upcoming diagnosis, I will be able to complete assignments and prove my worth in this field. I am determined to be successful in Art History, and wanting so badly to remain at Queen’s University. Attached is my doctor's note. If there is anything else I can include with this appeal, please allow me the opportunity to do so.
Thank you for taking my letter into consideration.
Sincerely,
Julia Wysotski