Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean,
I am petitioning the decision that I must withdraw for one year from the Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen’s University. I am very academically driven, have always taken pride in being an outstanding student, and consistently strive to put my best foot forward in all areas of my life.
I feel that my recent academic performance has been significantly impacted by extenuating circumstances out of my control and is not, in any way, a reflection of the success I am capable of. During the Fall 2022 term, I started to become increasingly burdened by the escalating toll of mental illness. Severe mental distress was profoundly impacting my personal life and, more alarmingly, my academic performance. Symptoms of general anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder significantly hindered my ability to engage in curricular activities I once enjoyed and excelled in. Compounding my struggle with mental illness was my second year in the especially demanding Life Sciences program, which I was simultaneously realizing I had little interest in pursuing.
As a result of these difficult circumstances, I frequently missed lectures, labs, quizzes, and submission deadlines – all of which was completely out of character for me. Recognizing that my mental health struggles were jeopardizing my academic progress, I began meeting weekly with a mental health professional in November of 2022. Furthermore, in March 2023, I sought treatment from Student Wellness Services, where I was prescribed medication to help manage my symptoms. I continued meeting there for check-ups every six weeks throughout the Winter 2023 academic term and into the summer.
Additionally, I decided to change my major from Life Sciences to Mathematics to pursue a field that truly interested me. Throughout the 2023/2024 school year, I consistently took my prescribed SSRI medication and gradually noticed improvements in my mental health. In conjunction with this, my enrollment in math and business courses that I enjoyed lead to a positive progression in my academic performance. While progress with mental illness is rarely linear and takes time, I began to see encouraging changes, even though my grades did not improve as quickly as I had hoped.
In hindsight, immediately upon being placed on academic probation last year, I should have reconsidered my academic plan. I believe that, had I recognized the severity of my circumstances one year ago and given myself more grace, I would not be in the position I am in today. I am not proud of my academic performance as of late and truly believe that it has been negatively affected due to the extenuating circumstances surrounding my mental health.
Should my petition be granted, I plan to adjust my academic plan to better succeed in my future studies. This will involve continuing with my current Mathematics degree plan but taking a lighter course load each term. Previously, I have enrolled in a full course load each term at Queen’s, which has proven to be exceptionally challenging amidst my mental health struggles. Managing five courses per term has made it difficult to achieve success in each one. By reducing my workload, I will be able to dedicate more time to each course, allowing me to significantly improve my academic performance. Additionally, I plan to continue taking my current SSRI medication and to seek counseling as needed. These adjustments will help me stay on track academically while maintaining a manageable level of stress and mental strain.
I greatly appreciate your time and consideration. Given the extenuating circumstances that recently affected my academic performance, which have now been resolved, I respectfully request that the requirement to withdraw for one year from the Faculty of Arts and Science be waived. I am eager to move forward from this challenging period and to prevent any further disruption to my academic and personal growth. Given the opportunity to return to classes this fall, I am confident in my ability to achieve the results I know I am capable of. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Sincerely,
Jasmine Taylor
I am petitioning the decision that I must withdraw for one year from the Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen’s University. I am very academically driven, have always taken pride in being an outstanding student, and consistently strive to put my best foot forward in all areas of my life.
I feel that my recent academic performance has been significantly impacted by extenuating circumstances out of my control and is not, in any way, a reflection of the success I am capable of. During the Fall 2022 term, I started to become increasingly burdened by the escalating toll of mental illness. Severe mental distress was profoundly impacting my personal life and, more alarmingly, my academic performance. Symptoms of general anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder significantly hindered my ability to engage in curricular activities I once enjoyed and excelled in. Compounding my struggle with mental illness was my second year in the especially demanding Life Sciences program, which I was simultaneously realizing I had little interest in pursuing.
As a result of these difficult circumstances, I frequently missed lectures, labs, quizzes, and submission deadlines – all of which was completely out of character for me. Recognizing that my mental health struggles were jeopardizing my academic progress, I began meeting weekly with a mental health professional in November of 2022. Furthermore, in March 2023, I sought treatment from Student Wellness Services, where I was prescribed medication to help manage my symptoms. I continued meeting there for check-ups every six weeks throughout the Winter 2023 academic term and into the summer.
Additionally, I decided to change my major from Life Sciences to Mathematics to pursue a field that truly interested me. Throughout the 2023/2024 school year, I consistently took my prescribed SSRI medication and gradually noticed improvements in my mental health. In conjunction with this, my enrollment in math and business courses that I enjoyed lead to a positive progression in my academic performance. While progress with mental illness is rarely linear and takes time, I began to see encouraging changes, even though my grades did not improve as quickly as I had hoped.
In hindsight, immediately upon being placed on academic probation last year, I should have reconsidered my academic plan. I believe that, had I recognized the severity of my circumstances one year ago and given myself more grace, I would not be in the position I am in today. I am not proud of my academic performance as of late and truly believe that it has been negatively affected due to the extenuating circumstances surrounding my mental health.
Should my petition be granted, I plan to adjust my academic plan to better succeed in my future studies. This will involve continuing with my current Mathematics degree plan but taking a lighter course load each term. Previously, I have enrolled in a full course load each term at Queen’s, which has proven to be exceptionally challenging amidst my mental health struggles. Managing five courses per term has made it difficult to achieve success in each one. By reducing my workload, I will be able to dedicate more time to each course, allowing me to significantly improve my academic performance. Additionally, I plan to continue taking my current SSRI medication and to seek counseling as needed. These adjustments will help me stay on track academically while maintaining a manageable level of stress and mental strain.
I greatly appreciate your time and consideration. Given the extenuating circumstances that recently affected my academic performance, which have now been resolved, I respectfully request that the requirement to withdraw for one year from the Faculty of Arts and Science be waived. I am eager to move forward from this challenging period and to prevent any further disruption to my academic and personal growth. Given the opportunity to return to classes this fall, I am confident in my ability to achieve the results I know I am capable of. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Sincerely,
Jasmine Taylor