Petition Letter
Faculty of Arts & Science
Queen’s University
94 University Avenue
Dunning Hall, First Floor
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6
To Dr. Jenn Stephenson, Associate Dean (Academic),
I am petitioning the Faculty to waive a petition deadline for withdrawal from Queen’s for one year.
I missed the initial deadline, which was June 14, 2024, because of a miscount of days, though the deadline was June 17, 2024.
I am submitting this letter 2 days after the fact because I was getting a statement from my older brother and my phone malfunctioned (unable to charge due to a water safety installment by Samsung) making me unable to access the petition portal.
When I first received the letter I was in an utter state of panic. I immediately reached out for help from an academic advisor hoping it would ease the panic and that at least the process would have begun even if I were to become incapable and overwhelmed.
Once given assistance by an academic advisor I promptly reached out to multiple individuals around May 23, 2024, to ask for referrals regarding the petition.
With that, I also began writing the petition and the academic plan.
Yet between the anxiety and fears I misinterpreted the deadline.
After preparing the references and reaching for help, I took a step back from the petition as all that was left were the reference and completion of the academic plan. I needed the time to recollect myself. I became overwhelmed by the possibility that I may have to take a year off. Anxiety took over with the fear of having to tell my parents, how to get out the lease I had already signed, and how my future would look. After the year I had with its many difficulties I felt as if there was no coming back after this. Despite my many attempts to comeback and try again, I was beginning to feel discouraged and struggled to continue with the petition as I was unsure of everything.
Additionally, I was job hunting for a summer job (I needed to, to continue my education), completing two incomplete grades (still currently am for RELS137 and DRAM100), struggling with funding from OSAP and attending summer school (IDIS199).
Yet after some time, I shared the information with my older brother who assisted me and even added a statement to my petition for withdrawal.
At this point, I had regained a new sense of urgency, reviewed the deadline (15 business days), added it to my calendar (which I had thought was June 17) and quickly completed the petition.
I then went to ask the academic advisor for her advice on my petition before submission on June 17 in which I found out I had missed the deadline.
Once again a surge of panic and anxiety came over me but this time I am determined to submit my petition.
I understand that the position in which I am in is due to my actions. I have reflected and am aware that I didn’t calculate the deadline correctly and will take the needed actions to improve in the future. For starters, I will rely on the internet to double-check my dates and ask for confirmation from an academic advisor and /or any other resources the school provides.
I ask that the Faculty review my deadline for a petition of withdrawal because of the circumstances. My petition is completed and ready to be submitted at any time. I understand that this incident is due to my inexperience and lack of attention to detail. But, I hope that my mindset and mental health are taken into consideration and I am allowed to submit my petition beyond the deadline.
Thank you,
Ataa Amoah-Bediako
20420992
PS. I have attached the original petition(OP), along with its statements and the documents.
Queen’s University
94 University Avenue
Dunning Hall, First Floor
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6
To Dr. Jenn Stephenson, Associate Dean (Academic),
I am petitioning the Faculty to waive a petition deadline for withdrawal from Queen’s for one year.
I missed the initial deadline, which was June 14, 2024, because of a miscount of days, though the deadline was June 17, 2024.
I am submitting this letter 2 days after the fact because I was getting a statement from my older brother and my phone malfunctioned (unable to charge due to a water safety installment by Samsung) making me unable to access the petition portal.
When I first received the letter I was in an utter state of panic. I immediately reached out for help from an academic advisor hoping it would ease the panic and that at least the process would have begun even if I were to become incapable and overwhelmed.
Once given assistance by an academic advisor I promptly reached out to multiple individuals around May 23, 2024, to ask for referrals regarding the petition.
With that, I also began writing the petition and the academic plan.
Yet between the anxiety and fears I misinterpreted the deadline.
After preparing the references and reaching for help, I took a step back from the petition as all that was left were the reference and completion of the academic plan. I needed the time to recollect myself. I became overwhelmed by the possibility that I may have to take a year off. Anxiety took over with the fear of having to tell my parents, how to get out the lease I had already signed, and how my future would look. After the year I had with its many difficulties I felt as if there was no coming back after this. Despite my many attempts to comeback and try again, I was beginning to feel discouraged and struggled to continue with the petition as I was unsure of everything.
Additionally, I was job hunting for a summer job (I needed to, to continue my education), completing two incomplete grades (still currently am for RELS137 and DRAM100), struggling with funding from OSAP and attending summer school (IDIS199).
Yet after some time, I shared the information with my older brother who assisted me and even added a statement to my petition for withdrawal.
At this point, I had regained a new sense of urgency, reviewed the deadline (15 business days), added it to my calendar (which I had thought was June 17) and quickly completed the petition.
I then went to ask the academic advisor for her advice on my petition before submission on June 17 in which I found out I had missed the deadline.
Once again a surge of panic and anxiety came over me but this time I am determined to submit my petition.
I understand that the position in which I am in is due to my actions. I have reflected and am aware that I didn’t calculate the deadline correctly and will take the needed actions to improve in the future. For starters, I will rely on the internet to double-check my dates and ask for confirmation from an academic advisor and /or any other resources the school provides.
I ask that the Faculty review my deadline for a petition of withdrawal because of the circumstances. My petition is completed and ready to be submitted at any time. I understand that this incident is due to my inexperience and lack of attention to detail. But, I hope that my mindset and mental health are taken into consideration and I am allowed to submit my petition beyond the deadline.
Thank you,
Ataa Amoah-Bediako
20420992
PS. I have attached the original petition(OP), along with its statements and the documents.