Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson, Associate Dean (Academic),
I am petitioning the Department of Psychology’s decision that I do not meet the requirements to continue in their Major program. In opposition, I am requesting credit (CR) standing in PSYC 271, PSYC 251, PSYC 236, and PSYC 241. During the 2023 fall and 2024 winter semesters, I struggled deeply with my mental health following a challenging experience I went through in August 2023. I have always struggled with anxiety, seeing a therapist - Elizabeth Lovrics - in recent years to help me successfully manage my anxiety. However, my experience last summer sparked an influx of depressive symptoms and strengthened my levels of anxiety throughout the entire school year. The strength and novelty of my depression confused me, making it difficult for me to use the coping strategies that have always allowed me to succeed. These symptoms began at the end of August, were the strongest from November to early March, and resolved almost entirely by May. Throughout this period, I struggled deeply with low motivation, reduced concentration, low moods, and insomnia, which led me to feel constantly fatigued. Putting total effort into my studies was challenging, and my coursework easily overwhelmed me. It was often difficult for me to find the motivation to attend class regularly. My insomnia often caused me to oversleep out of built-up sleep deprivation, resulting in further missed classes. Regardless, I completed and passed all my courses; however, my weakened ability to perform well caused me to fall below the Psychology Department’s threshold.
I am not petitioning for CR standing in PSYC 202 and PSYC 203 because I met the requirements for these two courses. I am confident that my future marks in the coming semesters will increase my GPA so that PSYC202 and 203 will not represent my average academic ability. However, due to my other PSYC grades, I ended the year with a culminating PSYC GPA of 2.59. The requirement to continue is 0.01 higher, at 2.60. Even though I finished very close to this requirement, I view these marks as if I had fallen far below. Previously, I have been proud of my academics - achieving low grades is not something I take lightly. Learning that I failed to meet the department’s requirements is upsetting, and I take it as a lesson to always ask for help if I am struggling, as I should have done this past year. I did not attempt to drop classes or take time off as I wanted to believe I had the strength to succeed regardless of my mental state. While I knew I was depressed, it was hard for me to navigate my new symptoms while understanding how severely they were affecting me. Looking back, I realize how I could have handled this better.
In March, I finally realized that I had been feeling and behaving entirely unlike myself, and I immediately wanted to change this. I had an in-depth conversation with my therapist about how strong my symptoms of depression had gotten, and we began to work on how I was going to overcome it. When I returned home for the summer in April, I had already been implementing my new coping strategies, and the strength of my depression had weakened. I visited my family doctor - Dr. Lauren McLachlin - to see if she believed I needed medication or other treatments to help me overcome these issues. We both agreed that I could resolve my mental challenges on my own with the coping strategies I have implemented. Through speaking to my therapist and focusing on my well-being, I am confident - and so are my doctor, therapist, family, and friends - that I will not fall into such an extreme state of mental illness again.
Moving forward, I intend to continue to meet with my therapist regularly, and if I believe these symptoms of depression and heightened anxiety are returning, I plan to discuss medication and other possible treatments proactively. I also intend to register with QSAS in Ventus so that if I feel it necessary, I can obtain the proper accommodations that will give me the resources to perform to the best of my ability. This previous school year was incredibly challenging for me, and I experienced mental illness at a level I had never felt before. I do not take pride in my resulting academic performance. I know the value of my studies, and I appreciate and worked very hard for the opportunity I have been given to study at Queen’s. I know without a doubt that I want to continue to be a Psychology major, and I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that I am never again put into a position where my studies will be affected. I look forward to returning this fall, ready to improve my academics and steer myself in the right direction towards earning my degree.
Sincerely,
Ella Muller
I am petitioning the Department of Psychology’s decision that I do not meet the requirements to continue in their Major program. In opposition, I am requesting credit (CR) standing in PSYC 271, PSYC 251, PSYC 236, and PSYC 241. During the 2023 fall and 2024 winter semesters, I struggled deeply with my mental health following a challenging experience I went through in August 2023. I have always struggled with anxiety, seeing a therapist - Elizabeth Lovrics - in recent years to help me successfully manage my anxiety. However, my experience last summer sparked an influx of depressive symptoms and strengthened my levels of anxiety throughout the entire school year. The strength and novelty of my depression confused me, making it difficult for me to use the coping strategies that have always allowed me to succeed. These symptoms began at the end of August, were the strongest from November to early March, and resolved almost entirely by May. Throughout this period, I struggled deeply with low motivation, reduced concentration, low moods, and insomnia, which led me to feel constantly fatigued. Putting total effort into my studies was challenging, and my coursework easily overwhelmed me. It was often difficult for me to find the motivation to attend class regularly. My insomnia often caused me to oversleep out of built-up sleep deprivation, resulting in further missed classes. Regardless, I completed and passed all my courses; however, my weakened ability to perform well caused me to fall below the Psychology Department’s threshold.
I am not petitioning for CR standing in PSYC 202 and PSYC 203 because I met the requirements for these two courses. I am confident that my future marks in the coming semesters will increase my GPA so that PSYC202 and 203 will not represent my average academic ability. However, due to my other PSYC grades, I ended the year with a culminating PSYC GPA of 2.59. The requirement to continue is 0.01 higher, at 2.60. Even though I finished very close to this requirement, I view these marks as if I had fallen far below. Previously, I have been proud of my academics - achieving low grades is not something I take lightly. Learning that I failed to meet the department’s requirements is upsetting, and I take it as a lesson to always ask for help if I am struggling, as I should have done this past year. I did not attempt to drop classes or take time off as I wanted to believe I had the strength to succeed regardless of my mental state. While I knew I was depressed, it was hard for me to navigate my new symptoms while understanding how severely they were affecting me. Looking back, I realize how I could have handled this better.
In March, I finally realized that I had been feeling and behaving entirely unlike myself, and I immediately wanted to change this. I had an in-depth conversation with my therapist about how strong my symptoms of depression had gotten, and we began to work on how I was going to overcome it. When I returned home for the summer in April, I had already been implementing my new coping strategies, and the strength of my depression had weakened. I visited my family doctor - Dr. Lauren McLachlin - to see if she believed I needed medication or other treatments to help me overcome these issues. We both agreed that I could resolve my mental challenges on my own with the coping strategies I have implemented. Through speaking to my therapist and focusing on my well-being, I am confident - and so are my doctor, therapist, family, and friends - that I will not fall into such an extreme state of mental illness again.
Moving forward, I intend to continue to meet with my therapist regularly, and if I believe these symptoms of depression and heightened anxiety are returning, I plan to discuss medication and other possible treatments proactively. I also intend to register with QSAS in Ventus so that if I feel it necessary, I can obtain the proper accommodations that will give me the resources to perform to the best of my ability. This previous school year was incredibly challenging for me, and I experienced mental illness at a level I had never felt before. I do not take pride in my resulting academic performance. I know the value of my studies, and I appreciate and worked very hard for the opportunity I have been given to study at Queen’s. I know without a doubt that I want to continue to be a Psychology major, and I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that I am never again put into a position where my studies will be affected. I look forward to returning this fall, ready to improve my academics and steer myself in the right direction towards earning my degree.
Sincerely,
Ella Muller