Petition Letter
Petition Letter for Credit Standing – IDIS 199
To the Academic Progress Committee,
Smith School of Business, Queen’s University
I am writing to request a petition for Credit Standing in IDIS 199 (Science of Mental Health), which I completed during the Summer 2025 term. I do not make this request lightly, as I understand the importance of academic integrity. However, my final grade does not reflect my true ability or effort, but rather the exceptional and extenuating circumstances I faced between May and August 2025.
When I returned from my four months on exchange, I came home to several stressors all at once. I was dealing with family and personal issues, while at the same time starting a demanding internship on the trading floor at BMO, often working from 6:00 a.m. until the evening. I was very anxious about being back and managing this transition, and I thought it might be best to take a break from my prescribed Vyvanse, which I normally use to manage ADHD. After consulting with my doctor, I paused the medication. At the time, I did not realize how much this would affect me, since Vyvanse also helps regulate dopamine levels.
Not long after, I began to experience symptoms that I later recognized, with my doctor’s help, as a depressive episode. During this period, I felt persistently sad, demotivated, and weighed down by negative thoughts about my academics, my future, and my sense of self. This was very unfamiliar to me, as I have always been ambitious and goal-oriented, but I felt as though I was falling behind and had no clear path forward. Under normal conditions and circumstances, I am able to bounce back from set backs quite easily and get myself back on track, however I struggled to do so during this period. My mindset spiraled negatively, and I struggled to maintain perspective.
These feelings also impacted my daily life in ways I've never experienced before. Simple tasks like making appointments, exercising, or cooking became overwhelming. My mom was concerned I wasn't eating enough and that I didn't seem like my usual bubbly, fun, and ambitious self. I withdrew socially, no longer went on my long runs despite having the goal to participate in a half marathon this summer, and most evenings after work I would come home exhausted and lie in bed with no motivation. On top of this, I went through the breakdown of a personal relationship, which was especially difficult because I was already emotionally vulnerable. It's hard to describe exactly how I was feeling in this state, but overal I felt consisitently down and this was the first time in my life that my thoughts and perception of self were this overwhelmingly negative.
Even while struggling, I continued to do my best in IDIS 199. I thoroughly enjoyed this course, and wish I was more present throughout to engage to the degree I usually would have if it weren't for these circumstances. Despite these negative feelings and my general lack of motivation, I still studied for exams and earned mostly A-level results on the majority of assignments. However, during the lowest point of my depressive episode in July, I was unable to keep up with the discussion post and response deadlines, which together made up 20% of the course grade. Because I submitted them too late, I received zeros on all of those components. This cluster of missed deadlines had a disproportionate impact on my final grade. Without them, I would have received a much higher mark, as I achieved over 80% on the majority of my other assignments and exams. The missed posts were not due to neglect or disinterest, but were a direct result of the depressive episode that impaired my ability to manage deadlines and academic responsibilities.
Toward the end of the summer, I consulted again with my doctor, who clarified that my symptoms demonstrated that I was experiencing depression during the period of May through August. With her guidance, I restarted my Vyvanse prescription, and I noticed immediate improvements in motivation, energy, and clarity. I began to re-engage with my academics, professional responsibilities, and personal life. Although from the outside it may have appeared that I was doing fine, I had just returned from exchange, was working at a competitive internship, and had a strong support network, internally, I was struggling and in denial about what I was experiencing. This denial made it very difficult to seek treatment or accommodations proactively, even as my symptoms worsened.
Since then, my doctor has encouraged me to view this experience as a lesson in recognizing symptoms early and being proactive in seeking help. She also advised me to reach out to my professor, who expressed her understanding and confirmed her support for this appeal. Importantly, my doctor has provided documentation verifying that my symptoms impaired my ability to complete academic responsibilities during the summer term and that my condition is now being managed.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Committee grant me Credit Standing in IDIS 199. This outcome would ensure my transcript reflects my true academic capability, rather than the impact of an extenuating circumstance beyond my control.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my petition. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to provide this context and supporting documentation, and I am committed to maintaining strong academic performance and seeking support proactively should challenges arise in the future.
To the Academic Progress Committee,
Smith School of Business, Queen’s University
I am writing to request a petition for Credit Standing in IDIS 199 (Science of Mental Health), which I completed during the Summer 2025 term. I do not make this request lightly, as I understand the importance of academic integrity. However, my final grade does not reflect my true ability or effort, but rather the exceptional and extenuating circumstances I faced between May and August 2025.
When I returned from my four months on exchange, I came home to several stressors all at once. I was dealing with family and personal issues, while at the same time starting a demanding internship on the trading floor at BMO, often working from 6:00 a.m. until the evening. I was very anxious about being back and managing this transition, and I thought it might be best to take a break from my prescribed Vyvanse, which I normally use to manage ADHD. After consulting with my doctor, I paused the medication. At the time, I did not realize how much this would affect me, since Vyvanse also helps regulate dopamine levels.
Not long after, I began to experience symptoms that I later recognized, with my doctor’s help, as a depressive episode. During this period, I felt persistently sad, demotivated, and weighed down by negative thoughts about my academics, my future, and my sense of self. This was very unfamiliar to me, as I have always been ambitious and goal-oriented, but I felt as though I was falling behind and had no clear path forward. Under normal conditions and circumstances, I am able to bounce back from set backs quite easily and get myself back on track, however I struggled to do so during this period. My mindset spiraled negatively, and I struggled to maintain perspective.
These feelings also impacted my daily life in ways I've never experienced before. Simple tasks like making appointments, exercising, or cooking became overwhelming. My mom was concerned I wasn't eating enough and that I didn't seem like my usual bubbly, fun, and ambitious self. I withdrew socially, no longer went on my long runs despite having the goal to participate in a half marathon this summer, and most evenings after work I would come home exhausted and lie in bed with no motivation. On top of this, I went through the breakdown of a personal relationship, which was especially difficult because I was already emotionally vulnerable. It's hard to describe exactly how I was feeling in this state, but overal I felt consisitently down and this was the first time in my life that my thoughts and perception of self were this overwhelmingly negative.
Even while struggling, I continued to do my best in IDIS 199. I thoroughly enjoyed this course, and wish I was more present throughout to engage to the degree I usually would have if it weren't for these circumstances. Despite these negative feelings and my general lack of motivation, I still studied for exams and earned mostly A-level results on the majority of assignments. However, during the lowest point of my depressive episode in July, I was unable to keep up with the discussion post and response deadlines, which together made up 20% of the course grade. Because I submitted them too late, I received zeros on all of those components. This cluster of missed deadlines had a disproportionate impact on my final grade. Without them, I would have received a much higher mark, as I achieved over 80% on the majority of my other assignments and exams. The missed posts were not due to neglect or disinterest, but were a direct result of the depressive episode that impaired my ability to manage deadlines and academic responsibilities.
Toward the end of the summer, I consulted again with my doctor, who clarified that my symptoms demonstrated that I was experiencing depression during the period of May through August. With her guidance, I restarted my Vyvanse prescription, and I noticed immediate improvements in motivation, energy, and clarity. I began to re-engage with my academics, professional responsibilities, and personal life. Although from the outside it may have appeared that I was doing fine, I had just returned from exchange, was working at a competitive internship, and had a strong support network, internally, I was struggling and in denial about what I was experiencing. This denial made it very difficult to seek treatment or accommodations proactively, even as my symptoms worsened.
Since then, my doctor has encouraged me to view this experience as a lesson in recognizing symptoms early and being proactive in seeking help. She also advised me to reach out to my professor, who expressed her understanding and confirmed her support for this appeal. Importantly, my doctor has provided documentation verifying that my symptoms impaired my ability to complete academic responsibilities during the summer term and that my condition is now being managed.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Committee grant me Credit Standing in IDIS 199. This outcome would ensure my transcript reflects my true academic capability, rather than the impact of an extenuating circumstance beyond my control.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my petition. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to provide this context and supporting documentation, and I am committed to maintaining strong academic performance and seeking support proactively should challenges arise in the future.