Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (Academic),
I am writing to formally petition the removal of the following courses from my academic transcript, due to extenuating personal and medical circumstances beyond my control:
- RELS 237 (Fall 2019)
- FILM 312 (Fall 2020)
- INDG 301 (Winter 2021)
- FILM 346 (Winter 2021)
- FILM 351 (Winter 2022)
- FILM 356 (Winter 2022)
- ENGL 279 (Fall 2024)
In Fall 2019, I experienced a traumatic event that significantly impacted my mental health and sense of safety. Although I had earned an A within RELS 237 through participation, I was unable to complete the final essay and did not receive credit. At the time, I was unaware of the support services available to me and struggled in silence.
Throughout Fall 2020 and Winter 2021, I continued to attend classes remotely and earned some A-level participation marks in FILM 312, INDG 301, FILM 346, FILM 351, and FILM 356. However, I again failed to complete final assignments due to the overwhelming mental health challenges I faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden shift to online learning, the loss of my grandfather, and profound isolation contributed to a steep decline in my emotional well-being. I was unable to function at my full academic capacity, and the shame and guilt I experienced only compounded my distress.
These failures weighed heavily on me—not only academically, but personally. I deeply felt as though I had let down my family, especially my grandfather, whose life savings helped fund my education. The emotional toll was immense.
Recognizing the severity of my mental health challenges, I sought therapy and underwent a psychological assessment. I began taking concrete steps toward healing.
After a two-year pause to focus on my health and support myself through work, I returned to my studies in Fall 2024. Despite renewed commitment, I again faced acute mental stress, which impacted my ability to complete ENGL 279. I recognized that I was struggling with reading and writing at a different pace than my peers, but I did not yet understand how to fully access or advocate for accommodations.
Despite these setbacks, I did not give up. I have continued to work diligently to complete my degree. I first entered Queen’s as valedictorian of my high school class and completed the Winter 2019 term with a 3.58 GPA. While my transcript now includes eight F’s, it also includes nine A’s, and I never went on academic probation. I am proud to be graduating in November 2026 with a cumulative GPA of 2.46.
This journey has been one of deep personal growth. I have learned how to advocate for myself, manage my mental health, and persevere in the face of adversity. I am now enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at St. Lawrence College, where I am training to become a Registered Early Childhood Educator. My goal is to support the well-being and play-based development of children. I am pursuing this path forward because of the resilience I built during my undergraduate experience and the innate passion I have for education.
I respectfully request that the aforementioned courses be removed from my transcript, in recognition of the documented extenuating circumstances I faced. Doing so would allow me to close this chapter with dignity and pursue further education opportunities with a fairer representation of my capabilities.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Lauren Thomas
20101240
17LGT@queensu.ca
I am writing to formally petition the removal of the following courses from my academic transcript, due to extenuating personal and medical circumstances beyond my control:
- RELS 237 (Fall 2019)
- FILM 312 (Fall 2020)
- INDG 301 (Winter 2021)
- FILM 346 (Winter 2021)
- FILM 351 (Winter 2022)
- FILM 356 (Winter 2022)
- ENGL 279 (Fall 2024)
In Fall 2019, I experienced a traumatic event that significantly impacted my mental health and sense of safety. Although I had earned an A within RELS 237 through participation, I was unable to complete the final essay and did not receive credit. At the time, I was unaware of the support services available to me and struggled in silence.
Throughout Fall 2020 and Winter 2021, I continued to attend classes remotely and earned some A-level participation marks in FILM 312, INDG 301, FILM 346, FILM 351, and FILM 356. However, I again failed to complete final assignments due to the overwhelming mental health challenges I faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden shift to online learning, the loss of my grandfather, and profound isolation contributed to a steep decline in my emotional well-being. I was unable to function at my full academic capacity, and the shame and guilt I experienced only compounded my distress.
These failures weighed heavily on me—not only academically, but personally. I deeply felt as though I had let down my family, especially my grandfather, whose life savings helped fund my education. The emotional toll was immense.
Recognizing the severity of my mental health challenges, I sought therapy and underwent a psychological assessment. I began taking concrete steps toward healing.
After a two-year pause to focus on my health and support myself through work, I returned to my studies in Fall 2024. Despite renewed commitment, I again faced acute mental stress, which impacted my ability to complete ENGL 279. I recognized that I was struggling with reading and writing at a different pace than my peers, but I did not yet understand how to fully access or advocate for accommodations.
Despite these setbacks, I did not give up. I have continued to work diligently to complete my degree. I first entered Queen’s as valedictorian of my high school class and completed the Winter 2019 term with a 3.58 GPA. While my transcript now includes eight F’s, it also includes nine A’s, and I never went on academic probation. I am proud to be graduating in November 2026 with a cumulative GPA of 2.46.
This journey has been one of deep personal growth. I have learned how to advocate for myself, manage my mental health, and persevere in the face of adversity. I am now enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at St. Lawrence College, where I am training to become a Registered Early Childhood Educator. My goal is to support the well-being and play-based development of children. I am pursuing this path forward because of the resilience I built during my undergraduate experience and the innate passion I have for education.
I respectfully request that the aforementioned courses be removed from my transcript, in recognition of the documented extenuating circumstances I faced. Doing so would allow me to close this chapter with dignity and pursue further education opportunities with a fairer representation of my capabilities.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Lauren Thomas
20101240
17LGT@queensu.ca