Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Naaman,
I am writing to petition to waive my requirement to withdraw so that I am able to return to my studies in September 2026.
This past academic year has been extremely difficult for me, and I know that the results that I produced were not an accurate representation of me as a student. I struggled with severe mental health challenges that plagued many aspects of my life, which included being a student at Queens. I was unable to maintain a steady routine, attend classes consistently, and focus on schoolwork. I am not writing this to excuse the results, but to explain the circumstances behind them and to ask for the opportunity to return to my studies now that I am in a more stable space.
During this period of time, I was dealing with depression, anxiety, and substance-use-related concerns. These issues consistently made it difficult for me to function as a student, and even when I wanted to do well for myself by attending classes or preparing better for assessments, I often found myself unable to follow through on these goals as I needed to. I had trouble consistently attending classes and labs, staying focused, meeting deadlines, and studying effectively for exams. As a result, my performance suffered in my courses, especially those that relied on participation and lab performance. It also affected my ability to submit assignments on time and study for exams effectively because I was not able to maintain the concentration or routine needed to study and perform at the level I know I am capable of.
The hardest part of this experience was falling behind, but feeling unable to fix it on my own at the time. Repeated failed attempts to get my life back on track eroded any hope that things would get better. I understand that, from an outside perspective, results are most important; however, those academic issues were a result of what I was battling internally, not just carelessness about school.
In late February of 2026, a close friend and I had a serious conversation in which I opened up to him about my struggles, and he told me about SWS and suggested I give it a try. Since then, I have been receiving support and working with SWS to help with my mental health and substance-use-related concerns. I have also been continuously working with my family physician since the end of the academic year, and through this process, I have made meaningful progress in my mood, anxiety, coping skills, and ability to manage responsibilities, and I believe that I am in a much more stable position currently, compared to during the 2025-26 academic year. I intend to continue using the supports that have helped me improve to the position I am at today so that I can further improve before September arrives.
I am asking for my academic situation to be considered in light of the mental health struggles that directly affected my performance. I care about my education, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to return to Queen's with the stability and support I did not have before. I am aware that actions speak louder than words and that I will need to prove myself through my actions, but I believe I am ready to do that.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my petition.
Best Regards,
Blaise Xin.
I am writing to petition to waive my requirement to withdraw so that I am able to return to my studies in September 2026.
This past academic year has been extremely difficult for me, and I know that the results that I produced were not an accurate representation of me as a student. I struggled with severe mental health challenges that plagued many aspects of my life, which included being a student at Queens. I was unable to maintain a steady routine, attend classes consistently, and focus on schoolwork. I am not writing this to excuse the results, but to explain the circumstances behind them and to ask for the opportunity to return to my studies now that I am in a more stable space.
During this period of time, I was dealing with depression, anxiety, and substance-use-related concerns. These issues consistently made it difficult for me to function as a student, and even when I wanted to do well for myself by attending classes or preparing better for assessments, I often found myself unable to follow through on these goals as I needed to. I had trouble consistently attending classes and labs, staying focused, meeting deadlines, and studying effectively for exams. As a result, my performance suffered in my courses, especially those that relied on participation and lab performance. It also affected my ability to submit assignments on time and study for exams effectively because I was not able to maintain the concentration or routine needed to study and perform at the level I know I am capable of.
The hardest part of this experience was falling behind, but feeling unable to fix it on my own at the time. Repeated failed attempts to get my life back on track eroded any hope that things would get better. I understand that, from an outside perspective, results are most important; however, those academic issues were a result of what I was battling internally, not just carelessness about school.
In late February of 2026, a close friend and I had a serious conversation in which I opened up to him about my struggles, and he told me about SWS and suggested I give it a try. Since then, I have been receiving support and working with SWS to help with my mental health and substance-use-related concerns. I have also been continuously working with my family physician since the end of the academic year, and through this process, I have made meaningful progress in my mood, anxiety, coping skills, and ability to manage responsibilities, and I believe that I am in a much more stable position currently, compared to during the 2025-26 academic year. I intend to continue using the supports that have helped me improve to the position I am at today so that I can further improve before September arrives.
I am asking for my academic situation to be considered in light of the mental health struggles that directly affected my performance. I care about my education, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to return to Queen's with the stability and support I did not have before. I am aware that actions speak louder than words and that I will need to prove myself through my actions, but I believe I am ready to do that.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my petition.
Best Regards,
Blaise Xin.