Petition Letter
I'm requesting a waiver of the one-year requirement to withdraw from the Faculty of Arts and Science and would like to continue my studies. The extenuating circumstances are what happened over the past year.
I had extremely bad personal health (ADHD and anxiety issues) throughout the year that were beyond my control. I had a roommate who was extremely angry, rude, and an alcoholic. It was very difficult to be around, which made the room very bad for me. The room did not feel safe at all for me; I was always on edge and constantly on the verge of a panic attack.
During the year, my ADHD got to a point where I would zone out for days, couldn't leave bed, and whenever I would look at my work, my anxiety would take over. I would go into panic attacks because I was so behind. This connects directly to my marks. Sometimes even looking at my work made me feel physically ill or led to panic attacks that would last for hours.
My worst struggle, though, was with self-harm and suicidal ideation throughout the year. It got to a point where I had to call my parents to come help because I told my older brother I wanted to kill myself. Since then, those thoughts have not continued, as I have been supported by my family.
I have been seeing a therapist and a psychologist at Queen’s, and I am now on the right medication. I was recently re-diagnosed and started on pregabalin, which should help. I want to emphasize that I am actively working with my counselor, therapist, and executive decision coach to improve.
With a new living space where I feel comfortable and safe, I truly believe I can push through this year, complete my work, and show that I can be a strong addition to the university.