Petition Letter
Dear Queen¿¿s Associate Deans (Academics),
My name is Sophia Sun and I am a second-year student at Queen¿¿s University. I am writing to appeal to drop the following courses from my academic transcript (Fall 2016): MUTH231 (Musical Theatre), DRAM205 (Theatre in the Age of Film and Television), DRAM200 (Core Drama), POLS 211 (Canadian Government), and POLS250 (Political Theory).
Due to extenuating circumstances regarding my mental, emotional and physical health, I was unable to complete my first semester at Queen¿¿s University this past year. Currently, I am doing distant studies through the school, and staying in Toronto for my mental health.
I experienced a sexual assault in October 2nd, 2015 at Queen¿¿s University and worked diligently with counsellors for the trauma effects I experienced. This incident was triggered once more in October 2016, when I was already under great duress due to the one-year memory of the trauma. It began as a difficult month that only increased in stress as I was made to make a presentation in class in front of my perpetrator. I went home that night to cry and I didn¿¿t stop for the next three days. I laid out a plan to commit suicide.
The assault incident brought up my unsafe past at home, distracting me from class and schoolwork. The triggering incident this past October brought up both traumas to the forefront of my mind. In the fall of 2016, I began feeling unhappy and unsafe at Queen¿¿s. I could barely leave my house to go to class due to fear and couldn¿¿t pay attention due to severe anxiety.
I was taken to KGH the first week of November. A week later, on November 10th, I came home. I have not returned to Queen¿¿s for class since that day. I also stopped completing course work as I did not sleep or eat well. My days were filled with thoughts of committing suicide.
My education is incredibly important to me; I realized that if I continued my studies being physically present at Queen¿¿s, I would have been negatively affected by my memories every day.
Since coming home, I have been working with Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist, Laurel Murray. Additionally, I was sent to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me for depression and anxiety, and prescribed me medication. I began to think less and less about suicide. The professional help, combined with the distance from the place where the trauma occurred, has helped me feel better. My plan is to continue treatment to the best of my abilities.
On Christmas Day, 2016, I had a family breakdown. Thus, I was unable to write this letter before now. The OSAP officers have been very kind and released funding for me to continue my education and living expenses without my parents¿¿ help. I am grateful.
I apologize that my appeal letter is coming in with a delay. I had planned to write it in November or December, but my home environment gave me an incredible amount of pressure. I was unable to sit down and focus on writing this letter. At Queen¿¿s, I could not focus on my studies because of emotional duress I suffered from the sexual assault and the triggering incident. With my parents, I was under pressure to deny my mental struggles. This kept me from having a clear head needed to complete my studies with care and attention.
At the moment, I am taking care of myself better than I did at Queen¿¿s or at home, because my mental health is not being scrutinized, triggered or having its existence denied. I plan on going back to therapy when I can. I plan on continuing my studies to get my undergraduate degree.
It would mean so much to me if you could understand my reasons for my Fall 2016 grades, and if you could remove them from my academic transcript, so I may have another chance. If you would like to look at my secondary school and first-year university transcripts, you can see that I have always valued my academics. I would like to continue achieving in school in the three courses I am presently enrolled in, and I would like to further my education at a university that is nearby in Toronto, where I can continue to seek treatment from professionals with whom I feel safe and comfortable.
I appreciate your valuable time and consideration. Thank you so much for reading my appeal. I look forward to your decision.
Sincerely Yours,
Sophia Sun
My name is Sophia Sun and I am a second-year student at Queen¿¿s University. I am writing to appeal to drop the following courses from my academic transcript (Fall 2016): MUTH231 (Musical Theatre), DRAM205 (Theatre in the Age of Film and Television), DRAM200 (Core Drama), POLS 211 (Canadian Government), and POLS250 (Political Theory).
Due to extenuating circumstances regarding my mental, emotional and physical health, I was unable to complete my first semester at Queen¿¿s University this past year. Currently, I am doing distant studies through the school, and staying in Toronto for my mental health.
I experienced a sexual assault in October 2nd, 2015 at Queen¿¿s University and worked diligently with counsellors for the trauma effects I experienced. This incident was triggered once more in October 2016, when I was already under great duress due to the one-year memory of the trauma. It began as a difficult month that only increased in stress as I was made to make a presentation in class in front of my perpetrator. I went home that night to cry and I didn¿¿t stop for the next three days. I laid out a plan to commit suicide.
The assault incident brought up my unsafe past at home, distracting me from class and schoolwork. The triggering incident this past October brought up both traumas to the forefront of my mind. In the fall of 2016, I began feeling unhappy and unsafe at Queen¿¿s. I could barely leave my house to go to class due to fear and couldn¿¿t pay attention due to severe anxiety.
I was taken to KGH the first week of November. A week later, on November 10th, I came home. I have not returned to Queen¿¿s for class since that day. I also stopped completing course work as I did not sleep or eat well. My days were filled with thoughts of committing suicide.
My education is incredibly important to me; I realized that if I continued my studies being physically present at Queen¿¿s, I would have been negatively affected by my memories every day.
Since coming home, I have been working with Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist, Laurel Murray. Additionally, I was sent to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me for depression and anxiety, and prescribed me medication. I began to think less and less about suicide. The professional help, combined with the distance from the place where the trauma occurred, has helped me feel better. My plan is to continue treatment to the best of my abilities.
On Christmas Day, 2016, I had a family breakdown. Thus, I was unable to write this letter before now. The OSAP officers have been very kind and released funding for me to continue my education and living expenses without my parents¿¿ help. I am grateful.
I apologize that my appeal letter is coming in with a delay. I had planned to write it in November or December, but my home environment gave me an incredible amount of pressure. I was unable to sit down and focus on writing this letter. At Queen¿¿s, I could not focus on my studies because of emotional duress I suffered from the sexual assault and the triggering incident. With my parents, I was under pressure to deny my mental struggles. This kept me from having a clear head needed to complete my studies with care and attention.
At the moment, I am taking care of myself better than I did at Queen¿¿s or at home, because my mental health is not being scrutinized, triggered or having its existence denied. I plan on going back to therapy when I can. I plan on continuing my studies to get my undergraduate degree.
It would mean so much to me if you could understand my reasons for my Fall 2016 grades, and if you could remove them from my academic transcript, so I may have another chance. If you would like to look at my secondary school and first-year university transcripts, you can see that I have always valued my academics. I would like to continue achieving in school in the three courses I am presently enrolled in, and I would like to further my education at a university that is nearby in Toronto, where I can continue to seek treatment from professionals with whom I feel safe and comfortable.
I appreciate your valuable time and consideration. Thank you so much for reading my appeal. I look forward to your decision.
Sincerely Yours,
Sophia Sun