Petition Letter
November 30, 2017
Dear Associate Dean of Studies,
I am appealing to waive the One-term Appeal Deadline. This is the first step in my attempt to reclaim my positive academic experiences and records while I attended Queen¿¿s University for 5 years, from September, 2009, to May, 2014. If successful with my first appeal, I plan to submit a Late Appeal, requesting to drop a number of failed courses late. It is my hope that I will eventually possess a transcript from Queen¿¿s University that is a true reflection of my academic achievements while I was still in good health.
Prior to Queen¿¿s
During my grade 10 year in high school I suffered a traumatic brain injury. Due to a lengthy hospital stay and follow-up rehab at the Bloorview Children¿¿s Hospital, I ended up missing several months of school. I faced a number of challenges when I returned to studies and struggled to complete grade 11. However, with on-going rehab support from Sick Children¿¿s Hospital and Bloorview, I finished with a very strong grade 12 year.
Attending Queen¿¿s
I was very excited to be accepted at Queen¿¿s University in the Physical and Health Education program. During my first year at Queen¿¿s I was the First Year Rep. for PHEKSA, became a member of Queen¿¿s Bands (highland dancer) and volunteered at a local nursing home as a bedside companion. Unfortunately, I was experiencing some difficulty adjusting to university life and was struggling to stay on top of my course work. I sought help from Queen¿¿s University Health, Counselling and Disability Services and met with Kathy Jackson. This led to several accommodations, including extra time to complete my exams and writing my exams in a separate room.
In my second year, while I was still struggling to improve my grades, I felt I was more on top of things. I continued to pursue extra-curricular activities including being the Second Year Rep. for PHEKSA, Queen¿¿s Bands and playing football with the Queen¿¿s Women¿¿s Flag Football Team. I met with my academic advisor and had regular appointments with my family doctor.
In third year, I was able to better balance the demands of life, course work and my extra-curricular interests. For my Athletic Therapy course I served as an athletic therapist with the Queen¿¿s Football Team. I continued my participation with the Queen¿¿s Women¿¿s Flag Football team. As well, I volunteered at the Kingston Humane Society. Importantly, my marks began to reflect, I believe, my true potential.
During my fourth and fifth year at Queen¿¿s, I experienced a serious mental health crisis that was both mentally and physically incapacitating. If you look at my transcripts for this period it is clear that something went terribly wrong. For a period of time I did not feel confident leaving my house to engage with the outside world. I was not eating well or exercising and often I would sleep for most of the day and night. I was not able to keep my medical appointments. I was unable to attend lectures, tutorials and seminars. I have since been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety. In retrospect, these conditions had a significant impact on my ability to function normally during this period. My academic performance was severely affected as a result of this illness. I was also incapable of advocating for myself in terms of my relationship with Queen¿¿s University. During this crisis, I should have attempted to successfully drop my courses while I concentrated on getting well. Unfortunately, due to the debilitating nature of my illness, I was unable to pursue this course of action.
I began my fifth year at Queen¿¿s hoping for a fresh start while trying to manage my mental health challenges. It soon became evident that I was not capable of continuing with my studies at this time. I wrote a letter to my academic advisor, Melody Monte, looking for advice about dropping courses and perhaps completing some courses on-line from home. When December arrived, I was feeling completely incapacitated. On Dec. 6, 2013, I was admitted to Kingston General Hospital. My parents came to Kingston and took me back home to Markham to begin a long recovery from the darkest time of my life.
After Queen¿¿s
Since 2014, I have been struggling to put my life back together. I have been an in-patient in the psychiatry ward at Markham-Stouffville Hospital on three separate occasions. I was referred to a psychiatrist and spent considerable time adapting to a medication regimen that would allow me to function as close to ¿¿normal¿ as possible. Through drug therapy, cognitive and mindfulness behavioural therapy, and counselling, I am working hard to stay healthy.
My Future Plans
I have once again attained a measure of stability in my life that will help support my plans for the future. My goal is quite simple: to attain from Queen¿¿s a transcript that reflects the course work I was able to complete successfully when I was healthy. This will provide a fresh starting point, I believe, from which I can begin to consider completing my degree (likely part-time and potentially at a university closer to home) that I was so enthused about in my early years at Queen¿¿s.
I have attached a note from my family doctor describing my condition. Please know that additional medical documentation can be made available upon request. Thank you for taking the time to review my appeal.
Sincerely,
Mary Faulds 06041557 Physical and Health Education
Dear Associate Dean of Studies,
I am appealing to waive the One-term Appeal Deadline. This is the first step in my attempt to reclaim my positive academic experiences and records while I attended Queen¿¿s University for 5 years, from September, 2009, to May, 2014. If successful with my first appeal, I plan to submit a Late Appeal, requesting to drop a number of failed courses late. It is my hope that I will eventually possess a transcript from Queen¿¿s University that is a true reflection of my academic achievements while I was still in good health.
Prior to Queen¿¿s
During my grade 10 year in high school I suffered a traumatic brain injury. Due to a lengthy hospital stay and follow-up rehab at the Bloorview Children¿¿s Hospital, I ended up missing several months of school. I faced a number of challenges when I returned to studies and struggled to complete grade 11. However, with on-going rehab support from Sick Children¿¿s Hospital and Bloorview, I finished with a very strong grade 12 year.
Attending Queen¿¿s
I was very excited to be accepted at Queen¿¿s University in the Physical and Health Education program. During my first year at Queen¿¿s I was the First Year Rep. for PHEKSA, became a member of Queen¿¿s Bands (highland dancer) and volunteered at a local nursing home as a bedside companion. Unfortunately, I was experiencing some difficulty adjusting to university life and was struggling to stay on top of my course work. I sought help from Queen¿¿s University Health, Counselling and Disability Services and met with Kathy Jackson. This led to several accommodations, including extra time to complete my exams and writing my exams in a separate room.
In my second year, while I was still struggling to improve my grades, I felt I was more on top of things. I continued to pursue extra-curricular activities including being the Second Year Rep. for PHEKSA, Queen¿¿s Bands and playing football with the Queen¿¿s Women¿¿s Flag Football Team. I met with my academic advisor and had regular appointments with my family doctor.
In third year, I was able to better balance the demands of life, course work and my extra-curricular interests. For my Athletic Therapy course I served as an athletic therapist with the Queen¿¿s Football Team. I continued my participation with the Queen¿¿s Women¿¿s Flag Football team. As well, I volunteered at the Kingston Humane Society. Importantly, my marks began to reflect, I believe, my true potential.
During my fourth and fifth year at Queen¿¿s, I experienced a serious mental health crisis that was both mentally and physically incapacitating. If you look at my transcripts for this period it is clear that something went terribly wrong. For a period of time I did not feel confident leaving my house to engage with the outside world. I was not eating well or exercising and often I would sleep for most of the day and night. I was not able to keep my medical appointments. I was unable to attend lectures, tutorials and seminars. I have since been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety. In retrospect, these conditions had a significant impact on my ability to function normally during this period. My academic performance was severely affected as a result of this illness. I was also incapable of advocating for myself in terms of my relationship with Queen¿¿s University. During this crisis, I should have attempted to successfully drop my courses while I concentrated on getting well. Unfortunately, due to the debilitating nature of my illness, I was unable to pursue this course of action.
I began my fifth year at Queen¿¿s hoping for a fresh start while trying to manage my mental health challenges. It soon became evident that I was not capable of continuing with my studies at this time. I wrote a letter to my academic advisor, Melody Monte, looking for advice about dropping courses and perhaps completing some courses on-line from home. When December arrived, I was feeling completely incapacitated. On Dec. 6, 2013, I was admitted to Kingston General Hospital. My parents came to Kingston and took me back home to Markham to begin a long recovery from the darkest time of my life.
After Queen¿¿s
Since 2014, I have been struggling to put my life back together. I have been an in-patient in the psychiatry ward at Markham-Stouffville Hospital on three separate occasions. I was referred to a psychiatrist and spent considerable time adapting to a medication regimen that would allow me to function as close to ¿¿normal¿ as possible. Through drug therapy, cognitive and mindfulness behavioural therapy, and counselling, I am working hard to stay healthy.
My Future Plans
I have once again attained a measure of stability in my life that will help support my plans for the future. My goal is quite simple: to attain from Queen¿¿s a transcript that reflects the course work I was able to complete successfully when I was healthy. This will provide a fresh starting point, I believe, from which I can begin to consider completing my degree (likely part-time and potentially at a university closer to home) that I was so enthused about in my early years at Queen¿¿s.
I have attached a note from my family doctor describing my condition. Please know that additional medical documentation can be made available upon request. Thank you for taking the time to review my appeal.
Sincerely,
Mary Faulds 06041557 Physical and Health Education