Petition Letter
20027082
May 11, 2019
Cameron Rogers
Dear Associate Dean of Students,
I am writing this appeal letter for late drop from Queen¿¿s University, Arts and Sciences program. I am writing this letter proactively in order to not receive a forced withdrawal for a year, and in the hopes that I could be reinstated for this summer semester of courses. I am looking to continue my studies into the summer so I can better become immersed in Queen¿¿s academic life. Thank you for the opportunity to explain my extenuating circumstances.
The courses I am looking to drop are ENSC 103, and CLST 130, as well as RELS 163, and HIST 122. These courses were the ones that I didn¿¿t make the grade for. For all of these courses a bad strike of luck happened propelling me to failure. Or they were courses I abandoned out of fear of what was going to happen. With every assignment missed I continued to think I could salvage my grade, but with every mark I handed in I went further downward.
The past school year was very difficult than I naively imagined. Before the school year started, I attended a mental rehabilitation centre for 30 days. This is where I was given the diagnosis of my Borderline Personality Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder. These diagnoses changed my life. Instead of accepting them and trying to move forward, I fought the diagnosis in my head and decided that I did not need medication and that I possessed the necessary will power to stay away and still live the best life I could. This was a decision based in denial, and completely irresponsible. I did not take responsibility for my illness, hoping it would go away. On my twenty-first birthday (February 2019), I realized I could end up back where I was if I did not start to make changes. I made a promise to myself to take responsibility for my illness by finally accepting it. Accepting my diagnosis and illness, involved taking my medication and seeking help from a health care provider. Living life unmedicated, is frightening in hindsight. Spending weeks alone by myself in my house, not talking to anyone. Only to after I snap out of my mental haze to want to do everything, go to every class, and see every friend. With my previously diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder my life fell into shambles. With all of this going on I was unable to think beyond my survival let alone grades and an academic life.
The courses ENSC 103, and CLST 130, as well as RELS 163, and HIST 122 were affected by my lack of urgency regarding my mental illness. If I had taken care of myself from the beginning or just had wait this situation could have been diverted. Borderline Personality disorder is classified as instability, whether it be in regard to behaviour and mood of a person. For a student, instability is not optimal for upholding school work and a proper schedule. The personality disorder is rooted in lack of identity or shifting identity, this form of instability really hurt my chances of success this school year. My social anxiety disorder gives myself an unfair disadvantage when talking and communicating with people. Forcing me into a shell, I felt alone and set to my own devices. Accompanied by my attention deficit disorder have made me feel academically inept. The combination of the three diagnosis¿¿s, and no medication and no counselling set me on a path for destruction for my school work as well as my regular life.
As for future plans my mind is set for summer courses as to expedite my time at Queen¿¿s and so I can graduate sooner rather than later. I am participating in up to two terms this summer, with the hopes of completing many credits. I will aim to be more mindful of drop dates in order to better keep up with my school work and to decide whether my mental health can keep up with the course load. If recommended by a councillor I will register with QSAS, as well I would like to apply for ASUS in order to better communicate with my professors, and to better take care of my overall needs in the academic department. I feel this has helped strengthen my mental health and keep me in an aligned area of focus as to better my overall well-being. In regard to family affairs, my relationship with my family has become very strong. Over the summer I will continue looking to find a mental health counsellor in either Kingston or Toronto. If there is continued poor findings with finding a professional, I may have to commit my time commuting once a week to Kingston and back from Toronto. Although this would be a huge consumer of time and energy this would be necessary as to treat my mental health with the upmost care.
May 11, 2019
Cameron Rogers
Dear Associate Dean of Students,
I am writing this appeal letter for late drop from Queen¿¿s University, Arts and Sciences program. I am writing this letter proactively in order to not receive a forced withdrawal for a year, and in the hopes that I could be reinstated for this summer semester of courses. I am looking to continue my studies into the summer so I can better become immersed in Queen¿¿s academic life. Thank you for the opportunity to explain my extenuating circumstances.
The courses I am looking to drop are ENSC 103, and CLST 130, as well as RELS 163, and HIST 122. These courses were the ones that I didn¿¿t make the grade for. For all of these courses a bad strike of luck happened propelling me to failure. Or they were courses I abandoned out of fear of what was going to happen. With every assignment missed I continued to think I could salvage my grade, but with every mark I handed in I went further downward.
The past school year was very difficult than I naively imagined. Before the school year started, I attended a mental rehabilitation centre for 30 days. This is where I was given the diagnosis of my Borderline Personality Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder. These diagnoses changed my life. Instead of accepting them and trying to move forward, I fought the diagnosis in my head and decided that I did not need medication and that I possessed the necessary will power to stay away and still live the best life I could. This was a decision based in denial, and completely irresponsible. I did not take responsibility for my illness, hoping it would go away. On my twenty-first birthday (February 2019), I realized I could end up back where I was if I did not start to make changes. I made a promise to myself to take responsibility for my illness by finally accepting it. Accepting my diagnosis and illness, involved taking my medication and seeking help from a health care provider. Living life unmedicated, is frightening in hindsight. Spending weeks alone by myself in my house, not talking to anyone. Only to after I snap out of my mental haze to want to do everything, go to every class, and see every friend. With my previously diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder my life fell into shambles. With all of this going on I was unable to think beyond my survival let alone grades and an academic life.
The courses ENSC 103, and CLST 130, as well as RELS 163, and HIST 122 were affected by my lack of urgency regarding my mental illness. If I had taken care of myself from the beginning or just had wait this situation could have been diverted. Borderline Personality disorder is classified as instability, whether it be in regard to behaviour and mood of a person. For a student, instability is not optimal for upholding school work and a proper schedule. The personality disorder is rooted in lack of identity or shifting identity, this form of instability really hurt my chances of success this school year. My social anxiety disorder gives myself an unfair disadvantage when talking and communicating with people. Forcing me into a shell, I felt alone and set to my own devices. Accompanied by my attention deficit disorder have made me feel academically inept. The combination of the three diagnosis¿¿s, and no medication and no counselling set me on a path for destruction for my school work as well as my regular life.
As for future plans my mind is set for summer courses as to expedite my time at Queen¿¿s and so I can graduate sooner rather than later. I am participating in up to two terms this summer, with the hopes of completing many credits. I will aim to be more mindful of drop dates in order to better keep up with my school work and to decide whether my mental health can keep up with the course load. If recommended by a councillor I will register with QSAS, as well I would like to apply for ASUS in order to better communicate with my professors, and to better take care of my overall needs in the academic department. I feel this has helped strengthen my mental health and keep me in an aligned area of focus as to better my overall well-being. In regard to family affairs, my relationship with my family has become very strong. Over the summer I will continue looking to find a mental health counsellor in either Kingston or Toronto. If there is continued poor findings with finding a professional, I may have to commit my time commuting once a week to Kingston and back from Toronto. Although this would be a huge consumer of time and energy this would be necessary as to treat my mental health with the upmost care.