“I expect some new phases of life this summer, and shall try to get the honey from each moment.” - Lucy Stone

Summer is in full swing! We hope you're finding time to recharge, soak up the sunshine, and stay cool during these hot days. In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find tips for writing a standout personal statement, details on the updated process to register for Talkspace, and a fun Bingo activity to help you enjoy the little things. Keep reading to see what’s coming up this month!

To schedule a virtual or in-person meeting, contact our office at SMHSstudents@gwu.edu.

In this edition of the newsletter, you can find the following:

A Note from Melea Johnson, MA, LGPC and Viktoriya Karakcheyeva, MD, MS, NCC, LCP, LCPC-SP, LCADS from the GW Resiliency and Well-Being Center:

Summer is a season of warmth, long days, and a more relaxed rhythm. With sunshine-filled weekends and time off from school or work for some, it can offer a welcome change of pace. But summer can also bring big life transitions. Whether you are moving to a different home, adopting a pet, starting a new job, graduating from college, switching rotations, or expanding your family, changes can impact your well-being. That’s why it’s crucial to care for yourself throughout the process.

When your routine and structure shifts, self-care may take a back seat. This is a good time to check in with yourself: Are you getting enough sleep? Poor sleep can drain your energy and make it harder to stay engaged and active. Are you eating regular, balanced meals?  Eating well can help support your immune system and improve energy and focus. Alongside these basics, maintaining a healthy routine and making time for things you enjoy can help you manage stress and stay grounded.

During a period of transition, you might find your stress spiking in a way that you are not used to. Stress can be classified in a few different ways, and it’s important to recognize that you can experience stress reactions from happy events (often referred to as eustress) in addition to facing uncertainty. It can be hard to distinguish between feeling excited and anxious because the physical sensations are often similar. 

Having empathy for yourself and treating yourself with kindness can help you remain in the present and focused on your purpose and your goals. When feeling overwhelmed, it can feel like things are not going how you might be hoping—you might experience negative thoughts or feel that you don't have control over what is going on in your life. Recognizing that you are having negative thoughts is the first step to understanding a potential problem, so you can address it. When having these negative thoughts or feelings, imagine you are speaking to your close friend and supporting them. What are some things you would say to them? Be sure to focus on what’s going well, what you’re grateful for, and what you can control.

Transitions aren’t easy, but they’re a normal part of life. This is also an opportunity for you to grow and try new things. Each experience builds resilience for future changes, helping you move forward with more confidence and clarity.

Summer is the perfect time to focus on your mental health and set yourself up for a strong start to the semester. Whether you’re looking to begin therapy while your schedule is more flexible, or you want to get set up before things get busy, now is a great time to register for Talkspace. Don’t wait until stress builds - start therapy now, and head into the semester with healthy routines and a clear head. Register today!

July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to honoring the unique mental health experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Originally founded by mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell, this month calls attention to the systemic barriers, cultural stigmas, and historical inequities that continue to impact access to care and support within BIPOC communities.

It’s also an opportunity to recognize that mental health support isn’t one-size-fits-all; identity, lived experience, and cultural background all shape how individuals experience and seek help for mental health concerns. Culturally responsive, affirming care can make all the difference.

See the resources below for more information:

Racial Trauma and the Effects on Mental Health

How to Respond to Microaggressions

Finding a Therapist with a Similar Cultural Background

Talkspace: As educators of our future healthcare professionals, we know how important mental health is and are pleased to offer all SMHS students a free subscription to Talkspace. Talkspace offers unlimited text messaging and four 30-minute video sessions a month with a licensed therapist and is a convenient, clinically effective, and confidential service.  You will be matched with a therapist that suits you and your needs via a special algorithm. To register, go to www.talkspace.com/gwu and click "Get Started." You will then be asked to input your contact information and the organization keyword that corresponds with your SMHS program. Keywords include: GWU-MEDSTU (MD students), GWU-HEALTHSCI (Health Sciences students), and GWU-MEDRES (Medical Residents). Students who experience difficulty registering should contact partners-support@talkspace.com and cc Alex Velto (alex.velto@gwu.edu).

Please note that after a year of using the platform, you will need to revalidate your account.  Go to the 'Check my coverage' feature found in your Talkspace app settings - and follow the prompts provided. If you prefer to remain connected to your current therapist, you will have to reach out to partners-support@talkspace.com to validate instead.

Student Health Center:  The Student Health Center (formally CHC) is open and operating to assist students seeking medical, psychiatric, counseling, and psychological services. Physicians and counselors provide in-person treatment in the office, and virtual appointments are offered during regular business hours. Call 202-994-5300 to schedule an appointment.  

Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (ET); extended hours until 7pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Saturday: 12:00 pm-4:00 pm

Sunday: 12:00 pm-4:00 pm on the Mount Vernon Campus

Resiliency and Well-Being Center: OSS frequently collaborates with the GW RW&C on matters related to individual and group well-being. The R&W Center takes an evidence-based, whole-person approach in the health and wellness (well-being) services it provides to the GW medical enterprise—SMHS, GW MFA, and the GW Hospital.  The R&W Center provides individual, departmental, and institutional-level services.  

Additional Resiliency and Well-Being Center workshop information can be found here.

Looking for a fun and easy way to focus on the simple joys this summer? Try our Simple Joys July Bingo! Each square invites you to try a small, meaningful activity designed to help you slow down and appreciate the little things in life. Click the button below to make your own copy so you can keep track of what you have completed.

Once you complete a bingo, email us your completed card by 11:59pm on 7/27 to be entered into a raffle for a fun prize: a basket of activities and other goodies to help you enjoy life's simple joys.

📸 Want to boost your odds? Include photos of you doing the activities for an extra raffle entry!

Thank you to those of you who submitted a DMV recommendation! We received an overwhelming amount of engagement, which resulted in an extensive Navigating the DMV Guide. Click the button above to access the finished guide. If you have any additional recommendations, or missed our first call for submissions, don't worry! We will continue accepting submissions, and the guide will continue to be updated.

Click the button below to submit a recommendation.

The GroW Community Garden is looking for volunteers who can help out during gardening hours. The garden is located right behind the SMHS building and garden hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm and Sundays 8-10am. You can register for a shift clicking the button above or the QR code on the flyer. Come join us for some time in the sun and help grow produce that will be donated to Miriam's Kitchen!

The GW SMHS Recipe Book is available for you to view! Click the button above to access it. We will continue adding to the recipe book and updating it each month with the release of our monthly newsletter. Please submit your favorite recipes below so this project can continue to grow!

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Have a go-to meal that gets you through tough weeks? A favorite dish that always brings comfort? Share it with your fellow students in the first-ever SMHS Community Recipe Book! We’re collecting recipes from students across SMHS to create a digital recipe book filled with quick bites, hearty meals, tasty desserts, and more!

*Recipes do not have to be entirely your own; feel free to submit links to recipes you have found online that have become a favorite!

July seasonal produce includes: berries, corn, cucumbers, peaches, tomatoes, bell peppers, green onions, and more!

For this month's seasonal recipe, try out this Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta and Lemon! This is a quick and easy recipe for those hot summer days when you don't want to use any heat. Add tomato if you'd like!

Sunset Cinema at the Wharf - Memorial Day - 8/28: All summer long, come to The Wharf for free movies on Transit Pier presented by Pacifico on Thursday evenings. Movies start at 7:30pm. With action movies, rom-coms, blockbusters, and classics, there is something for everyone.

Smithsonian Folk Life Festival - 7/2 - 7/7: This free festival salutes different international cultures every year on the National Mall with craft exhibits, live music and cooking demos. The 2025 edition focuses on "Youth and the Future of Culture."

LIVE! Concert Series on the Plaza - 6/7 - 9/26, 12 - 1pm: From salsa to strings, and blues to swing, Live! Concert Series on the Plaza features hot entertainment for the downtown DC community. On Wilson Plaza, jointhem for free lunchtime performances featuring the area's most talented entertainers. Enjoy a variety of musical flavors, such as Go-Go, jazz, bluegrass folk, reggae, rock, country, pop rock and more. There is plenty of outdoor seating, so take the Metro, grab lunch and spend the afternoon grooving.

Student Wellness Committee:

"The Wellness Committee is a group of elected students from all programs within the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences with a passion for promoting wellness in our community. We believe that as students who are training to become healthcare providers, it is critical that we learn to care for ourselves by nurturing our own personal health and wellness, as we strive to care for others. This committee seeks to promote wellness by organizing events and initiatives that enhance student wellbeing and strengthen relationships within our programs. We consider many dimensions of wellness and work with the Office for Student Support (OSS) to ensure accessibility to resources and safe spaces, as well as provide events like movie nights, picnics, cookie decorating, therapy dogs, and other initiatives to promote connectivity and healthy habits." - Student Wellness Committee Leadership

For information on how to join the Student Wellness Committee, or to send suggestions/ideas for wellness events, please send them an email.

SMHS Student - Parent Support Network

The Office of Student Support (OSS) is excited to announce an initiative aimed at connecting student-parents across SMHS. We recognize that balancing academic responsibilities with parenting can be challenging, and we want to offer a supportive network to help navigate these demands. By filling out a short google form, you will have the opportunity to receive contact information for other student-parents who are also interested in joining this network. Click here to fill out the form.

Student Organizations: Interested in joining one of the 80+ student organizations SMHS has to offer? You can find a full list of them here, updated every semester.

Want to start your own organization? The Medical Center Student Council provides guidance on the process on their website, with enrollment periods open twice a year.

*Note: Chapters on green sticky notes will be the focus of the Summer Book Club. The selected chapters for discussion are highly related to research based study strategies, but you are encouraged to read the full book for other useful information

Join us for the July Summer Book Club, led by Learning Specialist Terri Edwards, on Thursday, July 16, over Zoom. Two sessions will be offered: one at 12pm and one at 6pm, so you can choose what works best for your schedule. Please register by 11:59pm on 7/14.

Prior to the session, please read chapters 3, 4, 6, and 9 of The New Science of Learning (2022 edition) by Todd D. Zakrajsek, available through the GW Himmelfarb Library. See below for access instructions.

How to Access the Book:
Click the button above, or go to the GW Himmelfarb Library website and locate the 2022 edition of The New Science of Learning. Click the link to ProQuest Academic Complete. From there, you can either read the book online or download a limited number of chapters. We recommend downloading and reading the following chapters for discussion: Chapters 3, 4, 6, and 9.

3 Tips for Personal Statement Success from OSS Writing Coach, Mark Gurarie

No matter if you’re interested in an academic program, scholarship, fellowship, or residency, the application process is intense and demanding. It asks you to put yourself out there and make a case for yourself. Critical in all of this is the part of the process that causes the most angst: the personal statement.

The task: to differentiate yourself; to show how your interests, experiences, and personality make you a good fit; and to make the case that you’ll be dedicated, engaged, and driven. You have to explain who you are, what got you here, and what you’d like to do next. As a kind of cover letter, you either directly or indirectly have to “sell” yourself. A tall order!

As a writing coach who’s helped many students with applications, I tell students that the personal essay should “make you three dimensional:” a real, flesh and blood person beyond what can be gleaned from your CV. There’s no singular approach—and there will always be differences in opinions about what works—but, as you turn towards the task, let me share three quick tips:

Tough as they can be, remember you’re not alone. If you’re having trouble getting started, need extra help, or live feedback on your work, consider reaching out to OSS in order to be connected with the Writing Coach. In one-on-one sessions, we can work with you to make that statement as strong as possible.

CV Support: We have a dedicated faculty advisor with whom you can schedule appointments to review and revise your CV. To schedule an appointment, email OSS  with your request and attach any resume or CV documents you may have. If you have never created a CV before, we are happy to work with you and share our template.

Learning Support: Our dedicated learning specialist, Terri Edwards, is available to meet with students to discuss active learning strategies, study strategies and scheduling, test taking strategies, and more. To book an appointment with her, please use her Calendly link.

Peer Tutoring: If you would like to work with a peer tutor, email OSS to learn more about peer-led academic support. 

Small Study Groups: Consider adding small group studying into your academic schedule. OSS assigns students to a study group of 2-5 students; the sessions are facilitated by a student who commits to that role. Groups may choose to meet in person or virtually. Contact OSS for more information to be a facilitator or participant.

Writing Coach: Coaching sessions help students build their writing confidence and develop vital writing skills for writing assignments, personal statements, and professional writing. To receive a referral to the writing coach, please email OSS directly.    

Want to stay up-to date with OSS Events in 2025? Click here to add the Office of Student Support (OSS) Events Calendar to your Google Calendar. You can also check out the Events Tab on the OSS website to see event details.

Interested in meeting with our learning specialist, Terri Edwards, or with our associate director, Alex Velto? Use their Calendly links to easily schedule a meeting with them! 

                             Alex's Calendly         Terri's Calendly