2021 Next Stop GW #2 - Staying Well

Health and well-being is essential to your success at GW. After arriving at GW from Staten Island, New York , I knew I wanted to get involved on-campus. With a double major in International Affairs  and Public Health , I wanted to join a student organization that would allow me to work with and advocate on behalf of students. The GW Capital Peers became the perfect student organization for me and I have loved every minute of being a member. Our nationally certified peer health education organization provides fellow students with health and well-being information and tips through programming and the promotion of campus resources.

A student initiative offered by the Division for Student Affairs is Raise Up GW. This initiative promotes resources and services through the 8 dimensions of well-being: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, financial, spiritual, environmental, and cultural. Of the 8 dimensions, social well-being has been most salient for me. This past year, I struggled being apart from my friends and the greater GW community. I prioritized this dimension by joining new clubs and attending virtual events to stay connected to people with similar interests. One event I loved being a part of was GW Late Night! GW Late Night is an initiative that offers events held between 8 p.m.- 2 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays where students can have fun in an alcohol-free environment. Past late night events included movie nights, trivia nights, and a house party. You will have the opportunity to attend a GW Late Night event during Orientation!

I look forward to helping you prioritize your well-being  and I can't wait to see you around campus!

Follow the GW Capital Peers on Instagram (@GWCapitalPeers) and check out the Capital Peers Podcast, focused on fostering discussion & providing resources on topics such as nutrition, body image, sexual health and healthy relationships, social well-being, and more.

Take time to regroup and recharge as you think about the tools that you will need to incorporate into your routine to set yourself up for success. Success starts with taking care of yourself and your mental, physical, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. These are also some of the tenets of the Raise Up GW well-being initiative Sarah mentioned above. This month we challenge you to find 31 different ways to celebrate and focus on…YOU!

Each day, identify one thing that will help you be your better self. Maybe it's an extra hour of sleep or completing a sudoku puzzle. Use July 12 to focus on the simple things in life in honor of World Simplicity Day, which encourages turning off devices to enjoy nature. Or use the entire month on fitness. GW's Campus Recreation is hosting a Run/Walk Challenge from July 5 – Aug. 1.

Focusing on you will be a benefit as you transition to campus where we will have more resources to support you during the year. Visiting Medical Services for preventive care is just as important to your health as attending a well-being workshop as part of our mental health discussion series. You just need to make the time for you!

Oh, don't forget to celebrate World Emoji Day on the 17th-just like on the emoji calendar (see what they did there?!?!) Be creative, have fun & text all day using emojis.

The transfer summer checklist is in your admitted student portal.

PRO TIP: write down your login information to the portal and keep it in a safe place - this is different from your netID (GW email). You will use both often.

Tasks to Complete This Month:

• SUBMIT mandatory health forms to the Colonial Health Center patient portal (mychc.gwu.edu) by August 1. See this webpage for instructions on how to upload your COVID-19 vaccination record by the Aug. 1 deadline.
• COMPLETE the Student Well-Being, Student Rights & Responsibilities, and Technology sections of the Online Orientation.
  • Continue working on the Academic Advising & Class Registration sections if you have not yet completed them.
• REVIEW the Buff & Blue Book's Student Well-Being and GW Technology & Systems sections this month.

• SUBMIT a photo for your GWorld card (GW student ID). An email with instructions was sent to you from [email protected].

• ATTEND your virtual Orientation small group meeting.

Reminders

• Be diligent about checking and reading your emails. You will continue to receive pertinent information about the university's return to campus this fall and it is your responsibility to know the information!

Mark Your Calendars

The Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) is hosting virtual Orientation sessions in July and August for students interested in accommodations for the fall.

• Tuesday, July 13 at 1 p.m. EDT Click here to register.
• Tuesday, July 27 at 3 p.m. EDT Click here to register.
• Tuesday, August 17 at 1 p.m. EDT Click here to register.

Did you hear the news?

GW is committed to eliminating single-use plastics! The plan will apply to everything, from vending machines and retail dining partners to events and more. So what does this actually mean for you? For starters, we hope you'll join us in reducing your own single-use plastics while at GW by using a reusable water bottle at the water filling stations, or keeping a reusable straw in your backpack for your iced coffee beverages. You can also start having conversations with your roommates now about sustainability lifestyle choices for your residence hall.

Hidden Gems around D.C.

Surfside

Category: Food
Reason: It's on GWorld and it's open 24 hrs!

Milken Institute School of Public Health Building
Category: Study space
Reason: It has fantastic views with lots of natural light and tons of spaces to study.

Jerk @ Nite
Category: Food truck
Reason: The best Jamaican food...on wheels! You can follow their Instagram to see when the truck will be near campus.

Dupont Circle Farmers Market
Category: Neighborhood/food
Reason: Occurs every Sunday and is only about a 15 minute walk from campus. You can use your GWorld to shop, too!

COVID-19 Update

This fall, we will be excited to offer a comprehensive on-campus experience for our community. Our residence halls, classrooms, libraries, offices and other spaces will be safe and ready for our community members to occupy at full capacity -- in-person. Within the last two weeks GW lifted the mask requirement for all indoor spaces for those who are fully vaccinated, so make sure you make a plan to get vaccinated before you join us in person and on campus this fall! Aug. 1 -- Deadline to upload your COVID-19 vaccination record to the medical portal.