We've reached the “how is it only Tuesday/I can believe it's already Wednesday” phase of the semester. The two days of fall break are over and Thanksgiving feels far away. At the same time, mid-October means mid-term exams, and yes you should probably start thinking about your final papers and projects. All of this while the days are shorter and as I write this the weather looks a bit alarming. It can be a lot.
Learning to manage your time, pick among priorities, and discover that you're more resilient than you think you are is part of college. An important skill to learn while you are here is knowing when and how to ask for help. Sometimes grinding through the thing you don't want to do is the right approach. But there is nothing heroic about making yourself unnecessarily miserable or setting yourself up for failure. SMPA and GW have a lot of resources you can draw on. You are here because you belong here, and your professors and the rest of GW want to help you succeed.
One of the most important support systems we offer in SMPA is the Cokie and Steve Roberts Student Support Fund. Professor Roberts set up this fund to help students out in a jam. We know student aid moves slowly, but life can change quickly. This fund is for students whose laptop breaks and they can't afford a new one, who face an unexpected medical bill that insurance doesn't cover, and so on. Every other week a small committee reviews applications and gets money to students who need it. This isn't a scholarship and can't cover ongoing financial challenges - but it can solve sudden financial problems. If you're not sure if your situation counts, apply. Let us decide, don't assume it doesn't mean you.
Beyond SMPA, GW has mental health support for students. GW's Store has food and necessities for students facing food insecurity. There are a range of other services available to you as well.
You can always talk to me or one of your professors. We share a dedication to you and your well being. You are why we are here. So talk to us, let us try to help. College life can be fun and rewarding, but it isn't always easy. That's part of the point. But just as you share the good times and tell the good stories, lean on GW to help you navigate the challenges as well.
A last note in this note - as you look at the course schedule for the spring, you’ll see that the Paris trip with Prof. Huebner isn’t there. This coming spring, Prof. Huebner’s course will be DC-based. You will also see a new short-term abroad course offered by Dr. Cheers called Climate, Conservation, Communication & Culture in Belize (SMPA 3193) - worth checking out..