GWU 2025-2026 Parents Calendar-6-27-2025 - Flipbook - Page 43
Families Handbook
What can I expect as a parent/family member?
Like your student, you can expect to experience a wide range of emotions
when your student leaves for college. You may experience the joy of new
freedom as your student leaves home, as well as sadness at his or her
departure. You may experience a great deal of pride and joy about your
student’s achievements. You also may worry about whether they will be
able to adjust well to a new life, and you may worry about “losing” your
student as they experiment with new ideas, behaviors, and relationships.
These are normal feelings and ones that are often good to share with other
family members and friends.
What can I do to help my student with this adjustment?
Listen: One of the most important roles of a parent is that of listener
and supporter. You cannot overestimate how important this role is. Be
an active listener. Work hard at understanding what your student tells
you about their feelings or experiences. Be sure to listen before making
suggestions or giving advice. Listening is always necessary and often
sufficient.
Support Independence. Offer suggestions when appropriate but also
allow your student to make up their own mind. Resist rescuing your
student from a problem but rather let your student know how confident
you are in their ability to resolve things independently. Help your student
find the appropriate resources on campus. Remember that while it may be
difficult for some parents not to talk to their children every day, developing
autonomy is an important aspect of emerging into adulthood.
Communicate: Stay in touch with your student. Let them know what is
going on at home, when appropriate. Remind your student that they are
still part of the family. Seek your student’s input on how to use his or her
old bedroom!
Address Problems Effectively: If there are problems at home, a divorce or
illness, for example, work hard to resolve them effectively. Just as you want
to know that your student will be able to take care of themselves, your
student needs to know that you can deal with these situations effectively
on your own. In the case of a divorce, work especially hard to keep your
student out of the marital argument.
Know Warning Signs: College students are not always direct about
letting parents know when they are experiencing serious problems. Some
warning signs are a drop in academic performance, an increase in sadness
or anxiety, calling home more or less frequently than usual, physical
2025-2026
complaints, depression, eating problems, alcohol/drug-related problems,
and a lack of social support. If you see these signals do not hesitate to ask
your student how they are doing or call the Counseling Center to find out
how you might get your student needed help.
Identify Resources: This is particularly important if your student has
a previously identified physical or mental health-related condition or
requires ongoing treatment or medication. Find out where important
resources are for your student. Do not be shy about calling these
resources if you or your student needs help.
Your role as parents and family members is a key element in enhancing
and enriching the experience of your student throughout their years at
GW. For more information about the Counseling Center or to consult
with one of our staff about how you can develop and maintain your own
healthy and helpful relationships with your student, visit students.gwu.
edu/care-team or feel free call 202-994-1486 and consult with our staff.
GW Campus Recreation
Website: students.gwu.edu/campus-recreation
Phone Number: 202-994-1532
Email: fit4life@gwu.edu
GW Campus Recreation strives to create a space and environment for
students to explore different types of physical activity, participate in
competitive sports with opportunities for individuals of all abilities, and
connect with others in meaningful ways. Campus Recreation provides
broad-based programming for the university’s diverse community in
the areas of club sports, fitness and wellness, intramural sports, outdoor
recreation and informal activities. Most importantly, students will have
fun and build sustainable and positive wellness habits that will stay with
them for a lifetime.The 189,000 sg. foot Lerner Health and Wellness Center–
located at 23rd & G Streets, is available to faculty, staff, students, alumni,
and community affiliates. Lerner features a 10,000 sq. foot fitness center
with a variety of cardio and strength training equipment and a separate
space dedicated to Olympic lifting. The upper levels include two large
gymnasia with a suspended track and four courts for drop-in recreation
and scheduled events including basketball, volleyball, badminton, and
intramural sports. A large multipurpose room for group fitness, dance,
and sports conditioning is located on the 2nd level.
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