Each year, Drew’s Wellness Summit invites students to pause their daily routines and engage in a community-wide exploration of mental and emotional wellbeing. This beloved annual tradition—planned and hosted by the student leaders of Drew’s Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) club—creates space for reflection, connection, and conversations that support a healthier, more compassionate school environment.
For senior leader Petra D’26, the purpose of the event is clear.
“The Wellness Summit matters because it is a large annual event at the school that gets a lot of attention, giving us the opportunity to promote an environment that acknowledges and accepts mental health struggles,” she shared. “As high schoolers we are all going through new things and stressful moments in our lives, so having an event like the Wellness Summit allows students to take time for themselves and their wellbeing while learning healthy mental health practices. As a leadership group at Drew, we want everyone at this school to feel like they have a place to go when they need help, and the Wellness Summit helps create that space.”
Throughout the day, students participated in workshops and activities designed to strengthen coping strategies, build self-awareness, and encourage meaningful conversations. The summit’s intentional balance of calm, creativity, and community offered students a rare opportunity to step back from academic demands and reconnect with themselves and one another.
One student shared how the skills from a meditation workshop translated immediately into his daily life. After learning breathing techniques and grounding strategies during the session, he used them the very next day before shooting free throws at basketball practice—and noticed an immediate improvement in his focus and confidence. Moments like this reflect the Summit’s purpose: giving students practical tools they can carry into real situations, both in and beyond the classroom.
For Sydney M’26, the impact of the Summit extends far beyond a single day.
“The Wellness Summit is BC2M’s biggest event of the year, and it’s lots of fun, but that’s not what makes it important,” she reflected. “The Wellness Summit is a time where the whole student body gets to focus on their mental health—not class or school. Our goal is to make an impact on students, even if it is finding two hours of calm amidst chaos or learning a new coping strategy to manage anxiety.”
Sydney emphasized that the work of BC2M is ongoing, rooted in year-round support and care.
“BC2M allows me to make a difference at Drew; the Wellness Summit is just one example of the work our club does. Mental health education is not about just one event, but the safe space that BC2M fosters all year around. In BC2M, I focus less on how many students we reach, and more on the impact we make on the students we do reach. This is what makes BC2M so special—our impact.”
The Wellness Summit reflects Drew’s commitment to supporting the whole student—mind, body, and community. Through student leadership, open dialogue, and shared experiences, the event continues to strengthen the culture of care that defines life at Drew.
At Drew, wellbeing is community work—thoughtful, brave, and grounded in connection.
