CofC Nurse Brings Students Smiles, Support

Nurse Jean Beckwith connects students to a wide variety of health care at the College of Charleston’s Student Health Services (SHS), treating everything from minor colds and injuries to providing gynecological care, STI testing and mental health medication management.

When she noticed students craving something a bit more personal, she took action, securing bead donations and making hundreds of friendship-style bracelets with a special tag sharing the message, “We are here for YOU!” and including phone numbers not only to SHS (843.953.5520), but also to the College’s Counseling Center (843.953.5640) and the national  Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988). Students can pick up the free bracelets at the front desk of Student Health Services.

“These bracelets show that someone took the time to make this, which is so meaningful to our students,” says Beckwith, noting that a personal touch is important during this transitional time between adolescence and adulthood, when many students are away from home for the first time. “Even on their worst days, they know that someone cares.”

Beckwith started making bracelets during the fall 2025 semester, giving away more than 500 bracelets that year with the goal of ensuring students were aware of mental health resources like CofC’s Counseling Center and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Still, she says, the driving force of her outreach is connection.

“We are all connected to each other in a net of humanity. It is difficult to recognize and utilize those connections when in crisis, and that’s when people often need each other most,” she says, adding that she hopes the initiative “will help students reach out to resources when they have a need, be it routine health care or crisis management.”

Amanda Bolatete, clinical staff leader and campus nurse, says when Beckwith sees a need, she finds a way to make a difference.

“Since joining our team at SHS in the fall of 2024, Jean has gone above and beyond for students in every part of her role. As a nurse, Jean cares for her patients as if they are her own family,” she says. “We are so fortunate to have Jean on our team.”

Bolatete notes that – although Beckwith “has put countless hours of her time into securing supplies and hand-making these beautiful bracelets for our students” – she didn’t stop there.

She also secured donations for hygiene products to give away to students in the SHS lobby. Students can grab a bag and take what they need, free of charge.

As Beckwith says, even something as small as a bar of soap makes a difference.

“She brings smiles to so many faces,” says Bolatete, adding that Beckwith “makes SHS and College of Charleston campus a better place for all students, every day.”