Tips for asking a CoJourn partner

For some, asking someone to be your CoJourn partner can feel nerve-wracking. This is a common feeling, but the truth is that most people are extremely honored to be invited to be someone’s partner, regardless of whether or not they are up for it. 

We encourage you to try to identify someone you already know who might also be interested in participating in CoJourn - this is a great way for you to deepen a friendship or build a new friendship! It is helpful to be patient and to find someone who really wants to try the program with you.

The CoJourn website has suggestions about how to brainstorm a list of potential partners. Once you have someone in mind, see below for some language you can adapt for an email to ask someone to be your CoJourn partner.

Language to adapt for an email to a potential CoJourn partner:

Dear [potential amazing CoJourn partner],

I recently learned about a really [adjective that works for you!] program for UMass graduate students and postdocs that sounds like something I’d like to try. It is called CoJourn, and it’s a goal-setting and peer-support program that helps you to go after longer-term goals and intentions with a partner.

The whole premise of the program is that having someone to be accountable to can help with follow-through. It involves setting a long-term Guiding Theme and using the program’s structure to check in (over the phone or in person) together every week about progress. The time commitment is just thirty minutes a week over the course of the 12-week program (January 22nd – April 14th), that we schedule at a time that works for both of us.

As I was brainstorming potential partners to invite to try it out with me, you were the first person I thought of. It would be so [adjective] to get the chance to talk to you once a week, and I think it would be great to support each other on our goals. You can read more about the program here: https://www.umass.edu/graduate/policies/resources/cojourn-grad-students.  

There is a $25 fee to sign up to participate in CoJourn, but it is eligible for the GEO wellness reimbursement if you are a grad student employee, and there are also some fee waivers available.

Let me know what you think!

If you are interested in joining me for CoJourn, you can sign up HERE.

And, if it feels like too much for you right now, I completely understand—but I wanted to make sure that I asked.