The summer before my freshman year at Hopkins was filled with anxiety, excitement, nerves, excitement AND MORE EXCITEMENT. I was beyond ready to start this part of my life and I assumed that it would be a long time until I felt this strange mix of emotions again. I was completely wrong.
Move in day is so welcoming!
I am about to start my sophomore year and I have the exact same mindset this summer because despite my familiarity with the campus, my friends and the academic load, I know I still have so much more to learn.
Lately, I’ve been reminiscing about the beginning of freshman year: move in, orientation, college classes, meeting friends, everything! I remember the moment I moved in to my dorm so clearly.
This blog is for all you incoming freshmen who will be moving into the AMR’s, Wolman, McCoy, and the Buildings in just two months time.
cars line up for move in!
Unlike most families pulling up in a car, my parents and I wheeled my nine suitcases (yes, nine. I was blissfully unaware that I didn’t need my whole closet) across the street from our hotel on move in day. Unfortunately it started raining precisely when we crossed the street onto campus and I arrived at my room to meet my roommate for the first time soaking wet in a dress and flats. My flatironed hair was now a curly, wet mess. My dad and I were hysterically laughing because right when we got to AMR 2 the rain stopped.
You might be lucky enough to be greeted at your car by President Daniels!
For those of you who don’t know, Hopkins has this incredibly convenient system so you don’t have to move a thing into your new living space. Current students volunteer to be Orientation Ambassadors to move all you incoming freshmen into your dorms so you don’t have to lift a finger and they make you feel so welcomed!
Orientation Ambassadors completely unload your car and put your belongings in your room!
My friends and I are incredibly excited to be Orientation Ambassadors in the fall!
Baker House, my home at Hopkins :)
It will be so strange seeing new freshmen move into Baker House in AMR 2 because it truly became my home at Hopkins.
I'm definitely going to miss Baker 114
The excitement of starting sophomore year is just as, if not more exciting than starting freshman year. Hopkins really is my home and summer feels like a vacation rather than a return to my former home.
I suppose the point of college isn’t to figure out everything freshman year and then the next three years you just float in that familiarity. Every year I want to be challenged, I want to start over with the mentality that I am going to build on the foundation I have already created, that I am going to expand my community of friends as my skills as a learner grow and change with my experience.
To all you Class of 2016ers, I can’t wait to see you in the fall during move in!
Thanks for reading!
All my Hopkins Love,
Erica
Hi Haley! Thank you so much for reading my blog! I absolutely love being on SAAB and I definitely encourage you to apply. The application will be released this month on the Class of 2016 facebook page and the application instructions will be very clear. I didn’t enter the summer blogging contest and I had never written a blog before applying to SAAB (as was the case with most of the SAAB freshmen this year!) but I definitely encourage you to enter the contest. I’m glad we had a chance to meet at SOHOP and no worries for losing the card; I really appreciate you following up :) My email is ericazehnder@jhu.edu if you’d like to contact me! See you in the fall!
Hi Erica! I met you at SOHOP and you gave me your email address but I seem to have misplaced it (typical). I am very interested in how to get involved with Hopkins Interactive. I plan on doing the summer blog contest, is that how you earned your spot on SAAB? Great blog, as always!
Thank you for reading! I’m glad you found this entry helpful. To answer your question, yes, the Orientation Ambassadors assist everyone during move in (rain or shine!). It’s so nice as a freshman to be greeted by so many friendly upperclassmen. I hope you enjoy the move in/Orientation process because I know my family sure did :)
Thanks for the cute post, Erica. I’m relieved to hear that others do the walk up moving thing because that’s what we’re planning for our freshman son. We’re coming from California so driving is not an option, and we don’t want the expense/hassle of a rental car either. He is not going to bring nine suitcases! So do the ‘ambassadors’ also help out those who walk up rather than drive up, I hope?