Long hair, don't care? I'm pretty sure that's the #YOLO equivalent to not getting a haircut.

Well, I’ve come to an extremely unwelcome realization: I need to get a haircut. What this means, of course, is that it’s time to stop acting like a hippie, stop substituting paint parties and road trips as an effective use of a day (for the time being), and once more become a contributing member to society. Whether it’s the knowledge of classes on the horizon or the gradual departing of my high school friends to their respective schools, I’ve finally begun recognizing that summer does indeed have an expiration date and that responsibility isn’t going to kindly wait for me to welcome it back into my life. It really been a much-needed summer of both relaxation and epic times with friends though. If you’re afraid about losing touch with your friends from high school, I can attest to now being even closer to my friends this summer than probably ever before. Be it narrating the olympics with ridiculous dialogue, surprising my friend on her birthday with a face full of potentially-stolen cupcakes (out of love of course), rocking out to Childish Gambino in the middle of Tennessee, or just sitting around talking and laughing about who-knows-what, I can’t help but say this has been a pretty awesome summer. But along with the realization that I need a haircut comes the understanding that there are more exciting things in life than half-price milkshakes at Sonic. That is to say, while summer may offer ease of mind, going back to Hopkins means that I can spend my time doing things of a much more significant nature.

Why? Call Me Maybe dubstep remixes, that's why.

However, it’s not entirely necessary to rid myself of relaxation, but rather it’s time to tack on what I expect to be an amazing sophomore year. I’ve grown comfortable, if not complacent, with my laziness in St. Louis and so I’m ready to go back to Hopkins for all of the reasons that drew me there in the first place. I’m ready to learn more about modern art history and theory. I’m ready to, in one of my more exciting classes, examine a collection at the Walters Art Museum and learn about the installation of non-Western art. [I think] I’m ready to add another minor, this time in Entrepreneurship & Management, to focus on the administrative and marketing side of the museum. I’m ready to curate. I’m ready to contribute to the community through arts programming and community service, and just as ready to explore that community, food included (and in most cases compulsory). I’m ready to plan trips to D.C., New York, and who knows where else. I’m ready to apply to study abroad programs and accept that this time next year I may be packing my bags for France instead of Baltimore. Maybe more than anything, I’m ready to reunite with my friends with whom ridiculously fun nights and more unforgettable moments are just around the corner.

So is this a worried  post, an inspiring post, an anxious post, etc? I don’t really know, to be quite honest. I suppose it’s more of a “dear freshmen, don’t feel like you’re unwarranted in feeling the way you probably do” post, because lately I’ve been feeling similar fits of being ready to go (back, in my case) to Hopkins, sad to say “see you later” to my friends once again, and anxious to see how this year turns out. I’m essentially in a glass case of emotion. I am a little apprehensive in all honesty to start out the semester with 18 credits, one job, one internship, and extracurriculars on top of that, but if I let fear stop me from getting ahead, I’m in no position to succeed. In the end, all I can do is recognize how great of a summer I’ve had and accept that it’s time to buckle up my seatbelt, get that loathed haircut (overreaction, maybe?), and prepare for another semester of giving it my all at Hopkins. Class of 2016, enjoy your time at home as it slowly comes to what may seem like an end, but don’t be afraid of things changing forever. You have a lot, seriously, to look forward to, but you’ll always have the comfort of home to fall back on as well. I look forward to seeing you all on campus in just a few short weeks, get ready for an unforgettable ride!