Blog Archives

Every Moment

Posted by | Posted on May 2, 2012
2

It’s unbelievable that one year ago today I was preparing for AP exams and graduation, driving around Elk Grove (my hometown) and getting anxious to leave for Baltimore. I remember enthusiastically packing my suitcases two months prior to leaving because I was just didn’t want to wait. I was ready to start my highly-anticipated transition into college and now my first year is coming to a close so I am again packing up my things for the next adventure!

Graduating with my cousin/best friend Konner :)

I am incredibly excited for the summer because I’ve made plans to see my Hopkins friends, travel, return home for a short bit and do two internships in Southern California. With so much to look forward to, I can’t help but feel incredibly grateful for everything I’ve been able to experience this year and all the friendships I’ve made in just nine months.

On a less reflective note, these last few weeks at Hopkins have certainly exceeded my every expectation. A major highlight was SPRING FAIR! Hopkins’ Spring Fair is the second-largest student run festival in the country (behind Coachella) and it was an absolutely perfect weekend. The entire campus turned into a food, music, entertainment, shopping festival! The vibe on campus was so relaxed and of course the Beach was filled with students enjoying the warm weather :)

The kickoff event featured an incredible fireworks show and live entertainment. It was the perfect way to get excited for Spring Fair!

Incredible fireworks show on the Mason Hall Quad!

At the Spring Fair kickoff event!

Hanging out with friends on the Beach!

Spring Fair memories!

JHU_Ian filling up my "Spring Fair 2012" mug with homemade rootbeer!

After an exhausting (and incredible!) Spring Fair weekend, everyone winded down with the always-fancy Sterling Brunch at the FFC featuring gourmet food, live jazz music, and classy decorations.

Sterling Brunch at the FFC!

Shrimp Cocktail anyone?

This past weekend I also went to Sweetlife, an amazing food and music festival in Maryland. Hopkins organized transportation for us because so many students showed interest in going and it was definitely a highlight of my freshman year!

The lineup (on the back of my shirt!)

At Sweetlife!

And earlier this week we celebrated my friend (and Baker housemate!) Jorge’s birthday at the Inner Harbor!

at dinner!

The group at the Harbor!

With finals approaching and spring semester coming to a close, I am sad to pack up my things and move out of AMR II but excited to see what sophomore year has in store. I know I will love living in Charles Commons with Claire, being an student organizer at the Tutorial Project, continuing my work with Admissions, and taking more exciting classes next year.

This is my final blog as a freshman, but be sure to check out Hopkins Interactive for my sophomore blog as I chronicle my second year as a blue jay!

Thank you for reading this year! And to the class of 2016ers reading this, be prepared to love every moment of your Hopkins experience :)

All my Hopkins love,

Erica

 

Spring Fever!

Posted by | Posted on April 18, 2012
Reply

As the spring weather sets in, final exams approach and the end of freshman year draws near I can’t help but feel grateful for the friends and memories I’ve made, sad that my first year is coming to a close, and excited for summer (and of course next fall!). Getting to know so many admitted students throughout April has really made me feel old, because I feel like just yesterday I was visiting campus for the first time and participating in the SOHOP program for the Class of 2015.

Despite my extremely busy schedule, I’ve had so much fun the past few weeks making memories with friends, helping with the SOHOP program for the newly admitted class, giving campus tours to amazing visitors, and of course looking forward to Spring Fair  and end of the semester festivities!

Spring semester is definitely living up to the hype! SOHOP last week was a blast and I loved hosting two admitted students (Ella and Sekura) in my room! They were so wonderful and I’m happy to hear they’re both enrolling at Hopkins in the fall :) I’m definitely looking forward to seeing them around campus next year.

Sekura and Ella!

SOHOP is always so fun (for both the hosts and hostees!). Us current students all love telling others about our experiences at Hopkins and talking to admitted students who are getting excited for college to start! Hallway gatherings are a MUST when it comes to hosting :)

Baker House Hallway Party!

Hannah, my roommate Veronica and their hostees!

After SOHOP, I went to the big lacrosse game against UMaryland and the tailgate beforehand! My friends and I had an absolute BLAST.

At the tailgate on the freshman quad!

The Hopkins-UMaryland rivalry is the oldest in the sport of lacrosse!

 

Me and my future roomie Claire and I at the game :)

And finally, tutoring Cedric with the Tutorial Project has been incredible this semester and I can’t wait to get back in the fall and continue tutoring him as a newly-promoted third grader!

If you’re an admitted student, welcome to Hopkins and look forward to all the festivities in the Spring!

All My Hopkins Love,

Erica

P.S. Spring Fair is coming up this weekend and I’m SO PUMPED! All of Homewood campus is going to turn into a festival with Passion Pit performing, food vendors everywhere, and shopping galore!

Why Hopkins?

Posted by | Posted on April 4, 2012
1

Throughout the month of April, Homewood campus is inundated with visiting admitted students, parents, and the consistent flow of prospective students. As a tour guide and a member of SAAB, I have interacted with so many admitted students in the past week who will make up the Class of 2016!

Yesterday I had lunch with four admitted students, each of whom were enthusiastic about Hopkins, excited about their majors, and eager to learn more about student life. You’d think that interacting with so many admitted students on a daily basis, I would have a memorized a monologue that answers the question: Why Hopkins?

But the truth is, every time someone asks me why I love Hopkins as much as I do, I struggle to articulate a concise list of reasons. I love Hopkins because of my friends, the campus, the staff, my classes, and because Hopkins is my home in every sense of the word. It’s become my university, and everything about Hopkins is personal so it’s difficult to take a step back and not just ramble about my incredible memories (although most visitors love to hear some anecdotes!).

The First Impression

The first time I visited campus I saw beautiful buildings, brick pathways and grassy quads. It was idyllic and exactly the sort of place I always imagined.

First time walking through campus with my mom

But of course I didn’t choose Hopkins based on the campus alone. After meeting with current students and staff and interacting with admitted students at SOHOP, I immediately understood that Hopkins had the whole package: an energized student body, academic rigor and an exciting city ready to be explored.

The Student Body

Everyone I met during my first visit seemed so genuine and interesting, exactly the type of student body I desired. The Hopkins student body is energetic, intelligent and driven. I’ve felt a sense of community since Day One, and I immediately bonded with friends over things more substantial than the fact that we grew up in the same place.

Baker House bonding at the Inner Harbor!

I love being surrounded by people from every corner of the country and the globe.

(left to right) Hailing from Maryland, California, Nebraska, Trinidad, Italy, DC, and Washington State.

Academic Atmosphere

During my first visit I spoke with professors and staff, all of whom were approachable, personal and warm. I could tell that the academic atmosphere would be supportive and collaborative (and I was absolutely right). My challenging coursework has expanded my interest in Economics and Math (my majors) and everyone here seems to be genuinely passionate about their studies. It’s refreshing to constantly be surrounded by people excited about their classes, their research projects, and their extracurricular activities because it makes for a more engaged, optimistic student body.

During Orientation!

Homewood meets Charm City

I love that Hopkins is a residential campus in an urban setting! Homewood campus can feel like a peaceful, beautiful bubble sometimes because the second you cross North Charles Street you’re in Charm City, just down the street from the Inner Harbor and a short walk away from Hampden. Hopkins has all the amenities of a city with the beauty and comfortability of a residential campus. It really is the best of both worlds.

Whether I’m walking through the Gilman quad saying hello to familiar faces, hanging out with friends in the dorm, eating lunch at the FFC, or laughing with friends on the Beach, I am constantly overcome with a sudden feeling that I love this place and it’s exactly where I’m meant to be. It’s hard to articulate why I love Hopkins as much as I do because so much of it is based on the energy of campus and the compelling sense of community I feel everyday.

To all you future blue jays, congratulations on choosing Hopkins! I’m sure you’ll love it here as much as I do :)

All my Hopkins Love,

Erica

 

My Home at Homewood

Posted by | Posted on March 29, 2012
1

Today is a very special day here at Hopkins because the regular decision notifications were released for the Class of 2016! For all you admits reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! It’s strange to think that just one year ago I made the decision to attend Hopkins. Immediately following the moment I officially enrolled at Hopkins, my thoughts were racing. I thought about my major, my classes, my classmates, my professors, being in Baltimore, essentially everything I could think related to college. At the forefront of my mind was HOUSING. What dorm would I live in? Who would be my roommate? Who would be my neighbors? Who would be my RA?

I have to say that living in AMR 2 in Baker house has been an absolutely incredible experience. AMR 2 is beyond social, my RA JHU_Dominique is wonderful, and my housemates are amazing. Now, as the end of freshman year approaches, I’ve realized that my housing arrangement is a huge part of the reason I have adjusted to college so well and the main reason I feel an overwhelming sense of community with my classmates.

Baker House!

Baker 114 has become my home, but more than that it is my daily reminder that Hopkins is my school and everything about it is incredibly personal. The amount of inside jokes I have with my dormmates is in sane and even just friendly conversations in passing remind me that we have bonded so quickly in such a short period of time.

Baker House Bonding at the Inner Harbor!

Exciting News! My friend (and fellow Baker housemate) Claire and I officially signed our housing contract for sophomore year yesterday! We will be living in Charles Commons on the tenth floor and we are both incredibly excited!

Just after we signed our housing contracts :)

It’s exhilarating to think that in less than six months, I will have a new place to call home with one of my best friends, new hallmates to bond with, and a new perspective about how Hopkins has evolved as my home.

So whether you’re a prospective student or an admitted student in the Class of 2016, get ready to find a diverse, always-entertaining community in your dorm. It’s one of the reasons Hopkins is so wonderful.

Congratulations to the incoming class of 2016! You’re going to love Hopkins :)

All my Hopkins Love,

Erica

Future Blue Jays

Posted by | Posted on March 7, 2012
Reply

Since arriving on campus seven months ago, Hopkins has become my home. I have made incredible memories, met wonderful friends, and learned so much since August and now more than ever I am certain Hopkins was the right choice for me. Upon visiting Hopkins for the first time in April of last year, I met  so many current students, admitted students, and staff members that made me realize Hopkins was perfect for me. I’m so thankful to have met them and now that I’m a student here, I’ve gotten involved in three extra curriculars that allow me to give back to prospective students in the same way others did for me.

SAAB (Student Admissions Advisory Board):

Colloquially known as SAAB around campus, the Student Admissions Advisory Board is the group of students that runs the Hopkins Interactive site among other social media outlets for the university. I love being a part of such a diverse group that loves Hopkins just as much as I do. One of our ongoing projects from December through the summer is managing the Class of 2016 Facebook group, answering any questions the incoming class may have. We’ve talked about everything from dorms and dining to Baltimore and beyond. It’s fun interacting with the incoming class because chances are I’ll meet a lot of them next year!

SAAB Freshmen!

Blue Key Society Tour Guide:

I became a tour guide fairly recently and it has been amazing so far! For a lot of prospective or admitted students, the only interaction they have with the university is a one hour tour. Knowing that I might be the deciding factor between a student applying here or not is nerve-racking, but I love talking about my Hopkins experience with students and parents. My training for Blue Key started with a manual and a few meetings with current tour guides and the Executive staff. The manual is packed with information about Hopkins, including some awesome fun facts.

Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Johns Hopkins University took the first color photograph of the whole earth from space!

2. The film and Broadway production Hairspray is set in Hampden, which is just a five minute walk from campus! It’s often referred to as Hopkins’ backyard.

Hampden!

3. The Hopkins Medical Facility introduced the use of rubber gloves during surgery in 1889. You think that one would be a no-brainer…

4. The university is currently working on the Da Vinci Machine, which will allow doctors to perform surgery from a remote location. The Da Vinci Machine has bee featured on Grey’s Anatomy and House!

The Da Vinci Machine!

5. Some awesome speakers that have participated in two student-run symposiums include: Nelson Mandela, Eminem, Hillary Clinton, the cast of ER, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and Will Ferrell.

6. There is an archaelogical museum in the basement of Gilman Hall that has its own mummy collection!

7. Chemistry Professor Remsen discovered saccharin (artificial sugar) in 1878. The chemistry building where he made the discovery is now named after him.

8. The Hopkins Lacrosse team was twice sent to the Olympics to represent the United States. Both times the team received gold medals!

Olympic LAX team in 1928

9. The Johns Hopkins University Press is the oldest continuously operating university press in the country.

10. Students in the Outdoor Pursuits Club have rappelled from Gilman 500 (the room just below the clock tower) down the front of the building!

Gilman Hall!

Hopkins Hosting Society:

As a member of the Hopkins Hosting Society, I help plan the spring open house events by recruiting current students to host admitted students overnight. SOHOP is essentially an opportunity to learn about Hopkins, spend time with a current student, and see what campus life is like. It was an incredible experience for me and I’m still friends with people I met at SOHOP last year, including my host Colleen (who is now a sophomore), friend Alison, and friend John (who ended up being my next door neighbor in AMR II)!

 

My first time visiting campus for SOHOP!

So whether you’re visiting Hopkins for an hour, staying for a weekend, or attending SOHOP, I hope Hopkins treats you well because it sure is a wonderful place to be. And to all you future blue jays, congrats on choosing Hopkins! I’m sure you’ll love it here as much as I do.

All my Hopkins Love,

Erica

Oprah’s Favorite Things (JHU_Erica Edition)

Posted by | Posted on March 4, 2012
1

Oprah has notoriously shared her favorite things with audiences around the globe each year on her show. Although I’m not Oprah, I don’t have a show, and I can’t give all my readers cars, I would like to share my favorite things about my Hopkins experience so far!

My favorite extracurricular: The Tutorial Project

The Tutorial Project is a tutoring program for inner-city Baltimore youth located in Levering Hall! I love tutoring twice a week because the kids are great, a lot of my friends also tutor, it’s fun to be a kid again, and it’s a great way to give back to the Baltimore community. The boy I’ve tutored for both semesters is hilarious and he always brightens my day.

Playing with paper lightsabers!

JHU_Kevin and my friend Peter also tutor!

My favorite memories:

Some of us in front of the Capital!

Just a fun night in the dorms at the beginning of the year!

A random night on the Gilman Quad with two of my favorite people :)

My favorite study spot: Gilman!

Gilman is absolutely beautiful; the natural light, cozy furniture, and variety of workspace make it my ideal study spot!

Outside of Gilman Hall!

The Atrium is stunning!

"The Hut" has so much natural light!

The perfect study area!

My favorite on-campus eatery: FFC!

The FFC is conveniently located just next door from my dorm!

at the FFC (freshman dining hall!)

My favorite off-campus eatery: One World Cafe!

One World is a vegan and vegetarian-friendly cafe with incredible homemade desserts, delicious breakfast options, and a wide selection for lunch and dinner. Most everything is homemade and healthy! It’s a great place to study and is conveniently located less than five minutes away from my dorm!

One World Cafe!

These are just some of my favorite things about my Hopkins experience so far! There’s so much more to see in Baltimore that I can’t wait to share with all of you!

All my Hopkins Love,

Erica

The Best of the Best

Posted by | Posted on February 8, 2012
1

Moving away from home, meeting all new friends, living in a dorm, experiencing a new city… Everyone talks about these major transitions to college life but what happens once you settle in? What happens after you move in, find great friends, adjust to dorm life, and explore Baltimore? SCHOOL. SCHOOL HAPPENS. And let me tell you, the academics at Hopkins are the best of the best.

So without further ado, here are some of the best aspects of academics at Hopkins!

1) You get to choose classes that genuinely interest you. Unlike most universities, Hopkins does not have any general education requirements so you immediately get to choose classes that interest you across a wide range of concentrations and there is no pressure to stay with the major you initially plan to complete (see JHU_Zoe’s awesome blog about switching from Biophysics to English here!). The shopping period for classes (the first two weeks of every semester) is the ideal opportunity to sit in on classes that might interest you so everyone has equal opportunity to explore different areas of study.

 2) The professors are passionate, world-renowned experts in their fields. I had so many amazing high school teachers, but there’s something exhilarating about learning from published authors and nobel prize winners that make classes so much cooler. All of my professors thus far have been incredibly personable, repeatedly encouraging students to come to their office hours or grab coffee just to chat about anything.

 3) Essentially everyone is motivated to do well. Being surrounded by students of a similar caliber is incredible and makes balancing an active social life and rigorous academic load so much easier.

Hanging out and studying on the freshman quad!

4) Professors are in-touch with technology. My calculus class this semester is complete with an updated course website, active Facebook page and blog for discussions and help with homework. Professor Brown frequently posts and comments, always trying to improve accessibility to help and discussions beyond the class time. I am amazed at how helpful these extra resources are even in a math class!

Our Calculus course website!

Our class Facebook page!

Our class blog!

5) There are so many support systems available for all students.

The Learning Den:

The Learning Den provides tutoring for a wide range of classes and they are all taught by current Hopkins students (or grads students) that have taken the class and know the professor personally. Almost everyone I know frequents the Learning Den, especially during exam season. Whether it’s to stop by and ask a question or to chat up an upperclassmen with similar academic interests for advice, the Learning Den is an incredible resource!

The Learning Den schedule for this semester!

Math Help Room:

The Math Help Room is another place for students to drop by and meet with a current Hopkins student, TA, or graduate student for any math class.  You can stay for ten minutes or hours on end, but there is always someone there to help on a daily basis.

Office Hours (TA’s and professors):

I highly recommend going to office hours for your professors and TA’s. They can be very helpful with determining your future and of course helping with any challenging coursework. TA’s and professors are always reaching out and they love getting to know their students in a casual setting.

One final note: In high school, I rarely sought out tutoring because I wasn’t often overwhelmed by a concept or unit. In college I have made it a habit to take advantage of all these resources because they really lighten the load during the semester and come exam time I always feel prepared without having to cram.

Overall, the academics at Hopkins are incredible and you’ll find advisors, professors, peers, and graduate students who are incredibly supportive and always willing to lend a hand. Hopkins is a welcoming place, and that makes the big switch to college-level academics a little less scary.

 

All my Hopkins Love,

Erica

Globalizin’ in NYC

Posted by | Posted on January 20, 2012
1

January is an incredibly exciting time to be a Hopkins student. Following Winter break most students return to campus for Intersession, a three-week program in which Hopkins students have the opportunity to take AMAZING classes, study abroad, intern, volunteer, and more! This year is my first Intersession and it has definitely lived up to the hype. In addition to spending time with my friends that I missed over break, I chose to take two courses (one class the first two weeks and the second is a one-week class beginning Monday).

WE LOVE INTERSESSION!

My first class is called Perspectives on Globalization and it has been an Intersession tradition for almost 10 years. The structure of the course is a five-day lecture series from Hopkins alums who are incredibly successful, enthusiastic, and helpful. They offer their expertise on current global issues, talk about their transitions from Hopkins to grad school to their respective career fields, and connect with us current students (about 20 in the class) to offer advice and assist us as we plan our future. The guest speakers absolutely blew me away! Most of them are experts and published authors in their respective fields and they all concur that their undergraduate experience at Hopkins shaped them in so many ways.

Peter Marber was my favorite alum guest speaker. He even gave us a copy of his latest book that I already love!

Speaking with the lecturers gave me great insight into my future career paths and current issues my generation faces, and the second week of the course supplemented this classroom experience perfectly. We took a three-day trip to New York to network with more Hopkins alums, learn about their work, and inquire about internship opportunities.

At the Council on Foreign Relations!

Our trip to New York included visits to (RED), the Federal Reserve, the United Nations, an international law panel, the International Rescue Committee, and more! It was such a wonderful experience and the students on the trip instantly bonded.

Outside of the Federal Reserve!

Of all our incredible visits, my personal favorite was (RED), Bono’s company whose mission is to create an AIDS-free world by 2015 through corporate partnerships and the power of thoughtful consumers. (RED) focuses on corporate social responsibility and creates products with renowned companies in which an agreed percentage is donated directly to the Global Fund. Since (RED)’s founding in 2006 they have raised over 180 million dollars (100% of which has gone directly to the Global Fund) through corporate partnership agreements.

Me and Ellie at (RED) Headquarters!

Meeting with a young Hopkins alum named Christine at (RED)’s headquarters was definitely a major highlight for me. I encourage all of you to visit joinred.com and watch the following video:

My first Intersession experience has been incredible so far and I’m so excited for my class on Monday about the political and economic development of Baltimore that includes Habitat for Humanity volunteering!

All my Hopkins Love,

Erica

P.S. IT JUST STARTED SNOWING ON CAMPUS (so naturally I ran outside and took a picture with friends!)

SNOW!

 

 

Before I Knew…

Posted by | Posted on January 2, 2012
5

Happy New Year everyone! Being on winter break has me reminiscing about how incredible my first semester was at Hopkins! It’s a strange experience looking through pictures from the beginning of the semester and realizing that in such a short time Hopkins has become my home and I’ve created so many memories.

The following pictures were taken…

Class of 2015!

before I knew just how much I would LOVE my first semester and the Class of 2015,

Baker House!

before I knew how close-knit my house would be,

love them!

before I knew the three of us would intensely study for our International Politics and Occiv finals (and survive!),

SAAB freshman!

before I knew how much I would love SAAB,

Oh JHU_Ian...

before I knew this kid would make me laugh everyday,

at Carma's with John!

before I knew how amazing Carma’s coconut macaroons are,

Grace, my favorite vegan :)

before I knew we’d be living together next year,

Laundry adventures with Wadsworth!

before Wadsworth knew how to do his own laundry,

finals had me a wee bit stressed...

before I calmed down and realized I was prepared for my finals,

dinner at Tamber's before the NERO concert!

before I knew how amazing NERO is in concert,

filming the Lighting of the Quads video!

before I realized how the videographers fix issues like height differences,

such a fun night with JHU_Joseph and JHU_Ian!

and before I realized how much I would miss crazy and random memories like this!

My first semester has been absolutely AMAZING! In less than three months, I have made incredible friendships, shared so many laughs, eaten so many FFC cookies, and learned so much. I am so thankful for all the fun times I had this semester and can’t wait to get back to campus in a week!

All my Hopkins Love,

Erica

‘Tis the Season to be Away from Home(wood)

Posted by | Posted on December 16, 2011
Reply

First, I would like to congratulate all the early-decision admits for the Class of 2016! Hopkins sure is lucky to have you and I know you’ll absolutely love your experience here. It seems like just yesterday I was admitted to JHU, and it feels like yesterday I moved in to my dorm room, and it feels like yesterday I experienced my first week of college classes. Clearly, I have no perception of time because my first semester of college is officially over and I’m now halfway through freshman year! It’s exciting, sad, and strange all at the same time because I’ve loved my time here so far but I also don’t want my four years to go by as quickly as this semester has.

Since my last post over Thanksgiving break, so much seems to have happened on campus. Hopkins immediately kicked into the holiday season with fancy ice sculptures and an inflatable snowglobe! Campus has definitely seemed to light up with holiday cheer, both literally and figuratively.

Fancy ice sculptures outside the FFC (freshman dining hall)!

Ian and I inside the snowglobe on the Gilman quad!

One very cool Hopkins tradition is on November 30th students, faculty, and native Baltimoreans come together for the Lighting of the Quads. It’s a fun night with hot chocolate, donuts, gingerbread house competitions, and much more! This year JHU_Ian and I were lucky enough to create a video about the tradition (with the insane videography skills of JHU_Jacqueline and the videography team!).

Height differences are difficult #EricaProblems

Filming outside of the MSE library!

Check out the video here:

It was amazing experiencing the tradition for the first time and documenting it on film with one of my best friends. The Lighting of the Quads really put me in the holiday spirit, and now that finals are over it finally feels like Christmas. This year I’ll be celebrating Christmas in New York with my family, and I am really looking forward to coming home to Hopkins for Intersession in January! Intersession is a three-week period in which students can engage in a variety of classes and programs before starting the spring semester. I am taking a class about the politics and economic development of Baltimore (with JHU_Ian!) and a career development course called “Perspectives on Globalization,” which includes a five-day trip to New York to network with Hopkins alums in financial firms, international law firms, NGO’s, government agencies, etc. I am so excited to be back at Hopkins in a few weeks because I’m missing my friends so much already!

Happy Holidays!

All my Hopkins Love,

Erica