Grace Writes a Letter…To Herself

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Grace A.

Dear Beginning-of-Freshman-Year Grace,

Hi slightly-younger me! From what I remember, you’re significantly tanner than I am now, but that’s okay, because I’m much, much wiser than you are. Kidding, of course, but not completely. While you may be sporting a sun-kissed glow as a result of frying yourself to a crisp by the pool for three months, you’re also incredibly nervous about starting your first year at college. You’re wondering if you’ve overpacked (you have), if you’ll like your roommate (you will), and if you’ll turn all your clothes pink in the wash (you won’t, but you’ll also discover in May that you’ve accidentally been shrinking everything, not just getting significantly taller like you’d hoped). You’re freaking out in a million different ways, and even though I know I can’t really do anything to help, I’d like to give some advice I wished that I’d had at the beginning of freshman year. Because everything will be okay. Really.

: Ugh, look at that healthy summer glow, even with the freaky flash.

First of all, you’re not going to fail out of Hopkins. No, really; say it with me. You are not going to fail out of Hopkins. YouarenotgoingtofailoutofHopkins. We’re good, alright? Seriously, you are not going to bomb everything. You have solid study habits from high school, and even though the classes here are way harder, you’re going to be fine. In fact–and try not to gasp–you’re actually going to do pretty well. You probably wouldn’t be doing that well if you had to take a math class, but hey, that’s another story. You should also probably stop being super paranoid that you’re going to miss some sort of vital information and showing up 15 minutes early to class. It’s weird, dude. The professor isn’t even there that early. (And hey, if you accidentally sleep through class one day or have to skip to study for another exam, it’s honestly not the end of the world. Everybody does it. You will do it a lot as the weather gets warmer. I mean, what?)

: One of my more academic moments.

Okay, academics are boring, blah blah blah (they’re not, but this is a Fun Blog™, and we’re going to talk about Fun™). Look, slightly-younger-Grace, I know you’re scared that you’re not going to make friends. You think that everyone is going to walk in on the first day of Orientation relaxed and self-assured, and you’re going to be that one big sweaty ball of nerves that no one wants to talk to. Good news! Everyone is that one big sweaty ball of nerves (also: ew). People are going to be so eager to be buddy-buddy that they’re practically going to tackle each other looking for someone to eat lunch with. Now, I want to give you some props on one point. You do know–probably because your oh-so-wise mother has told you this on many occasions–that you’re not going to meet your best friends the first week of college. Probably not the first month, either. Or maybe not even the first two months. That’s okay! You’re going to spend a bit of time floating between groups, but in the end, you’ll be incredibly glad you had that experience. As a result, you’ll find the people you really click with, the ones with whom you have shared interests, the ones who you can call at 1:30 in the morning when you’re miserable and who will cheer you up over Papa John’s cheesy bread and honey BBQ wings (extra bleu cheese, thanks). Also, make friends with upperclassmen. Yes, this is my standard piece of advice I give pre-frosh, but hey, slightly-younger-Grace, you’re technically a pre-frosh too, and besides, this is legit. Just because upperclassmen seem super intimidating and really cool with their impressive GPAs and their own apartments and their slight height advantages (I have short person insecurity, FYI) doesn’t mean that they don’t want anything to do with you! In fact, some of my best friends are upperclassmen, and I can credit them with so many of my best times here. They also know all the most delicious places to eat around campus, which is a huge bonus because I’m obsessed with food.

: Me staring at food, and just generally being weird as usual.

Alright, slightly-younger-Grace, now that we’ve covered friends, we should probably shift to social life. First off, YES HOPKINS IS FUN. It really is. It is so fun that, at times, your parents will send you awkward “shouldn’t you be studying?” texts when you tell them you’re headed to a party. And okay, maybe you should’ve been. But you know what? It’s okay to go out on a Wednesday night. It’s okay to go out on a Tuesday night. Sometimes it’s even okay to go out on a Monday night (not that I’ve done this ha ha ha um). Sometimes when it’s 11 PM in the library and you feel like tearing your hair out and your paper that’s due the next week is just not getting written, it’s way better to go out and let loose a little (I said a little, okay? Don’t go crazy on me here!) than to mope around all depressed and overworked. And, on the opposite side of the spectrum, there’s going to be some Saturday nights where there’s an absolutelycrazyawesomeparty that everyone’s going to, but that you’d just feel better about skipping because you have a test on Monday. Is it going to be really fun sitting in the library on the weekend? Probably not (hint hint: Colbert Report study breaks). But are you a nerd for doing it? No. Is it okay to do so? Absolutely. Some of the best advice I can give you is not to get so caught up in your GPA that you forget what college is all about. Yes, it’s about getting good grades and scoring a great job or a grad school acceptance and all that jazz. But it’s also about the memories. The fun stuff. The 2 AM Uni Mini on a Thursday night (order the hummus and falafel, and I promise you won’t regret it). Just don’t go out when you’re sick. That’s a bad idea, dude. No one likes the sniffly, wheezy person at the party.

: Some recent Saturday-night shenanigans.

Speaking of sick, you will get sick. A lot. You will, in fact, get a total of five (5!!) sinus infections over the course of your freshman year. That will not be fun one bit. You will also have days where you feel so overworked you consider dropping out of school, capitalizing on your talent for imitating cartoon characters, and going into voice acting. There will be nights when the bathroom is dirty and you have to clean it even though you have a test in the morning, or a whole week where you’re so upset about some stupid thing that you’ll be snarky and annoy everyone around you. There will also be this one really gross time where you cut your foot several inches deep with the sharp part of your sandal and trail blood all down North Charles Street (I’ll spare you the pictures). So yes, bad stuff will happen. But will you get over your sinus infections? Yup (hello tonsils out this summer!). Will the workload let up? Yes. Will your roommate help you clean the bathroom? She will. Will you stop being upset over that stupid thing? Yes, and quicker than you thought. Will your lovely friends walk your bleeding self all the way to their apartment, sit you on the counter, and bandage your foot right up? Indeed they will, and hey, thanks again guys. Freshman year will not be perfect, certainly, but the good stuff will outweigh the bad by such an enormous margin that you will actually have to struggle to think of examples to list above.

: Michelle, who’s on the left, also doubles as an amateur foot surgeon.

In the end, you won’t remember one bad grade or one rude remark. (Warning: Cheesiness ahead) You’ll remember friends and formals and falafel, Late Night in the FFC and some really crazy late night parties. You’ll remember dancing to Hey Porshe as well as all of your favorite hits of 2004, because Nelly is really under-appreciated and you want everyone to realize it. You’ll remember lying out on the Beach in that hopes of getting the perfect tan you had at the start of the year, only to discover that your left shoulder is fried and your right shoulder is still inexplicably pasty. You’ll remember being stupid and immature and sometimes less stupid and less immature, and you’ll know that no matter how stupid or immature you are that particular day or week, you’ll still never be able to figure out why the Baltimore water keeps turning your hair blue. But it’ll be hilarious, and it will be worth it. Promise, yo. Really.

: This is my friend Eva. She has perfect hair. It is not blue in the slightest and I’m jealous.

So I’ll stop being annoying and nostalgic, because I know you have a billion people to meet and six thousand Orientation activities to go to (read: sleep through), and I should be finishing up my last essay of the year. I’ll end with a few random snippets of advice that I couldn’t find a place for, but that are still super super important. First off, study and chill with friends in Brody, and write essays on C level. I’m mad that I just figured out this formula, because it really works. Also, make friends in your classes. Take classes with your friends. Study groups rule! Your parents are also probably going to hate you for slacking on your meal plan, but going out to eat is a great way to explore Baltimore, bond over delicious food, and relieve stress. Next, Fells Point. Halloween. Go! Who cares if it’s on a Wednesday–it’s awesome! Also, you’re going to sleep through the Ravens winning the Super Bowl; you’re stupid. Study-wise, go to Quizlet.com and you’ll never waste your money on flashcards. Spring Fair weekend will also be the best weekend of your life thus far, and joining SAAB will be the best decision you make at Hopkins. And yes, yes, I know my freshman year was fantastic and all, but I am going to give you one last piece of advice to keep you from being as cynical as I am: the free t-shirt thing is a lie. You will not get one free t-shirt. Try not to think about it, because it makes you mad. Think about how amazing Hopkins is, and how lucky you are to go to school there, and how you honestly, genuinely do not know what you’re going to do this summer without the zany and crazy and spectacular and fun people you’ve met there. Because yes, you’re excited to go home, but you know it’ll be about a week before you can’t wait to go back. And trust me, you will be so, so eager to see what sophomore year has in store.

Best,

Slightly-older (yet not taller) Grace

Friends on Halloween!

SAAB friends!

More photographic proof that sometimes people like me!

Adventures in Academia

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Grace A.

Hey, guys! This week at Hopkins Interactive, we’re highlighting our favorite academic experiences here at JHU. I’m not going to lie–when I first received my assignment, I was pretty stumped. Not because I didn’t have a ton of awesome scholastic experiences (I totally do), but because I felt like I’d already written a lot in my other blogs about specific academic highlights, and I didn’t want to repeat myself. Luckily, after a few minutes of contemplation (and a few episodes of Colbert, natch), I came up with an awesome topic–in fact, I can’t believe I haven’t written about it already! So, without further rambling on my part, here’s Grace’s Favorite Academic Experience Blog™, starring Hopkins’ open curriculum!

With Hopkins' open curriculum, you can take a course in fireworks! Edit: no you cannot.

First off, I think I need to start out with a disclaimer. I know that I want to be a writer. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a writer. That’s a huge part of the reason why I’m at Hopkins; I wanted a school that would prepare me for a writing career, and there’s really no better place to hone your creative skills than JHU. That said, I didn’t want to sacrifice the opportunity to take a super awesome writing class just because I had to fill my schedule with standard intro-level courses on topics I was sure I would never be interested in (math!! physics!!). Needless to say, then, little prospective-student Grace was absolutely thrilled when she discovered that Hopkins had an open curriculum. What’s that, you say? Well, at JHU, you don’t have to take those intro-level courses. Sure, each major has its own requirements, but there aren’t any classes everyone in the school has to take. That means someone’s who’s dead-set on BME won’t have to sit through a composition course, just as an English major isn’t forced to take General Biology. And I never have to take a math class again in my life! Sounds awesome, right?

Snapshot I took of Shriver during SOHOP. *sighs* God, I'm SO artsy.

But wait! you cry (and by “you”, I mean invisible readers that I like to imagine exist). What if a student isn’t sure what they want to major in? Don’t they need exposure to all sides of academia in order to find their passion? That’s totally right, and it’s also yet another reason why Hopkins’ open curriculum is great. Since students aren’t pigeonholed into a set schedule, undecided (or even just curious) undergrads can choose a variety of classes from all over the spectrum, just because they think the courses sound interesting! One may be fairly sure they’re interested in science, but, just because they dabbled in an Archeology class one semester, could decide to add Archeology as a minor! And the best part is, you’re not even penalized or set back for taking classes outside your major! All fields have a certain number of credit requirements to be fulfilled outside one’s major (Engineering majors have to take a certain number of Humanities credits, ect.), so taking cool classes in another academic area actually helps you complete your degree!

Gilman Hall! I have most of my writing classes in this lovely building.

Of course, this all sounds awesome on paper, but if you’re like me, you probably want some real-world evidence to prove that the open curriculum is as good of an idea as it seems. As proof, I offer my own open curriculum experience. Even though not having to take a ton of science credits is cool, my favorite part of the policy is that it allows me to jump right in to upper-level classes. Because there aren’t three trillion standardized prerequisites, I’ve been able to take 300 and 400-level courses as a freshman. Yes, it’s difficult, but I’m willing to put in the work, and I’d much rather toil away a little longer for a class that’s genuinely interesting than slog through a course because I have to take it. Taking a ton of writing classes also makes me much more prepared for my future career than sitting through an Orgo lecture would. And do I still get exposure to other disciplines? Absolutely! Right now, I’m taking courses on Spanish, Philosophy, and International Politics–not exactly a schedule with a singular focus, right? As someone who came into Hopkins really excited about the open curriculum, I can truthfully say that it absolutely did not disappoint.

Anyway, I would love to gush more about the OC (making up an acronym for “open curriculum” is cool, right? Right?), it’s Spring Fair weekend, and there’s a crepe stand on the Beach that’s calling my name. But in summation, the open curriculum an amazing opportunity for decided and undecided undergrads alike, and I’m incredibly lucky to attend an institution that allows us so much academic freedom. And, just to finish, I know this isn’t academic, but I’m also so lucky to go to a school that JUST BEAT #1 RANKED MARYLAND IN LACROSSE TO AVENGE LAST YEAR’S LOSSES!! Okay, I’m still pretty over-excited. Time to get some crepes, y’all. Enjoy the weather!

Is Hopkins Cutthroat?

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Grace A.

As a member of SAAB, one of my duties (besides being consistently awesome) is answering questions in the Facebook groups for Hopkins admitted students. I actually think this one of the more interesting parts of the job, as I get a sort of “sneak peek” at the Class of 2017. But yesterday, a series of posts in the group caught my attention, and, unfortunately, not in a good way. I won’t go too much into detail, but basically the posts claimed that Hopkins was a cutthroat, joyless institution devoid of any school spirit or the slightest hint of fun. Apparently, as I was delighted to learn, the Hopkins student body is comprised of pre-med drones who will readily smash your laptop to prevent you from setting the curve. Not only that, but going to Hopkins is like arsenic for your health, both physical and mental; you’ll go crazy from lack of sleep and start dying of the flu during your Orgo exam (okay, no one actually said anything that dramatic, but you get my point). It sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous. And rationally, I knew that.

Not having ANY fun.

But I was still annoyed. Really annoyed. And do you know why? Because, despite the fact that Hopkins has quite a few peers in terms of academic rigor, it’s pretty much the only school which is consistently plagued with the “cutthroat” rumor. The “no fun” rumor. The “crazy student body” rumor. And it’s not true. That’s the most honest way I can put it: it is simply just not true. It’s like hearing a ridiculous story about yourself that seems to spring out of nowhere but refuses to go away. You have no idea why the rumor started, but everyone somehow believes it. And yet, you go on sites like College Confidential and there it is, plastered all over the Internet: “Hopkins is terrible/awful/the reason I can’t sleep at night/the monster under my bed”. It’s like somewhere along the way, one disgruntled undergrad decided that JHU was hell on earth because he got a bad grade on an exam and decided to do everything he could to slander the name of the university. The rumor could’ve stuck to any school with highly-motivated students, but for some strange reason, it was slapped onto Hopkins. And I honestly don’t understand it.

Do you want the truth, prospective and admitted students? Hopkins is hard. Hopkins is really, reallyhard. The professors don’t baby you. The assignments are tough. You have to study weeks in advance for the exams. Some students really want that A. We don’t have crazy fraternity parties on Monday nights. We can’t pack 20,000 students into a football stadium. Most weekdays, I’m in the library past midnight. If you come here, you’re going to have to work, and you’re going to have to work to your full potential. And I don’t see why this is a bad thing.

Exhibiting ZERO school spirit.

Look, you applied to Hopkins, or are considering applying to Hopkins, because of its academic rigor. I said it in the admitted students group, and I’ll say it again; Hopkins is not cutthroat, it is rigorous. Prospective students know this. Admissions counselors know this. Everyone knows this; we’re one of the top universities in the world, and you don’t get that reputation by assigning busywork. You guys know that it isn’t a cakewalk. The type of student who applies to Hopkins doesn’t want a cakewalk. What they want is a challenging academic experience, and that is one of the things Hopkins definitely delivers. Each and every member of the student body is incredibly passionate about something, whether it’s sports or writing or cancer research. They’re committed, they’re driven, and they know what they want. And they’re in the perfect place to achieve it.

But what I find frustrating is that no one telling all those horror stories ever talks about all of the other things Hopkins offers. Like incredible freedom to take whatever classes you want (and to skip what you may consider the tedious ones) because we don’t have a core curriculum. Like spring afternoons on the Beach, enjoying the sun with all of your classmates and friends. Like going out to a party and and being able to have a real conversation with the kid dancing next to you. Like randomly deciding to go to an a cappella show and leaving dazzled by the incredible amount of talent you just witnessed. Like not only packing the stands for a lacrosse matchup, but also being able to watch one of your best friends kick butt in a volleyball game. Like going out to a fraternity formal on a random Tuesday night at one of the many awesome clubs in Baltimore. Like late-night Uni Mini. Like discussing various tales of your weekend over coffee in the Brody Learning Commons. Like being able to get free tutoring whenever you want in the Writing Center and the Learning Den. Like staying up late cramming for a History midterm and making friendships over increasingly-delirious jokes. Like dancing to 90s classics (shoutout to TLC’s No Scrubs) in your friend’s apartment on a Thursday. Like being able to go to a school that cured HIV in a baby. Like sitting in Philosophy class having no idea what the professor is talking about, and then having that amazing moment of realization where all of a sudden it’s HolylordI’vegotit! Like a million things more I could go on and on about, but Game of Thrones is coming on and I don’t have all day. Because really, Hopkins is special. And it is spectacular.

I stole her Spanish notes and shredded them shortly after this picture was taken.

So, is Hopkins difficult? Yeah, it is. Is it cutthroat? No. I can say, without reservation, absolutely not. I’ve never heard a story of anyone, regardless of whether they’re a Writing Sems major or a BME, falling victim to excess competition. Is it a ‘party school’ of 50,000 undergrads? No. Do I usually manage to go out Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays? Yes. Can I stay in and work on a paper when I need to? Of course. Have I already, as a second-semester freshman, made friendships that I think will last for years and years? Definitely. Am I only saying this because Admissions is forcing/bribing me too? No (I do this voluntarily and no one pays me ha ha help me I’m a poor college student). Is Hopkins fantastic? Yes. Will it give you opportunities you’ve never dreamed of? Yes. Am I glad I came here? Every single day. And do I love it? Absolutely.

Gettin’ Classy

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Grace A.

Hey guys! It’s Spring Break, and I’m currently at home wrapped up in two layers of blankets, alternating between idly browsing the Internet and petting my dogs. Naturally, a week of stress-free relaxation is the perfect time to talk about my classes, right? Jokes aside, I’m planning on spending the next three or four blogs detailing “Why Hopkins?” and highlighting spring campus activities, and I wanted to make sure I included a post about academia before the semester ended. However, I always like to include tons of pictures in my blog, and while my classes are anything but boring, snapshots of lecture halls and notebooks aren’t exactly exciting. So, keeping in the more laid-back spirit of Spring Break, I’m going to throw in some random pictures of my friends and I being goofy around campus, just to show that, even with a heavy course schedule, there’s still a ton of time for fun. Also, forgive me for the title; I’m really bad with puns.

Because nothing says fun like selfies!

Comparative International Politics: My thought process for selecting this class was somewhat along the lines of, “Politics? Hm, I like politics. Sounds cool,” which is pretty consistent with how I pick the rest of my courses. I was always really interested in American politics, but this course actually steers away from our country’s systems, an approach I’ve found I quite enjoy. As I never really knew much about the political mechanisms of other nations, it’s intriguing to get a sort of “whirlwind tour” of China, Mexico, France, and a host of other countries. Also, Professor Jabko always wears really nice sweaters. This is completely irrelevant, but I can always appreciate some cool style.

Spanish Elements II: Okay, confession time. At the end of my senior year, I gleefully tossed all of my Spanish notebooks in the trash, confident that I’d never have to take a language class in college. I’m sure you can imagine how thrilled I was a few weeks later when I found out that my Writing Seminars major requires I study a language through the Intermediate level. I’ll be honest and tell you that I was totally dreading this class come the start of the semester, but now, about halfway through, I’m truly enjoying it. I never really clicked with any of my Spanish teachers in high school, but my Elements II instructor, Lauren Judy, really tries her hardest to connect with students, and–bear with me, this sounds cheesy–she actually makes the lessons engaging and fun. I mean, I’ve pretty much accepted that (just like Math and Science) language will never come naturally to me, but so far, I’m really impressed with the Hopkins Spanish department.

In the middle is my awesome friend Ali, who also doubles as my Spanish study partner.

Greek Philosophy–Plato and His Predecessors: I suppose the common theme of this blog is my complete lack of judgment, because it actually took me two weeks of attending this class to figure out it was a 400-level course. Whoops–probably should’ve looked at my ISIS a little more closely. However, I’m sort of glad I didn’t initially realize the listing, because had I known it was such a high-level course, I probably would’ve dropped, and then I would’ve missed out on what is one of my favorite classes of the semester! Even though I’ve never taken a philosophy class before, I’m finding Plato surprisingly readable. While it was initially hugely intimidating to have so many upperclassmen and graduate students in the course, I’m actually thankful for the difficulty and the class makeup, because successfully rising to such an academic challenge greatly boosted my confidence.

Introduction to Fiction and Poetry II: I took the first part of this course, Introduction to Fiction and Poetry (IFP) I, last fall, so this semester feels a lot like an extension of the previous semester. I even have the same instructor, Katherine Robinson! However, the grading in IFP II is significantly harder than in IFP I, and we’re also assigned a lot more reading. I always enjoy writing creatively (I mean, I am a Writing Seminars major…) and I’m glad to have the opportunity to continue in such a vein. That said, I’m really excited to start getting into the more specialized, upper-level writing classes next semester, when I’ll have completed both my IFP prerequisites!

Completely irrelevant picture of Levering on a sunny day. But it's PRETTY!

Modern British Poetry: Unlike many of my other courses, I selected this class quite deliberately. I really enjoyed my Literature of the American South instructor, Beth Steedley, last semester, so when I found out that she was teaching Modern British Poetry, I immediately made plans to enroll. I’d actually never studied poetry that extensively in high school, and while I got a more general exposure to the form in IFP I, this is my first time thoroughly analyzing the specifics of style and form, both in oral discussion and argumentative essays. I have to say, even though “Modern British Poetry” may not exactly sound appealing to most of you, I’m wholly enjoying the class. Our focus on a specific time period allows us to examine the significant interactions between poets (and other luminaries of the day) and to get a real feel for how the themes of the shaped subject and form. Studying greats like Eliot and Yeats in such depth is awesome, and, while writing convincing poetic analysis is definitely a change from analyzing novels and short stories, I enjoy both the challenge and the class.

Charles Street Market, aka CharMar. I would never survive any of my homework without CharMar snack breaks in between assignments.

Alright, guys. I’m sure you’d love to read more about my assignments and analyses and all that jazz (wanna come over and do my homework for me? Seriously), I’ll wrap this up before I get too boring. But first, just a few miscellaneous things. Numero uno: for all of you anxiously awaiting your RD decisions, may the force be with you. I never went through the RD process, but I know that it’s an incredibly stressful time, and I wish each and every one of you the best of luck in the future. Second, for the ED kids, I know you’re anxious, but please don’t wish away your last few months of high school. Even if you feel like you’re totally ready to get out (which, full disclosure, is exactly how I felt), take this time to thank your teachers, discover a new favorite TV show (Game of Thrones!!!), or, at the very least, to get a tan. And finally, I know this is shameless self-promotion, but you should totally follow me on Twitter (it’s @JHU_Grace). Because, after all, there’s no better way to get a feel for what life is like as a Hopkins student than reading my debatably-annoying and breathlessly excited tweets! In the meantime, I’m going to snuggle up underneath the covers, eat some cookie dough ice cream, and enjoy Spring Break.

Grace’s Guide to Surviving Midterm Week™

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Grace A.

Okay, let’s get one thing straight. I love Hopkins. I really do. Go back and read all my super-gushy past blog posts if you don’t believe me. And I’m pretty sure most of my fellow students are equally enthralled with JHU.

But then Midterm Week happens. And no one loves Midterm Week (and if you do, you’re a sick and deluded individual, and I don’t want to know you). We can only hope to survive it.

What’s Midterm Week? While there’s no such official week at Hopkins, from surveying my fellow students I’ve determined that, for the most part, the vast majority of our tests and papers seem fall on the same dates. This past week was a perfect example. Not only did I have two exams and a paper due, but apparently, everyone else was in the same boat; it was almost impossible to find a table in the library, and forget about scoring a seat in the Quiet Reading Room. Luckily, I think I handled the last seven days pretty well (though my grades aren’t back yet, so fingers crossed!) and I wanted to provide a guide for all of you prospective students who I’m sure are eagerly awaiting their first Midterm Week. So, without further ado, here’s my (totally not really trademarked) guide!

A shot of campus while walking to one of my midterms. Not too shabby, right?

1. Plan. Plan Everything. I can’t stress this enough. What probably helped me the most during Midterm Week was budgeting almost every second of my time. No joke–I planned out what I’d study on each day, how long I’d study it for, and what particular area in that subject I’d focus on. I also made sure I had my club meeting and activities written down so I could leave sufficient time for my extracurricular involvements. Obviously you don’t have to go that overboard, but I’d definitely suggest buying a planner (JHU actually gives one to all incoming freshmen!) and using it regularly.

My planner. I have problems.

Because I’m a complete dork, I also find it super-satisfying to cross off every task I’ve completed (so what if it’s ‘eat dinner’? I still did it, didn’t I?). Another really useful thing is writing down all of your assignments and due dates when you first get your syllabuses. It’s sort of a pain to do it at the time, but that way you’ll have everything that’s due written down way in advance and you won’t have that awful “Oh my god, I have a test Wednesday?!” feeling on Tuesday night.

2. Caffeine! Lots of it. I’m probably not supposed to be advocating you drink massive amounts of caffeinated beverages, but whatever. Just don’t tell your parents. Anyway, the truth is, you’ll probably be staying up pretty late during Midterm Week, and unless you’re some kind of freakish superhuman who’s eternally buzzed and energetic (and if you are, I want you to know that I hate you), you’ll need something to keep you from crashing. I drink coffee, but my friends will tell you that my beverage of choice is absolutely Diet Peach Snapple.

SNAAAAAAAPPLE

It has just the right amount of caffeine to keep me awake, but it also tastes delicious and doesn’t give me the headaches too much coffee sometimes does.

3. Indulge, but not too much. I’m a big fan of junk food. Like, a really big fan. Especially cheddar popcorn. And believe me, when I’m stressed out, I crave the sort of quick and yummy snack that comes pre-packaged and loaded with calories and sodium. And that’s fine sometimes, especially when you’re pulling an all-nighter. But don’t succumb to the temptation and eat only junk food. That sounds ridiculous, but you probably won’t have that much time during Midterm Week, and running to CharMar for some chips will sound a heck of a lot easier than trudging over to the FFC for a salad (and, after you’ve been studying for seven hours, no one wants a salad). But if you do that, you’re only cheating yourself; too much junk food makes you lethargic and cranky, and lethargic and cranky people do not want to study. What’s my solution? Late Night at the FFC. They have the perfect mix of greasy food (fries!) and healthy choices (omelets!) that’ll both satisfy your junk cravings and keep you from crashing at three in the morning once your sugar high wears off.

4. Take breaks! This one seems obvious, but you’d be surprised. A couple of my friends told me that last week, around midnight, they saw someone walk into a glass window in Brody because he mistook it for a door. Obviously, that’s a sign someone’s been studying a liiiittle too much. While taking too many breaks can be deadly, and lead to a lot of lost time, you need to stop for a breather at some point, or you will go nuts and start walking into walls (apologies to the kid I’m using for this story. I’m sure you were just having a rough week). I suggest staying off Facebook, because more often than not it’s a black hole that’ll lead to you stalking your ex-camp counselor’s boyfriend’s vacation pictures. I like to giggle at the lists on Buzzfeed (I highly recommend this link if you think studying is super awful and you hate your life: http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/reminders-that-everything-could-be-a-whole-lot-worse). Or, if you’ve been staring at your laptop for ten billion hours and your paper is Just. Not. Getting. Written, go to sleep. Trust me. You’re far better off getting some much-needed rest than killing your eyes looking at a blank Microsoft Word document that isn’t going to magically produce a thesis on Plato’s Crito.

Maybe I should start taking myself MORE seriously...

5. Keep it in perspective. You’re in college! You’re most likely 18-22! And while you’re here to do work, that’s not the only thing that matters about the experience. You’re also here to meet new people, to expand your interests, and yes, more than occasionally, to have fun. One mediocre grade on an exam isn’t going to wreck your future prospects, destroy your relationships, or make your family stop loving you. Obviously doing well is important, but so is maintaining a balanced life. Don’t become one of those people who’s so focused on setting the curve that they forget about everything else. Because that usually ends with you walking into windows thinking they’re doors, and then your story will probably find its way into my blog. And you don’t want that, do you? Go look at some pictures of cats on the internet or something.

Spring Fever

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Grace A.

Hey everybody! Spring Semester is in full swing, the Baltimore weather is doing its crazy thing and, once again, I’m taking a break from being up to my eyeballs in primary source readings to update you on what’s going on in Graceland. I barely had time to get used to the slow, easygoing pace of Intersession before I had to fire up all cylinders (am I using this metaphor correctly?) and get back into the groove of regular college life. Seriously, it feels like I’ve barely had time to sit down since the semester started, but honestly, that’s a good thing. I feel like I’ve finally hit my stride here at Hopkins–I’m involved in a million things, I’m surrounded by great friends, and I’ve finally perfected my carry-out order at Tambers. Now if only I could start getting more sleep!

Formal fun with some friends!

Anyway, I know the semester just started (despite the massive amounts of homework I already have), but I have a feeling it’s going to be awesome. Fall Semester helped me learn what I was looking for in a class, and with that experience, I was better able to choose courses this semester that I felt would really suit my interests. I’m thrilled that I managed to get into another course with my favorite instructor, Beth Steedley, who taught my Literature of the American South class last semester and who is now helping me explore the world of Modern British Poetry! I’m also enrolled in a 400-level (yikes!) course on Plato and His Predecessors. Despite the fact that the class is filled with grad students who read the texts in the original Greek, I think I’m up to the challenge, and it’s actually my favorite class so far! In addition to those two classes, I’m also taking Intro to Fiction and Poetry II, Spanish Elements II, and Comparative International Politics. It’s a busy schedule, but also super exciting!

Rocky Horror Picture Show Midnight Viewing!

I’m also pretty packed on the social and involvement front as well. I’m currently training to be a Blue Key Tour Guide (the official campus tour guides at Hopkins). I’ve wanted to be a tour guide ever since my first college visit–something about the walking backwards and screaming at large groups of people seemed cool, I guess?–and it’s going to be so surreal guiding prospective students and their families across Hopkins! You should definitely come visit and see me. I’m also a Humanities tour guide for the new HOPS program–keep on the lookout for more on that later! Lacrosse season is also FINALLY here! JHU_Noah, JHU_Alexa and I braved the elements to watch Hopkins pummel Siena, 15-6, in the season opener. We also got on ESPNU, so we’re all officially SAAB superstars. This is also probably the highest level of fame I will ever achieve, so I’m pretty thrilled.

Free Build-A-Bears in the Glass Pav for Valentine's Day? Sign me up!

And as busy as these last few weeks have been, the next couple of months are definitely going to be a blur. I can’t wait for the weather to get warmer, for people to start hanging out on the Beach, to meet all of you lovely prospective students at SOHOP, for Spring Fair, for Homecoming, and for everything in between. Spring at Hopkins is an amazing time, and I intend to take full advantage of every second of it. I’ll keep you posted. Stay warm.

My Birthday in Baltimore

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Grace A.

Hi guys! As the title suggests, I’m back at Hopkins; actually, I’ve been here for the past two weeks! I’m here taking an Intersession class called “The Fitzgeralds in Baltimore”. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour seminar-style course that meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to study the works of both F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda. I really liked the F. Scott Fitzgerald works I’d read in the past, but it’s great to be able to study them not only more deeply, but within the context of Zelda’s writings. If anyone reading is looking for a potential Intersession course for next year, I’d highly recommend it!

However, while my class is cool and all, it’s not going to be the focus of this blog. I want to talk about my first birthday away from home! I turned 19 on Saturday (19 on the 19th! Woo!) and, I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Not because I was turning 19–an age which gives you exactly zero privileges to do anything cool–but because for the first time, I wouldn’t be spending the day with my family and friends from NJ. However, my Hopkins friends teamed up to put on some fabulous festivities, and now, at the end of the weekend, I have to say that my 19th was definitely my favorite birthday so far!

New Biggie poster in my dorm obviously necessitates an obnoxious matching bday pose.

My birthday weekend (because I’m annoyingly self-indulgent and refuse to restrict my birthday to one single day) started off on Friday night, when my friends Kathleen and Alisha treated me to dinner at Donna’s. Donna’s is a restaurant in Charles Village that serves beyond-delicious food for surprisingly reasonable prices. I’d never been there before, but I’d heard rave reviews, and after my meal, I have to say this is definitely one of my new favorite places to eat around campus. Kathleen, Alisha and I started off by sharing a hummus plate and a ton of different dips, and when it came time for our entrees, I ordered ricotta gnocchi. Even though the gnocchi was ridiculously filling, I managed to finish it all in the restaurant because it was just So. Good (thanks again guys for taking me! You rock!). Then, post-dinner, it was out with a few friends for the night!

Some of my awesome friends before we celebrated!

The next morning (my real birthday!), my mom came down to see me from NJ. Since my family lives only about an hour and a half away by car, it’s pretty easy to get to Hopkins whenever you want, and I was thrilled she stopped by to say hi! She gave me a ton of food, some clothes, and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, which I’m currently keeping in a water bottle because I don’t have a vase in my dorm (typical college student, obviously). After my mom headed back to NJ, I spent the rest of the day lounging around watching the Colbert Report until it was time to head out for the night. My friend Jasmine actually had her19th birthday a week beforehand, so we had a small late-night party at a friend’s for the both of us! The whole thing was planned by my amazing friend Ali, who I’d like to shoutout for putting a ton of time and effort into making our birthdays spectacular! My birthday party ended up being perhaps my favorite night at Hopkins, and she’s totally responsible for all of the awesomeness. Seriously, Ali, thanks again.

Me and Ali!

Anyway, while my Friday and Saturday were awesome, all good things must unfortunately come to an end. I was supposed to hang out with the famous JHU_Nick to top off my birthday festivities, but it looks like we’re probably going to have to postpone that until next weekend because I think I either have another sinus infection or the flu. Ugh–guess that’s what happens when you have too much fun. So, before I sign off and spend the day surrounded by tissues and eating the jumbo box of Nerds candy my friend Eva got me for my birthday (hi Eva!), I just want to thank everyone involved for making my 19th beyond perfect. This weekend made me realize what a great group of friends I have at Hopkins, and how truly lucky I am to be here. Really, guys, thank you so much. I’ll try to pay you back by not giving you the flu. Sorry! Hehe.

Why I’m Glad the World Won’t End Tomorrow

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Grace A.

Okay, the title of this blog may be a little presumptuous. For all I know, an asteroid could slam into our beloved home planet tomorrow, obliterating all life and eliminating any chance I have to finish the second series of Skins. But I think it’s safe to say that, since NASA has repeatedly emphasized that nothing is going to happen tomorrow (except for me maybe going to my hometown Chipotle because I already miss Baltimore), we’re probably all going to be fine. And I’m pretty glad about that, because, with fall semester officially over, I’m already thinking about how much I have to look forward to for the rest of my freshman year! So, without further ado, some reasons why I’m glad the world won’t end tomorrow.

Searching for an impending asteroid? Nah, just checking out the trees at the Lighting of the Quads

Relaxing. Okay, this is going to sound a little lame, but I am exhausted. Even though I found myself quite prepared for my exams, and even fit a little bit of fun in with my studying, finals really do wear you out. That’s why I’m more than a little thrilled to spend the next three weeks eating homecooked meals, sleeping in (maybe even past noon!), playing with my puppies, and reading a couple of books I’ve been meaning to check out. Spending the holidays with my family is always a ton of fun, and I definitely need a little “down time” so that I can return to Hop refreshed and ready to go!

Intersession. Wooo, Intersession is almost here! I’ve wanted to participate in this program ever since I heard about it during a Hopkins information session back when I was a sophomore in high school. For those of you who don’t know, Intersession is a special three-week “mini semester” when students can take one to two-credit courses. These courses are generally a little more fun and laid back than those offered during the fall and spring semesters, and many people view Intersession as a chance to explore interesting topics they wouldn’t get to study during the ‘normal’ school year (the cost of class is also included in fall semester tuition, which my parents are very excited about). I’m going to take a class called The Fitzgeralds in Baltimore, which follows the life and literary work of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald during their time in Charm City. That means I’ll be heading back to Baltimore in about three weeks, and I can’t wait!

The two books by the Fitzgeralds we'll be studying in class!

Spring Semester. While fall semester is undoubtedly awesome, I’ve heard from quite a few of my upperclassmen friends that spring semester just can’t be beat. Sorority rush, nice weather, lacrosse games, homecoming, SPRING FAIR….the list honestly just goes on and on. All of us on SAAB also get to run SOHOP (the program for admitted students) during spring semester as well, so if you’re a prospective student you should come out and say hi! I’ll be helping to plan events and stuff this year, so it’ll obviously be a lot of fun (just kidding, I’m not that conceited. But still. Come).

My Friends. I’ve met a ton of amazing people at Hop, and now, at the end of the fall, I feel like I’ve really found my niche. My friends are absolutely spectacular. They’re smart, funny, gracious, kind, and, despite being so talented, they’re incredibly humble. We can go out to a party or stay in and watch TV, but whatever we end up doing, we’ll still have a ton of fun. Oh gosh, that sounds cheesy, and I hate being cheesy, but still. Truth be told, they rock, and I’ll miss them very much over break!

And, last but CERTAINLY not least…

My Late-Night Omelet at the FFC. I love food. You can probably tell because I talk about food in my blogs all the time, but I’m not ashamed of my romance with the culinary arts. And while I love pretty much all cuisine, my new favorite dish is a made-to-order omelet at the FFC during something called ‘Late Night’. Late Night is offered from 9-12, and it consists of mostly yummy breakfast foods to keep you fueled for another few hours of studying. The omelet line is always really long, as the omelets are so good, but it’s 100% worth the wait. I consider myself a pretty nice person most of the time, but if you get in the way of me and my omelet, I will not be happy. Really. Don’t cut in line. Seriously.

Well, that’s all I have for you this time, guys! On the off chance the world does end, I’ll obviously be pretty annoyed. However, since I’m pretty sure it won’t, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve got a lot to look forward to in the next few months. I also want to extend a special CONGRATULATIONS (eek!) to the Early Decision Class of 2017! You guys should be so proud of yourselves. If you’re curious about anything, or just plain excited feel free to ask me a question on the forums, or to follow me on twitter at @JHU_Grace. And to all my readers, enjoy the holidays! I’ll be back in the new year.

Grace’s Fall Courseload Wrap-Up!

Posted on December 1, 2012 by Grace A.

Here we go…it’s my end of semester classes wrap-up blog! When I was a prospective student creepily stalking the SAAB blogs, these were always my favorite posts, as they gave me a real look at what actual college classes were like. I’d always seen titles in course listing books like “Introduction to Early Radical Marxist Thought” (totally made that one up, but it sounds legit, right?) that gave me no insight into what the classes were actually about. I hope by writing this blog, I can give you an honest look behind the scenes, and also prove that college classes aren’t just a jumble of difficult-sounding words in a course book, but opportunities to learn and to be constantly surprised. That said, here’s my opinion of my classes this semester, and to whom I’d recommend them.

Introduction to Fiction and Poetry I: This is the first of my prerequisites for my Writing Seminars major, and I was really excited to take it because it would provide the first glimpse into what I’d be doing for the next four years! I had high expectations, and I definitely wasn’t let down. My instructor, Kate Robinson, is so funny and passionate, and she’s taught me to actually-gasp-kind of enjoy writing poetry. Shocker! This is the first creative writing class I’ve taken since like, seventh grade, so it’s so different and exciting to be able to write fiction in a classroom setting.

I’d recommend this class to… someone looking for a fun creative outlet that will also challenge the way you write and think. You don’t have to be a humanities major to take IFP, either; there are a ton of engineers in my class and they’re all doing really well!

Conversations with the Earth: I entered Hopkins never, ever wanting to take another science or math class again. However, even though Hopkins has no core curriculum, there are some required credits outside your major you have to take, and thus I begrudgingly signed up for this science course. People always laugh when I tell them the title of the class, and inevitably ask some variation of “What, do you guys go out and talk to the trees?” but, jokes aside, I really like Convos. We have a different guest lecturer every week, so we get to learn about a wide range of topics, from volcanoes to deep space! I was actually so intrigued by the lecture on the evolution from the geocentric to the heliocentric theory of the universe that I chose it as my topic for the class’ term paper! Nerd status, I know, but I’ll admit it.

I’d recommend this class to… a non-science major who is tentative about taking such classes at Hopkins, but who is also eager to learn about a wide range of topics that will expand his or her view of the world. Also, take this if you like field trips (and seriously, who doesn’t like field trips?) because we just recently went as a class to Gettysburg, PA to study the effects of the famous Civil War battle on the soil. Bet you never thought you’d take another field trip now that you were out of middle school, huh? See, I told you college will surprise you.

Learning is fun, children. I look really creepy here, sorry.

Expository Writing: Religion and Violence in America, 1851-2001: I took this class because it sounded cool, which is a thoroughly impractical method of decision-making that I recommend to everyone, because it gets you to take courses out of your comfort zone. I won’t lie and say that R&V was my favorite class, but it definitely taught me a ton about the more obscure parts of American history (the Christiana Riot, anyone?) and helped me to further develop strategies for analytical writing that I know I’ll use in the future. Just a heads-up, though: this class only covers 1851 AND 2001, not 1851 THROUGH 2001. I misunderstood the dash, and it was a little awkward when I raised my hand in class and asked my instructor why we hadn’t yet studied anything beyond those two dates. Whoops.

I’d recommend this class to… someone who wants to improve their analytical and essay-writing skills, and who also possesses a strong interest in American history. Also, if you really, really like the years 1851 and 2001, this class is definitely for you!

Occidental Civilization: Early Modern Europe: Ask any of my friends from high school: I am a total history nerd. I’m actually going to pursue a History minor here at Hopkins, a decision this course directly influenced. I hadn’t taken a European history of class since ninth grade (inexplicable three years of American history in high school, what’s up?), and I pretty much forgot everything I learned freshman year, but Professor Paquette made diving back into early modern Europe easy and fun (because when you think “fun”, you automatically think “early modern Europe”, right?). This class is a decent amount of reading, but a lot of it is from primary sources, which I found enlightening and cool, as it reminded me that, you know, real people actually lived this stuff. Also, I really enjoyed Professor Paquette’s lecture style; he was clearly extremely enthusiastic about his subject matter, and his excitement really carried over into class and made his lectures electric, informative, and highly entertaining. See, told you I’m a history nerd.

I’d recommend this class to… someone who’s interested enough in history to read 100+ pages, sometimes of primary sources alone, a week, but who also wants to break out of the typical “boring history class” mode and really engage with the topic.

Literature of the American South: I saved the best for last! This is absolutely my favorite class, which I find really funny because I totally took it on a whim (clearly my reasoning and planning processes are impeccable). It’s a Dean’s Teaching Fellowship course, which means it’s taught by a graduate student in a particular area of his or her interest. My instructor’s name is Beth Steedley, and she’s one of the most exceptional teachers I’ve ever had. She doesn’t baby us, but her sense of humor and powerful insights make coming to class a pleasure, even if it is for three hours on Monday nights (…ugh). We read a work of classic southern literature every week-Faulkner, Welty, Warren, ect-and are then challenged to make fresh arguments regarding the text both in essays and in class. We have to read a novel a week, which sounds like a lot, but the books are just so good I usually end up devouring them in a day or two anyway. Actually, I enjoy this class and its instructor so much that I’ve decided to take another class with Beth next semester, called Modern British Poetry (like reading poetry; not too enthusiastic about writing it). This class is the epitome of why I wanted to come to Hopkins: for a challenging intellectual experience that engages my interests and also pushes me out of my comfort zone. I didn’t write this blog intending to grade any of my courses, but this one gets an A+.

I’d recommend this course to… since this is a Dean’s Teaching Fellowship, I’m not sure if it’ll be offered again, but if it is you should 100% take it and you’ll spend the rest of your life regretting it if you don’t (probably not, but threats are good incentive). You should totally take Lit of the South if you love reading excellent writing, talking about wonderful books, and just getting lost in a really, really good novel. Also, take it if you aren’t afraid to have your work questioned and challenged, because you know it’ll make you a stronger writer in the end.

Okay, that’s it, y’all (still channeling the Southern spirit)! Now is time to bunker down and study for the finals and write the essays for these awesome classes. If anyone’s curious, I’ll show you my courses for next semester, just so you can get an idea of what a little Writing Sems major from south Jersey takes during her freshman spring at Hop! Enjoy the holiday, friends!

Introduction to Fiction and Poetry II

Greek Philosophy: Plato and His Predecessors

Introduction to Comparative Politics

Spanish Elements II

Modern British Poetry

Why I’m Totally a Typical College Freshman

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Grace A.

Coming into Hopkins, I was convinced that I would be the complete opposite of the stereotypical college freshman. You know the type: the school sweatshirt-wearing, backpack-toting student with a freakish enthusiasm for the most mundane aspects of college life. Psh. I knew that, while the rest of the class of 2016 may succumb to such nerdiness, I for one was way too cool for all of that. Naturally, like I am about most things, I was completely wrong. So here’s a list of how I totally embody that grating stereotype, and how I’ve realized that, in the end, it isn’t that bad to be a frosh.

This is not a serious obnoxious freshman picture...or is it?

1. I’m always early to class. I was early to most stuff in high school too, but I’ve begun to notice that, while most of my classmates slink in coolly just before the professor begins lecturing, I’m there with my laptop open at least ten minutes beforehand. I’m convinced that maybe-just maybe-something will happen on my way to class one day, like getting attacked by a squirrel (more on that later) and I’ll be glad that I’ve planned out some extra time. Hasn’t happened yet, but until then, I’ll be prepared.

2. I lose/misuse my J-Card and keys constantly. I leave my J-Card in my room all the time. This usually results in me making an embarrassing phone call to my roommate/one of my suitemates begging them to come down to the Wolman lobby because the security guard won’t let me past the turnstiles, even though she totally knows I live there because she sees me every stinking day. Whatever. I also go to the Brody Learning Commons pretty much every day, and I usually swipe my card the wrong way/backwards/upside-down. The security guard there has commented on this multiple times. He thinks I’m doing it just to mess with him. Sadly, I’m not.

3. I get sick. A lot. I came into Hopkins thinking that, because I was a reasonably healthy eighteen-year-old, I wouldn’t succumb to one of the inevitable frosh sicknesses. Wrong. I came down with a sinus infection in early October, and I’m just getting over it. Yup. And this wasn’t a regular sinus infection, either. I was coughing, wheezing, sneezing, hacking, puffing, you name it. My voice also turned into something reminiscent of an 80-year-old lifelong smoker’s rasp, which made reading aloud in class very enjoyable.

Braving crippling illness to have fun with my friends. I'm a trooper, I tell ya.

4. I really like the library. Actually, I really like the Brody Learning Commons, and I never shut up about it. I’ve included it in like, three blogs already, which any sane person will tell you is borderline bizarre. I’m sorry, but it’s just really cool! In high school, I studied at my kitchen table, but now I can study in a gorgeous reading room with high ceilings and insane curio cabinets and my own individual desk lamp and…whatever. I’m lame. I know.

5. I have a bizarre amount of school pride. Whenever anyone insults Hopkins, my default response is “shut up”. I can’t fathom why anyone wouldn’t want to go to the coolest, most amazing, blue jay-est school ever.

6. …which has yet to translate into me attending any sporting events. Okay, I went to half a football game and half a soccer game, but I really need to be better about this. I’m just so preoccupied with my excitement for lacrosse season that trekking out to Homewood Field for anything that doesn’t involve us smashing Maryland into the ground pales in comparison. Sorry, Hop.

My girl Carly and I at the football game this past weekend. Hop kicked butt!

7. I complain about walking very short distances to class. If any of you follow me on my Hopkins twitter, @JHU_Grace (and if you don’t, why not? No excuses. Do it. Now. I’ll wait), you’ll have noticed that I proposed Hopkins install a system of moveable walkways like they have in airports so I won’t have to trek across campus. This is totally ridiculous, as my farthest class is barely ten minutes away, but really, I am a tiny person with short little legs and asthma and I have a very hard time dragging my butt out of bed in the morning to traipse to 9 AM lecture. Oh gosh, I just realized I have to do that tomorrow. Ughhhh.

8. I take pictures of campus. Constantly. Yes, I am that annoying person who snaps photos of campus on particularly picturesque days (which is usually all the time) so I can add an Instagram filter and share them for all to see. I just can’t believe I go to such a beautiful school and the buildings are so gorgeous and the leaves are falling and…blah blah blah. Yeah.

If your campus was this gorgeous, you'd take pics of it too!

9. I make my mom send me pictures of my dogs all the time because I miss them. I’m not homesick, but I am puppy-sick. Agh.

10. I hate the Hopkins squirrels. Okay, not sure if this one really falls under the category for all freshmen, but it definitely applies to Hopkins frosh. Everyone I’ve talked to has noticed how freakishly different the squirrels are from the ones in our respective hometowns. I don’t know about you, but the squirrels in New Jersey and Philly run away when you approach them. They don’t run at you. A personal anecdote: a few weeks ago, I was walking home from class right next to the Hopkins gate when a squirrel leapt from the tree above and landed right on the head of the guy walking in front of me. RIGHT ON HIS HEAD! Here’s a re-enactment of the situation.

Guy with squirrel on head: AHHHH! AHHHH! OH MY GOD GET IT OFF!

Me: AHH! AHHHH! THERE’S A SQUIRREL! THERE’S A SQUIRREL ON THAT GUY’S HEAD!!!

Yes, that is exactly how it went down. The squirrel clawed around the guy’s head for what seemed like thirty seconds, then jumped off and went on its merry way. I thought the guy was going to have a mental breakdown; he actually may have been crying. Since then, I’ve developed a deep fear of the Hopkins squirrels. I don’t know if there’s some top-secret department at school that’s experimenting on them or something, but they are definitely not normal.

Can you fault me for wanting to see this cute puppy's face?

11. Come to think of it, I actually don’t mind being a typical college freshman. Okay, yes, I am annoying. Yes, I am over-eager. But I don’t think it’s a terribly bad thing to be enthusiastic about attending your dream school. Maybe I need to learn to swipe my card and to be a little more subtle about taking snapshots of campus, but I think that sort of coolness will come with time (second semester, perhaps?). And at least I don’t carry my keys on a lanyard around my neck. Only the real nerds do that.