Perspectives

So, I don’t know if I mentioned it or not, but this will be my last blog for Hopkins Interactive (unless I somehow write a guest blog in the future). I’m not going to get into why I’m not blogging anymore, however, it was a decision that I had to make, and unfortunately this is what it came down to. So mainly, I wanted my last blog to contain some parting words of advice, based off my experiences in college, and life, thus far.

I'll be a ghost of Hopkins Interactive past, kinda like Blinky!

First of all, try new things. College is a time when you learn to discover who you are. Coming into Hopkins, I was pretty much who I was in high school. I was afraid to try new things, and so I just stayed within my own comfort zone. The best thing I ever did was finally decide to step outside it. Who knew that I would love Indian food, or that I would enjoy Capoeira. The only person stopping you from doing something is you, so why not let yourself do something new? I did, and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Along those lines, learn to accept who you are. In this day and age, we all try to be like someone else, oftentimes to please others. As a result, however, we tend to lose touch with who we actually are. It’s sad, but true. In particular, when coming to terms with your sexuality, accept who you are. At first, I was very scared and would hide my sexuality, but once I came to Hopkins, I became very comfortable about it, and realized that if people really care about you, stuff like that doesn’t matter. It’s a part of who you are, and if someone can’t accept that, that’s their own problem, not yours. You shouldn’t try to change who you are just because of someone else’s opinion. I sure as hell aren’t going to become straight because of something Michele Bachmann says, haha.

My friends and I with Yara Sofia from RuPaul's Drag Race outside of Estate in Boston!

Of course, another tidbit of advice, more so pertaining to college applications and such, try to get away. I know when I applied to schools, most of my friends just decided to stay around Boston, to stay close to family and friends. I however opted to apply further away, whether it was an hour or more, and I don’t really regret the decision. Boston is a nice college town, but I really wanted something new. Low and behold, I LOVE Baltimore. Even my friends who came to visit from Boston loved it. It’s just a charming little city, especially once you’ve become accustomed to it. Maybe it’s a bit intimidating if you’ve watched the Wire, but really, most cities are like that. But definitely look into schools that are further away. Your real friends will always be there for you, as will your family, so don’t worry about it too much. Plus, you get more freedom to explore what you want to do!

Next bit of advice? Don’t lose your inner child. I’ve seen way too many college students act like they’re much older than they actually are, being way too serious for their own good. I’ve seen people lose sight of who they really are, simply to be professional. In my opinion, we all need that little spark still inside us. We have our entire life to be adults, so why not be a kid while you still can? Enjoy yourself, it’s the little things that we take for granted.

I'm still a kid and freakout whenever I go to the Nintendo Store in NYC

Also, don’t burn your bridges. Back in high school, this was probably one of the best words of advice I have ever received from one of my art teachers. In short, what goes around, comes around. If you leave somewhere, whether it be a job or some other institution, don’t ever talk smack about it. It’s just not worth it, and in the long run, it will come back to hurt you. I’ve never experienced it myself, but I’ve learned to always leave on good terms, even if it means biting your tongue. As for biting your tongue, well, I think I learnt that after being chased around my house by my mother while waving a wooden spoon.

And last, but not least, do what you want to do. I know sometimes we feel pressured into doing what we think it right, or rather what we think others would want us to do, but ultimately, it comes down to what makes you happy. It might sound depressing, but you will always be there for yourself, so why not treat yourself to something nice once in a while, maybe all the time? It’s never a bad thing to be happy. Especially when it comes to college, make sure you do something you’re passionate about. Don’t worry about whether your major will get you a high enough grossing job. If you really want something, it can be achieved, no matter what. In those famous words “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” So don’t stress about it, just go with the flow, and see where the tide takes you.

You know what really makes me happy? Dunkin Donuts <3

Well, I’m sure there could, and would, be plenty more advice, however I feel as those I’ve touched upon the major points that I wanted to make. It’s sad to be done with blogging, but when one chapter ends, another one begins. You just gotta take one step at a time, with your chin held up high.

And, with that folks, “I good you bid evening.”

-Peter

Indian food.

Yes, Indian food. You might be asking yourself, “Why is he talking about Indian food?” Just so you know, you’re in the right asking yourself that question. I had never had indian food before college, or even before sophomore year. I just never had the opportunity. None of my friends from home were Indian, and even so, none of us ate Indian food or even tried it. To me, it really wasn’t a big deal, but to my fellow students, everyone scoffed at me. From that point on I made it a goal of mine to try new foods and experiences, and since then, I’ve been a lot happier. Plus, everyone loves samosas, it’s a fact of life.

Sure, you may still be thinking, “Why is he talking about Indian food?” Well to be blunt, I still have no idea myself, however, I do know that college in general is a similar experience to my Indian food one.  College is full of new things, both familiar and new. We tend to cling to the familiar, even though new things can be just as good (such as samosas), and we often don’t get to dabble in these new experiences. And it’s a shame, because those are often the most memorable.

Instead of listing my biggest regrets so far from college, I’d rather say my biggest gratification is trying new things. Without just going, I never would have learned about Capoeira. During orientation, if I never went to the DSAGA event (which I contemplated for a long time whether or not to go), I never would have met the majority of my best friends and my whole college experience would have been different. If I never went to the Bmore Proud summit, I might have never broadened my horizons past the Hopkins campus, and never met any students from other schools. I’ve gained a lot from just going and trying something new.

I guess what I’m ultimately saying is to step out of your comfort zone. Sure, this message is cliche, but it’s so true. Just do something different, try something new. You’ll never know what you’re missing until you find out for yourself.

Plus, you’ll never know how good a samosa is until you try one.