Cover Letter 2022: Good Luck, New Jays

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THE COVER LETTER2022 THURS, S EP T. 1, 2022 THE JHU NEWS-LETTER PRESENTS TiPS & TRiCKS FOR SURViViNG HOPKiNS GOOD LU C K, NEW JAYS<3

A welcome to the nest! wish you a better freshman year than the rest of us unfortunately had (although we may also just be the teensiest bit jealous). To be fair, though, you did miss out on some highlights, like spitting in a tube twice (at one point, thrice) a week, masking everywhere but in the shower and becoming freakishly good at recognizing people by their foreheads.

iSABEL

SOPHiA PARK AND THOMAS, MAGAZiNE

But in all seriousness, we hope your four years here are full of new experiences, adventures and friends. To help with this, here is our small, totally noncomprehensive guide that we, as older Jays, want to share with you new Jays. Feel free to peruse advice, stories from our freshman years, introductions to Baltimore and some fun goodies.

EDiTORS ’22-23

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The most important takeaway is that throughout these four years, you will learn so much more about yourself and the world around you. Never be afraid to make mistakes and always be willing to learn from them. Above all, we hope that your college experience is everything that you hoped for and more. Go out, be proud and live out loud. We’re right behind you. Good luck, new Jays!

SophiaXOXO, Park and Isabel Thomas, Magazine Editors ’22-23 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2010864235911121314151618192122242526282930 Letter from the editors How to make friends after O-Week How to take care of yourself away from home How to overcome imposter syndrome How to hack freshman year How to manage your expectations in college How to balance your social and academic life How to achieve the best college experience How to survive Hopkins 101 (Q&A) Spotlight ad How you can get involved in Baltimore What you need to know about Baltimore Exploring the Baltimore sports scene Small businesses to look out for in Baltimore Vibe checking the buildings on campus An introduction to Hopkins sports teams Why we joined The News-Letter and why you should, too! Meet the editors 2

HELLOOOO, NEW BLUE JAYS!

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EDiTOR ’22-23

AASHi MENDPARA, NEWS AND FEATURES

HOW TO MAKE FRiENDS AFTER O-WEEK

Secondly, the people you met during O-Week are not the only people you have to I have met absolutely amazing people during O-Week, and I have met equally amazing people in the spring semester. Cherish these relationships. to hang out with, but there is something people and learning about their passions and interests. you absolutely love, that’s totally okay

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Lastly, if you don’t read anything else and want to take one piece of advice from this article, you are a appreciate you for you. College is scary, but the people are what will make your You will be able to meet the most inspiring and incredible people, and they will have the opportunity to meet you. In a few years’ time, your Hopkins class Instagram post will be your source of laughter.

Some people are learning how to do laundry to boil a serving of pasta and many are group if you will, on Homewood Campus. Talk to people! Pangs of homesickness and yearning for quality food outside of the Fresh Food Cafe (#rip) will form a bond stronger than most. Have a picnic on the Beach, visit Bird in Hand together or splurge at CharMar: The possibilities are endless. People are looking to make friends just as much as you are.

The people from the social lounge that night ended up being some of my closest friends last year. Unpredictable, spontaneous and random, our friendship gives me joy

Since then I have met countless people, and I cherish my relationships with all of them. I still think about the weeks before I moved to Baltimore: I

As your resident “everything-will-be-okay” advocate, I am here to reassure you that indeed, everything will be okay. But if that isn’t enough to stop you from crying when thinking about making friends, I am here to give you some enlightenment I was blessed with during my freshman year at Hopkins: Other people don’t know what they’re doing.

But I am a living representation of someone the people I joined clubs with and study groups I suffered with during all-nighters.

I can assure you that nearly everyone is winging it, and if someone says they aren’t, they’re

The moment I saw my picture and biography on the Hopkins Class of 2025 Instagram account, I instantly began picking the skin of my cuticles (kinda gross, but whatever). I must have sent that paragraph talking about my potential majors and favorite boba personable and charming. Seeing this post made me realize that this is it: This is what Saying I was nervous would be an understatement — I was The thought of people perceiving me and deciding whether or not I would be a lifelong companion based on an Instagram post is daunting. In all honesty the pandemic hadn’t made it any better. I had been sitting in my room alone for nearly a year and a half, and my social capital was the least of my worries. College is hard. Everyone just seems to know the group they will be sticking with during Orientation Week (O-Week), the friends they’ll join clubs with after the Student Involvement Fair, the people they’ll remember coming to college and being utterly confused: How does everyone know everyone? group of people to hang out with and the people that, in an ideal scenario, will ultimately become your best friends for life. I spent the entirety of O-Week running to 7-Eleven with random freshmen I met on the quad, grabbing lunch with my First-Year Mentor group and spending hours on the Beach talking about I remember stepping into my dorm every we vacuumed, of course) while thinking, How can I muster the energy to survive this week? The answer was Red Bull. Later in the week, my roommate and I found a note on our whiteboard.

“Cards Against Humanity, AMR II Social Lounge, 9 p.m.?” We were out of the room by 8:45. were ghosted (#lol). No one showed up, so we called a friend to tell them the story as our laughter danced across the phone line. As soon as we were about to leave, a group of people stumbled through the doorway. ended up staying in the lounge for hours into the night. We grabbed lunch the they spend nights in my dorm room.

A university student’s life is chaotic at the best of 5

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AWAY FROM HOME YANA MULANi, NEWS AND FEATURES EDiTOR ’22-23

Hi! Hello! Welcome!

I’m going to assume that you’re reading this article because you want to learn some secret, foolproof way to look after yourself now that your everyday life isn’t following the same monotonous schedule of school, homework, dinner and bed. cream for lunch three days in a row, spend an all-nighter working on an assignment then go straight to a 9 a.m. class, forget that vegetables exist, tell yourself that you’ll go to the gym then conveniently realize all your gym clothes are in the laundry... you get the point.

But in my experience, if there really is one secret, foolproof way to look after yourself, it’s to give yourself grace. Take a breath and forgive that until later, so don’t beat yourself up.

So, now let’s tackle the tips that everyone talks about: sleep, water, nutrition and exercise.

Starting with sleep, I know you’ve been told that you shouldn’t pull all-nighters. While that may be true, let me loosen this rule a little. p.m. and then go to class? Tailor your schedule to you. Disclaimer: I’m I’m going to lump water and exercise together. My biggest tip here is sparkling water, coconut water or adding some fruit. If nothing else, start a competition with yourself! Can you drink more today than yesterday? The same idea goes for exercise. The most important thing is to move your body and silence your mind. Try a walk around Guilford, a cycling class at the Rec Center or an acrobatics club. Just keep in mind: the way you exercise your body at home might not be the same way you Nutrition is a tricky one, especially as a freshman on a dining plan. I’ll looks different after two exams and a paper, have fun with it! To add, Levering Kitchens has some of the best food on campus! need my alone time. The biggest thing I did last year to protect my mental health was taking the last hour of the day for me. I didn’t do any work during this time, and I didn’t respond to any messages. This is the time for you to connect with yourself, so read, play a video game, practice your hobby, sit, miss home and cry if you want; literally do whatever you need to do at that moment.

Last spring, this tendency to self-measure led to a great deal of anxiety and stress after my search for a summer internship yielded my search too late in the spring semester, I was only a sophomore while many companies look for juniors or seniors, prevented me from accepting the real truth: I am worse than everyone I’m sure I’m not the only one who lets their minds wander to extremes

HOW TO iMPOSTEROVERCOMESYNDROME ALiZA Li, VOiCES EDiTOR ’22-23

As high-performing students at a high-performing school, many of We compare ourselves to the people around us, wondering if we’re I, myself, am prone to a particularly nasty line of thinking, where I constantly measure myself against an invisible standard of what I perceive to be ‘acceptable performance’.

As a rising junior, I wish I could say that I’ve overcome imposter

Contemplatingrejection? these extreme thoughts this past summer has allowed parse through the causes and effects of imposter syndrome, through At its core, imposter syndrome stems from feelings of low self-worth in relation to others. When we compare ourselves to others, or more on the personas they show us, we inevitably feel we fall short. we either adopt a fatalistic perspective to lessen the potential for For instance, if we feel like we’re imposters in a certain competitive class, we might drop it from our schedule, narrowing our window intrinsic motivations, rather than a need for approval or future distinguished portfolios of reputed writers around my age, it is easy joy in simply the creation of my stories has made writing much more we know when we’re going too far with our explanationschange? for why I did poorly on something, they’ll tell me straight 6

up if my explanations seem like excuses. If they agree with my explanations, I can feel validated and settle some doubts about myself. The next mindset I attempted to adopt required more emotional work and is still an ongoing process. At its root, imposter syndrome is a problem of comparison that, in simplistic terms, could be solved by separating self-worth from other people. This is obviously easier said than done, but I believe recognizing my own Finally, I tried to look at the big picture of my life. A lot of my issues with comparison come from a belief that I’m not doing enough — that I need more words on my resume, more publications to my name, better grades on my essays — and that if I fail to meet the standards I’ve created for myself, I’ll fail to meet my ultimate goals.

I think since many of us spend time with people of similar backgrounds and ambitions, we delude ourselves into believing there’s a singular way to do things. adherence to a single path is fantastic if that Moments of failure are inevitable. Setbacks aren’t just likely — they’re guaranteed. Instead of believing that a setback is indicative of our failure as a human Our lives don’t need to look one way, and taking things slow will give us ample opportunity to invest in the people and activities that we love.

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I have class, I like to bake mini quiches or banana bread ahead of time and heat them up quickly. Similarly, if I know I’m going to get home late, I try to have something easy for dinner, like an omelette and a salad.

Academics

Hand write notes for subjects where memorization is important.

Practicalities and life advice

Develop a routine. Crafting a routine allows you to be organized and plan accordingly. I have found that situating tasks I need to do — laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning — in a set weekly schedule has not only helped me balance out my to-doss so no one day is too busy but has also held me accountable to doing them.

A lot. Make sure to have one with a sturdy lock, as well as make sure it is locked at all times.

Branching out It’s okay to stay in if that’s what you feel like doing

If frat parties aren’t your thing or you’re just tired from a busy week, it’s okay to give in to your inner introvert and have a night in. Sometimes putting on your pajamas, rewatching your favorite romantic comedy and eating ridiculous quantities of ice cream really is what you need. Five days a week of classes, studying and extracurriculars are taxing so take time for yourself. Most people are in the same boat as you. Nearly everyone is nervous about being in a new environment and meeting new people. You are not the only one. Once you realize this, it becomes easier to reach out to people and ask questions or start conversations.

Use your resources. There is so much on campus to take guest lectures. Don’t let your tuition dollars go to waste! Ask questions and listen to what others have to say. I know it can be daunting, and you can feel like you are wasting people’s time, but remember it is their job to help you.

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If you’re going to carry pepper spray, invest in one with a good safety. spray to leak, especially if you just toss it in the bottom of your bag and carry on about your day. Don’t do this. It will leak, and it will hurt.

Don’t play it safe — try new things.

If there is something you are drawn to doing, try it. Join the club. Change your major or add a minor. It’s okay to try new things, and it’s okay to give up if it doesn’t work for you. I joined The News-Letter on a whim, and I am so thankful I did. Similarly, I took random classes that had nothing to do with my degree and they were some of my favorites. Listen to gut feelings and don’t hyperfocus. Explore new avenues: You

Actually use the library! Yes, you can check books out at the library; it is more than just a place to stress-write your papers. Not only is there a great selection also request to borrow books from several other universities. As an avid reader, I highly recommend this.

Don’t live off of ramen — plan your meals ahead of time. One of my goals is to try to eat at home as much as possible; having meals out adds up quickly and when you eat in, you generally have the ability to eat healthier. For mornings

My mom always says nothing good happens after midnight, and in this case she is correct. I can guarantee you that your work quality will decrease the later you stay up. A strategy I like to use is to set working hours during the day during which I can accomplish all of my to-dos, and then set aside ample time to relax and wind down.

A TA once told me: if you don’t like a reading, don’t read it! This is a controversial point of advice, but I stand by it. If a reading doesn’t click with you to something you cannot comprehend at all, move on. Try to make a go of it, but focus on what does make sense to you or interests you. If you have a large reading load, ultimately you won’t be able to do a close read of every text so don’t get bogged down by any one item. Don’t pull all-nighters.

Despite the convenience of typing out notes allows me to memorize things more effectively. Additionally, I will inevitably get distracted on my laptop during class, so this strategy eliminates that possibility.

Have something to look forward to every Similarweek.todeveloping a routine, plan to do something you enjoy every week. Some weeks will be rougher than others and building time into your schedule for you helps to prevent burnout. It can be as simple as getting coffee and catching up with a friend before class or treating yourself to your favorite Brody Learning Commons Cafe pastry every Wednesday.

Check the weather forecast and always have an umbrella in your bag.

Baltimore’s weather can be unpredictable at times and it is essential to be prepared for whatever could come your way. Coming from the Sunshine State, I had no idea how essential umbrellas are, especially when you generally have to walk everywhere.

HOW TO FRESHMANHACKYEAR MOLLY GAHAGEN, EDiTOR-iN-CHiEF ’22-23

Case in point, I had no idea that a closeHopkins until I declared my second major in Film and Media Studies.

During my sophomore year, I came across countless moments when I found myself having to abandon the expectation ship and jump headfirst into reality. It’s sometimes bracing and at other times dismaying, but almost always Onedisorienting.ofthebest insights I can offer to any incoming freshman is a preview, a small sliver of foresight, into some of the major reality vs. expectation conundrums you may come across during your first year of the twisting, turning journey that is college. STEM, who? By the time you get here, you’ll likely have already heard the words “world-class research” and “pre-med” in bountiful amounts. You’ll probably know what BME is supposed to mean. But — what about the fact that research can be done in the humanities, too? Or that Hopkins has a pre-law community in addition to premeds? STEM can seem big here, but it’s nowhere close to all there is. STEM majors and minors, ranging from Museums and Society to Women, Gender and Sexuality. The student body as a whole contains many diverse artistic leanings too. You can catch a concert at The Peabody Institute, write for a humor magazine or direct a theater show, all here on campus.

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Homewoodhere.Apartments.

Ivy-covered walls, arched entryways, spirited football games — it’s impossible not to come to college with some of these preconceived notions. But having these imagined visions of college to look forward to isn’t the problem. It’s a matter of how tightly you hold onto them once you get

Meals, meals, meals.

BFFs and roommates — one and the same? The idea that you and your roomie will be joined at the hip seems to be an everpersisting college expectation. For as many people who have meticulously planned roommates, there are plenty more who have resorted to randomization or pairing up with someone they just met. I was part of the latter camp, and take it from me, someone who didn’t know a single soul before stepping foot on campus: it’ll all that you don’t need to be best friends with your roommate — or friends, period — to have a good, comfortable living situation. Do get along, of course, but keep in mind that once classes and clubs start, the avenues to meeting new people greatly widen — you don’t need to hinge it all on one Livingperson.together is known to put a strain on relationships too, so realize that it’s normal if it doesn’t work out.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR EXPECATiONS iN COLLEGE SOPHiA LiN, ARTS AND ENTERTAiNMENT EDiTOR ’22-23

After an entirely online freshman year, I was expecting — and desperately in need of — friendly voices, open doors, lively bustle, and all the typical fare we’ve absorbed from books and movies of what a college dorm should look like. Instead, I was greeted by neardeserted halls, stuffed with a silence that 2,300 miles away from home. First days don’t always turn out great, and we shouldn’t expect them to be. Nor are they a good representation of what awaits you on the horizon. These pieces of advice that I tell myself, looking back, expectations. We should not only question what we expect but also get used to letting it all go — it’s the only way we can build our expectations back up, newly adjusted

It’s one of those no-brainers that you suddenly have to make room for in your head. The what and the when certainly come into question as you work out your meals, but for me, the most pressuring was the who. I had always envisioned eating with groups of friends, laughing and talking without a care in the world. But when my packed calendar became a reality, a lunch here and there would look like hauling myself across campus at 2 p.m. to get a quick bite in before class. This just goes to say mealtimes in college just can’t feasibly always be spent with friends, especially with everyone operating on different schedules. You’ll likely find, at least in my case, that you’ll be eating alone once a day, if not more — and that’s totally okay. For every meal, also be prepared to mull over exactly which dining hall to go to. If you develop a consistent plan that repeats by the week, trust me, it can save a lot of time in the long run. The be-all and end-all… There are a lot of sayings about college, but the one that I could never get out of my head was the age-old “the best four years of your life” one. Phrases like “make the most out of it” or “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” would feel paralyzing instead of invigorating, as the pressure set in to make my college experience not just great and not just excellent but somehow utterly surpass anything else I’d ever known. That’s just not the way it has to be. The obligation to carve out a ‘perfect’ four years can keep you from exploring new paths, just as the disappointment of expectations not matching up with reality can become a detriment in all that you do. and every up and down that comes with it — will happen to you. Just sit back, relax and embrace it when it comes.

Walking into my Wolman Hall suite last year, I felt secure in what the coming year would bring. I spent the summer talking to peers on Instagram and Discord, chose my roommate, built a four-year plan and knew what clubs I would join. I was even getting dinner with my soon-to-be best friends that night!

HOW TO FiND YOURSELF iN COLLEGE

Swept into the whirlwind of Orientation, everything felt right. I rushed from dinner to hangouts in the AMR II game room, from Homewood Field to the Glass Pavilion to Hampden. Each day brought new opportunities, new people and new excitement. As the storm settled, something felt off. People who talked for months about how amazing Hopkins was started thinking about transferring and online friendships didn’t materialize. As days turned to weeks, the perfect place Hopkins promised to be didn’t appear. Hopkins was never my dream school. I applied last minute after my mom mentioned it and was shocked when I was accepted. When I visited Baltimore on a rainy day in March 2021, I intuitively knew I was in the right place. Despite my semi-random path to Hopkins, I still entered that dorm with high hopes — hopes which simultaneously came true and let me down. I spent countless hours wondering why these friendships weren’t like those with my friends back home, why I couldn’t connect with people and what I was doing wrong. I was hurt and scared in an environment that, despite my best efforts, I didn’t — couldn’t — understand. I was surrounded by people who interested and excited me, but I didn’t feel interested, excited or valued. later feeling elated. After months of telling myself I wouldn’t, I had gone to Hopkins Quiz Bowl. I did Quiz Bowl in high school, but I knew that the Hopkins team would be too competitive, too elitist, too much. I was wrong. Schaffer 303 was precisely My fears didn’t vanish that day, but they abided. After months I began 10

ZACHARY BAHAR, SCiTECH EDiTOR ’22-23

HOW TO BALANCE YOUR SOCiAL AND ACADEMiC LiFE

My best memories from the past three years are dressing up and cooking dinner with my roommates during quarantine, getting up early every Wednesday morning to get bagels with some of my best friends, listening to my fellow News-Letter editors’ answers to the Question of the Week, teaching creative writing to elementary school students in Baltimore, walking to weeknight concerts at Ottobar and enjoying early-spring ice cream cones at BMORE LICKS.

What I’ve found even harder, though, is creating a balance between classwork and all the other things that are important to me. As quintessential to the Hopkins experience as long nights in the library are, as I enter senior year, I know for a fact that these will on M-Level, though it holds a special place in my heart.

Classes at Hopkins are hard. They’re rewarding and exciting places to bond with brilliant students and professors — but they’re hard. While some homework feels more tedious than others, late nights spent sitting in Brody Learning Commons, eyes glazing over as you open yet another reading, problem set or lecture is a near universal Hopkins ofexperience.yourfriend’s forgotten honeygrow, the constant dings as more of your fellow Blue Jays enter the atrium to open their own laptops and work into the night. It’s an incredibly collective experience, because, after all, classes at Hopkins are hard.

My biggest tip for making the most of your time in Baltimore while also staying on top of your academics is to plan exciting, intentional study breaks. They can be as short as a walk around campus while calling a friend you haven’t seen in a long time or as long as a day spent exploring new neighborhoods of the city. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you’re excited by it: scour The News-Letter’s Leisure section and “Events this your eye. Invite your roommate, that kid in your Expos class who you think is cool or the person you always sit next to during section to go with you. Put it in your planner and then block out time around it to tackle your schoolwork. Trust that when you get back, you will be more productive, refreshed and ready to tackle a new problem set. Close your laptop and head out.

I still don’t think my work-life balance is perfect. What I’ve come to learn, though, is that work will always get done. Fun, on the other hand, you have midterm or watch movies with new friends instead of turning in that essay. However, it’s okay — better, in fact — to take intentional breaks from schoolwork than to try and push through entire weekends of studying, because you know you have a busy week coming up. If you don’t, you’re setting yourself up for burnout.

P.S. Do something exceptionally cool on your study breaks? Email leisure@jhunewsletter.com and pitch a new article idea! 11

LEELA GEBO, LEiSURE EDiTOR ’23

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seared salmon and tofu rice bowls with my boyfriend and have started bookmarking recipes to try out during the school year. If I can learn to make something more complex Sincetoo. I took all of my freshman year classes at home, my sophomore fall semester felt like the true beginning of my college experience. I moved to Baltimore a couple training. Though I knew a couple of other FYMs, I was still nervous about making Myfriends.parents picked up on this. When I pushing a wobbly cardboard cart full of dorm supplies, another girl was moving in at the same time. My parents nudged me to talk to her. I was reluctant. I was a sweaty like my parents were trying to arrange a playdate. We exchanged half smiles. Our parents exchanged pleasantries. We went training, I learned she was also an FYM. Everyone was standing around in the portable air conditioner on the right side of the room emitting a loud hum. She came up to me and introduced herself as Maddy. Her parents had also pushed her to talk to me. We commiserated over our families’ meddling, laughed at strange icebreakers

Nowcats. it’s a year later, and she’s my best friend. We would’ve met sophomore fall regardless because we were enrolled in the same poetry class, but I am grateful our parents pushed us into each other’s lives.

HOW TO ACHiEVE THE BEST COLLEGE EXPERiENCE

’22-23

ABBiE TUSCHMAN, OPiNiONS EDiTOR

Navigating college involves a lot of trial and error. Whether it’s oversleeping for an exam or switching majors three times, we inevitably have missteps that we can (hopefully) learn from. But there are some lessons I wish I didn’t learn the hard way. Here are a few things you should know in advance in order to have the best college Forexperience:mostBlue Jays, starting college means (hey, it happens to the best of us). During Obviously, breakups aren’t fun for anyone. But I have a knack for the melodramatic, so I struggled to imagine what my college life would look like without my ex. I was throughout the day, got Doner Bros with and had so many fond memories of. Though deep down I knew it was for the best, I dreaded change. Thankfully, I had an amazing support system. My parents were inundated with teary phone calls. My best friend allowed me to sit at her kitchen table and run through the same pros and cons list a thousand times. My roommate listened to my rants while I putzed around our dorm in a Snuggie and slippers. They showed me love and made me realize how I wasn’t being shown love in my relationship. Your way around it. But if you surround yourself with people who want what’s best for you, you’ll make it through okay. I love a pretty study guide as much as the next person. I’m guilty of spending far too long picking the perfect color scheme for my notes, writing and rewriting headings and telling myself it’s a productive use of my time. Trust me, it’s not. Especially in organic chemistry, I’ve found that the best studying methods incorporate active recall — when you practice retrieving information from your brain. I got my highest organic chemistry midterm grade when I went back to basics and spent the week before the exam quizzing myself habits. Find a reliable method and stick with it. Pastel highlighters and glitter gel pens are great, but they alone won’t get you having a meal plan, I ate an inordinate amount of cereal and instant noodles. I’ve always been spoiled by great food at home (thanks, Mom), so I rarely felt like making eating well, but I didn’t know how to make much else. Even though I love baking and will gladly test out a new cookie recipe on my own, cooking intimidated me. Baking is a science. It’s precise. The most spontaneous I can get is adding extra up seeing my mom stand at the stove, throwing whatever spices sounded good into a pot and ending up with a delicious cook chicken in my dorm, I was so scared of screwing up that I propped my phone mom. She patiently walked me through the steps (again, thanks Mom), but I still nervously checked each piece with a meat thermometer to make sure I wouldn’t give myself salmonella.

HOW TO SURViVE HOPKiNS 101 (Q&A) SOPHiA PARK, MAGAZiNE EDiTOR ’22-23 The News-Letter 13

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SHiRLENE JOHN, NEWS AND FEATURES EDiTOR ’22-23

MY FiRST FRiEND AT HOPKiNS

Hi! My name is Shirlene John. I’m from the Bay Area, California, and I’m thinking of majoring in English and maybe Neuroscience. I love running and being outdoors, and I can’t wait to explore Baltimore! I love reading pretty much anything, so let me know your favorite book recommendations! I also love trying new foods, so please feel free to reach out to me! I think I must have workshopped these four sentences a thousand times before I held my breath and submitted it to the housing portal. houseplant had more personality. were on the same wavelength. and I noticed that her shirt matched the wallpaper behind her. conversations to our stress cleaning after not understanding chemistry. We have a collection of books that we took from taped on the walls with reminders and doodled artwork. We have a bucket list of things that we want to accomplish before rice and bullying me to play Mao. We know each other’s sushi She’s watched me leave the dorm three minutes before my class would start and heard my constant struggle to unlock the door.

ELLiE ROSE MATTOON, SCiTECH EDiTOR ’22-23

You may have sweat your body weight during Move-In, but enjoy I’m a Texas girl, and my Christmas dress has short sleeves and falls just to my knees. Like most of the Class of 2024, I also moved to an excursion to The Charmery, I shivered the entire way there and season without feeling dead inside.

1. Know What to Wear

Most of my friends going to school in Texas can live out the VSCO girl aesthetic year round, wearing oversized T-shirts and athletic I wear a light jacket if the weather is in the 50s, a coat in the 40s, addition, make sure you have a solid set of hats, gloves and scarves. in Baltimore but also for any winter snowfalls that come our way.

MY FiRST WiNTER AT HOPKiNS

2. Keep it Bright strung across the ceiling or the building’s exterior. Beyond it being dark, winter can feel like a time when there’s with some stimulation to make myself feel good again. I’m talking

3. Get an Electric Kettle and it’s twenty degrees outside. You trudge through the snow But, honestly, any hot beverage or hot food is going to feel so good and comforting right now. The electric kettle in my dorm room has 15

MY FiRST KiSS (A BAD TRADE) CHARLENE HUANG, SOCiAL MEDiA MANAGER ’22-23 And bam, I felt the full force of his lips. All I knew was it didn’t feel right. 16

appease a man who took, took and took. Giving in felt easier than refusing his advances. It was the path of least resistance. But by doing so, I’d invalidated myself when I should have asked myself “How I was doing. Did I want this? Did I feel comfortable? Was I at ease? Was I happy?” No. No. No. And no. The answer had been so clear-cut to me, but then again, why did he feel entitled to my body when I felt like I didn’t? He held all the power and saw my reciprocation of his kisses as a green light to do anything he wanted with me. He’d focused solely on his pleasure, which as it happened, came at the expense of mine. for me. to trust him greatly. It can feel unwieldy to prioritize your needs before his when you were taught to be “nice” and accommodating. It can feel terrifying to believe that your refusal would ruin the moment when you were invested in this relationship. But your body is singularly yours. You had every right to say no. should ever lay claim to your body. When someone fails to check in with you, they are putting their needs above yours and snatching away your right to feel and decide. a relationship without the emotional commitment. I wish I could also say I am a changed person who has moved on, pain free. I wish he had faded away — a faint silhouette on the horizon — but he is still alive in my memory. There are simply no words to capture the hurt of being treated like a piece of gum under his shoe. But my feelings and needs matter, so I tell myself: This is my body, this is my voice.

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MY FiRST DATE AT HOPKiNS ANONYMOUS

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In the end, we sat down in one of the tents — I think I was even nervous We did not have a corkscrew with us; he hypothesized that he might followed him across campus through areas that I had certainly not I told him that I did feel comfortable, despite feeling reserved and slightly awkward and went upstairs with him. What followed was rather comedic. heat could expand glass, whipped out a hairdryer and worked to expand feeling very important that he would introduce me to his roommate and After that, the three of us played Mario Party, a game that I have no I’m not sure how much time went by before he kissed me, but I remember how happy I was when he did.

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Neighborhood: Federal Hill Cost: $9.95 for students

The Senator Neighborhood: Govans TheMondays)Senator on York Road is a historic movie theater and my personal favorite place to watch any type of scary movie. Plan a Monday movie night here for only $7, and Burger next door.

Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture Neighborhood: Inner Harbor Cost: $9 for college students Patterson Park (only underrated by undergrads) Neighborhood: Patterson Park

Baltimore is an underrated place, with much of the charm of Charm City known only to locals. Luckily for you, you’ve got the next four years to experience all of over 200 unique neighborhoods, it can be overwhelming to try and come up with city has something for everyone. I’ll spare you some of the more obvious Monument in Mount Vernon, the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards. Those places are great — you just don’t need me to tell you that. This list is a collection of places claim it to be profound), so you can get a taste of Baltimore. Museums Baltimore is home to many great museums — far too many to include on this list.

Neighborhood: Druid Heights Cost: Baltimorevariesdoes more than sell books. The and other products from the African diaspora, but, perhaps more notably, the bookstore and cultural center is rooted deeply in the value of community. Theaters friends, skip the trip to Towson and choose a closer theater with more character. Two of my favorite choices are The Senator Theatre and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Parkway.

Neighborhood: Oliver Cost: $14 for college students

LAURA WADSTEN, FORMER EDiTOR-iN-CHiEF

Fort McHenry Neighborhood: Locust Point Cost: $15 entrance fee

Everyone’s Place Bookstore and African Cultural Center

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’21-22

Okay, okay. Patterson Park is a very well-known and well-loved attraction of Baltimore. However I’m including it on this list, because it is underrated by undergrads venture so far away from the Blue Jay Shuttle range. This park is huge and gorgeous with a cute duck pond, lots of dogs and an iconic pagoda. Plus, BMORE LICKS is right next to the park on Eastern Avenue so you can try hard ice cream. Especially great for warm afternoons with friends or a date!

BALTiMORE: THE OFFBEAT AND UNDERRATED

Wyman Park and Wyman Park Dell Neighborhood: Charles Village/Hampden Cost: FREE If you’re a bit more outdoorsy, we’re fortunate enough to have a few wonderful and Homewood Campus, home to trails, a between Charles Street and Art Museum Dell is a quiet green space, perfect for reading a book under a tree or having a picnic. Both are great places to reconnect with nature or spot some dogs out having fun, and they are essentially in our backyard.

Although the Baltimore Museum of Art is frequented by Hopkins students, it’s great spots for history enthusiasts are the and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, while the American Visionary Art Museum is a wonderful place to lose yourself in inspiring art. Baltimore Museum of Art Neighborhood: Charles Village Cost: FREE The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum

Fort McHenry is a great place to spend a day. The national monument and historic site is of 1812 as well as serving as the inspiration for the words of our national anthem during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814.

The Parkway Neighborhood: Station North Conveniently located on the JHMI bus line and within Blue Jay Shuttle distance, the Parkway is home to the Maryland Film Festival and also screens a broad selection

I knew next to nothing about Baltimore before I moved here four years ago, but it’s become a place I fondly call home. From a community research job at the hospital, working as a dog walker and sitter, learning about the city in classes, writing and editing for The News-Letter and exploring Baltimore on my own, I’ve gotten to know the city, and I hope you get the chance to burst the Hopkins bubble over your time here too.

American Visionary Art Museum

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Thereyou. are endless opportunities to plug into the city’s vast emphasis, you should be integrating yourself, not inserting yourself. Listen to the people in the community who are already doing the work you admire and determine how you can best apply yourself to further their missions. One of the best places service sites, including local schools, community gardens and resource shelters.

HOW TO GET iNVOLVED iN BALTiMORE

GRETA MARAS, LEiSURE EDiTOR ’22 When you enroll as a Hopkins student, you don’t just happen to live in the city of Baltimore. You are now a resident of Baltimore. Your main focus is to earn that degree, of course, but hopefully campus. In the same way you devote attention to the happenings in your home’s community, you have a responsibility to be respectful and attentive to the city that you will call home for the next four years. This is not only a responsibility; it is also a Toprivilege.getto know Baltimore, you should start with reading and subscribing to local newspapers. While we surely hope you will stay tuned to The News-Letter for information on campus and around the city, it is crucial to get a broad perspective on the news throughout the entire city. The Baltimore Beat is a newly renewed Black-led newspaper exclusively funded by donations that is free to read, and The Baltimore Sun and The Baltimore Baltimore is a city with a rich arts and culinary scene, beautiful recreation spots and a thriving sense of community. There is no better way to get to know the city than by going out and exploring new places. Not to be too shameless, but you can stay tuned to The News-Letter’s Leisure section for plenty of reviews and recommendations on where to eat and what museums and shows to check out. For unparalleled restaurant reviews, follow @CharmCityTable on Instagram or Twitter. We’re blessed with two annual Restaurant Weeks, one in the summer and one in the winter, during which restaurants all They’re the best weeks of the whole year to be a Baltimore resident. Check out my past Restaurant Week favorites to get some inspiration. In the same vein, there are a plethora of exciting city-wide events to look forward to each year. The Baltimore Running Festival will occur on Oct. 15, 2023. If you’re not a fan of running for fun, you can cheer on the half marathon and marathon runners as they pass by our campus. In the spring you can romp around Mount Vernon at the Flower Mart, which is one of many street vendorstyle events throughout the year. The Baltimore Banner’s Events While you should absolutely be excited to explore the city, your presence as a Hopkins student in Baltimore is complicated by a long history of institutional exploitation by Hopkins, which you can read more about in our paper and others. You should be mindful of this not just as a student but as a person who should get to know the city outside of the Hopkins context. Regardless of your major or curricular interests, I believe that every student should be civically engaged in Baltimore in any way that suits

However you choose to engage with Baltimore, being a respectful representative of Hopkins should always be at the front of your mind. Class of 2026, I hope you have an incredible Hopkins experience and that your time in Baltimore is a wonderful chapter in your story.

If you enjoy tutoring or working with kids, volunteer through the Center for Social Concern’s Tutorial Project or Charm City Science League. If you want to assist with food insecurity, sign up to serve meals at Manna House or Paul’s Place, two of the many charities in the city. You can also volunteer to restock the B’more Community Fridge, a completely free fridge and pantry that is stocked entirely by donations.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BALTiMORE MiCHELLE LiMPE, EDiTOR-iN-CHiEF ’22-23 Here is an overview of three major issues in Baltimore you should know about. 1. Redlining 2. Public Violence 22

3. Opioid Crisis

Declared as a public health emergency by the Health and Human Services in 2017, the opioid crisis is an epidemic that has led job, taking care of children and completing routine responsibilities. Without adequate support, it is even more challenging for those addicted to seek treatment and re-enter society. Unfortunately the opioid epidemic has only worsened alongside the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, researchers observed a 57.7% increase in deaths caused by overdoses in the U.S. compared to May Recently2019.Baltimore has witnessed a drastic increase in the number of emergency hospital visits caused by opioids. With around 25,000 Baltimoreans addicted to opioids, Baltimore City had the highest percent increase in opioid-related deaths from 2020 to 2021 compared to other counties in Maryland. Low-income communities were at higher risk, since homelessness, untreated mental be more susceptible to opioid misuse and overdose, and they Education and conversations about the opioid crisis are necessary to combat the stigma surrounding addiction. Accordingly Baltimore City has developed a plan to increase access to both rehabilitation programs and overdose, as well as to create various task forces to address the crisis. This article barely scratches the surface of the various issues that continue to impact Baltimore, many of which are integrated government leaders and explore outside the Hopkins bubble. Like any home or place you care about, take action to make a

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EXPLORiNG THE BALTiMORE SPORTS SCENE CYNTHiA HU, SPORTS EDiTOR ’22-23 With the fall semester just around the corner, Hopkins students are slowly making their way back to campus. Since most venues have opened up, attending sporting events is a great way to enjoy yourself outside the realm of academics. Ranging from top-notch sports leagues like the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) to collegiate, minor and local sports leagues, the opportunities are endless. Here are some exciting, in-person sports events that you can witness in Baltimore this fall semester.

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Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Ravens Horse EventsRacinginWashington, D.C. and dates here. playing any primetime games at home, there are still plenty of interesting matchups to look forward to. Find tickets and dates here. Athletics

Collegiate

Dooby’s This Korean-inspired cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located in Mt. Vernon, Dooby’s is the perfect place outside of the Homewood area. I would personally recommend the fried veggie dumplings!

Fruit Camp This Remington tattoo shop is a wonderful place to stop by if you’re looking to buy something more permanent from a small business! While the studio is appointment-only, the space has very relaxing vibes, and the tattoos created by the studio’s artists are incredible. Fruit Camp also hosts guest artists, so keep an eye out for future exciting tattoo opportunities!

HELEN LACEY, NEWS AND FEATURES EDiTOR ’22-23

TheRestaurantsLandofKush

Second-hand shops

Normals Books & Records cozy and casual vibes. Walking distance from campus, Normals is the place to drop in if you’re looking to browse a large selection of books, records, CDs and obscure zines.

AFROTHREADSMiscellaneous

AFROTHREADS is a family-owned company that sources one-of-a-kind fabrics from East and West Africa to create decor and fashion, all of which are designed and sewn in Baltimore! AFROTHREADS aims to raise awareness for issues like global accessibility, sustainable farming, body positivity, textile piracy and many others through its products.

Located near Mount Vernon, The Land of Kush is known for its vegan soul food. From the restaurant’s crab cakes to mac and cheese, The Land of Kush what vegan food can be. Even as a nonvegan, I love their potato salad and tuna wraps. To drink, I’d recommend the maple nut crunch smoothie. Sakoon Indian Fusion Right next to Homewood Campus, range of vegan and vegetarian options generous, and the food is delicious. your next quiet sit-down dinner!

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Keeper’s Vintage Keeper’s Vintage is a curated clothing store full of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. With locations in Hampden and Mount Vernon, this second-hand store is a great products of other small local business can also be found in the Hampden location, businesses to expand their market.

SMALL BUSiNESSES TO LOOK OUT FOR iN BALTiMORE

KSM Candle Co. Right next to Druid Hill Park, KSM Candle opportunity to create their own soy candles. If you’re looking for something fun and unique to do with friends, taking one of their candle making workshops — which should be on your radar!

A Hopkins favorite, Taharka Brothers ice cream can be found inside R. House. This delicious ice cream was previously found in the dining hall formerly known as Fresh Food Cafe, but with the recent dining service changes, it is unclear if the you haven’t tried it yet, you need to stop by its Remington location. My favorite Oreo is a close second. Ice Queens Ice Queens is an excellent spot to get a sweet treat on a summer day. This Locust friendly New Orleans style snowballs in homemade lemonade!

Baltimore is a vibrant city full of small, local businesses. When you’re taking a break from classes this semester, consider supporting the many restaurants and shops found throughout the city. Not only will your visit provide you with fun weekend (or weeknight) plans, it’s also an opportunity to explore Baltimore beyond the typical “Hopkins bubble.” Many of these organizations also support nona list of just some of the countless small businesses found in Baltimore.

Taharka Brothers Ice Cream

B.Willow Based in Remington, B.Willow is a beautiful, quaint plant store. If you’re looking to up your houseplant game, feel more connected to nature or just spend time in a nice greenspace, B.Willow has you covered. The business also donates some of its sales to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group, an organization working to bring more awareness to the illegal plant trade.

Second Chance Inc. Located in South Baltimore, Second Chance is a great place to stop by if you’re looking to pick up pre-owned furniture for your apartment or dorm. While some of the larger pieces can be a bit expensive, the store is massive with many exciting and unique decorations. Second Chance also has a mission to create employment for displaced and unemployed workers, making it an excellent option for sustainable furniture!

CHECKiNG

ViBE THE ON CAMPUS

2. Gilman Hall student, but putting that aside, there’s still a lot to love. The Federal-style building with its lofty clocktower has a look that screams capital-I Institution, imposing and inviting at the same even with stained-glass windows and high ceilings — maybe because the view from the window is just asphalt and some trees but also because of the warm light and the walls that are, in my opinion, the perfect shade of green.

In practice, the Gilman experience is mostly climbing up and down staircases until you’re winded and feeling like you’re always walking in the wrong direction. I would argue this is part The shuttered Gilman café, which once rivaled the Daily Grind, 26 Art by Jina Lim, Cartoons Editor ’22-23

BUiLDiNGS

PAiGE MAULTSBY, MANAGiNG EDiTOR ’22-23

When it comes to course registration, we students are primarily concerned with factors like credit counts, subjects, professors and meeting times. Understandably, venue-related factors (things like interior ambiance or architectural charm) are low-priority.

1. Mudd Hall across the board.

There’s something haunting about MSE, especially if you stand at one end of the room and look down the shelves to the opposite end. I guess it’s cool that we have access to so many books, but then I start thinking about how many just sit there for years, untouched. the aisles of C-level like a confused ghost, but also? Fitting.

? / Utility: ? / Character: 6

6. Wyman Park Building

From the outside, Hodson Hall seems to have everything going for it. The landscaping that frames the entrance does a lot of the heavy lifting, creating the impression of some tucked-away hillside lodge. Unfortunately, the interior falls short in almost every way. The aesthetic is confused, as though the entire budget went into bearing column and, behind that, a square granite table that dominates the center of the room. I’ve never seen anything on walk either left or right around it.

4. Hodson Hall

Hodson’s redeeming qualities are its large windows and natural light. Once, though, I had a class in a Hodson room where daylight that we were propping one shade up with a stool.

7. Freshman Annex (2020–22)

3. Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Library

Comfort: 3 / Utility: 9 / Character: 7

5. Garland Hall

Gone and bound to be forgotten, the abominated structure known as the Freshman Annex was dismantled over the summer and removed from its native quad. There’s not much to say about the Annex except that no one seemed to like or use it — and yet it persisted for two long years. The end of an era. 27

Here’s a history lesson for all you baby Blue Jays: That weird modernist block that sits next to Decker Quad, the one that kind of looks like a radiator, is Garland Hall. Once upon a time, Garland was a hub for student services along with I’ve never been inside Garland, and if you haven’t already, you probably never will. This adds mystery, and mystery adds Comfort:intrigue.

Wyman’s deeply cryptic vibe. Wyman was once the Baltimore Marine Hospital, winning points for the sense of history. I’m also charmed by the current state of semi-disuse, which feels permanent in an accidental way.

JOSH FELTON AND CHRiSTOPHER XiAO,

The Blue Jays compete in the Big Ten the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights, the Ohio State University Buckeyes and University of Maryland Terrapins. In fact, the Hopkins-Maryland rivalry is over a century old, considered as one of the greatest college rivalries of all time. Hopkins played Maryland twice last season, eventually losing to the Terrapins in the Big Ten tournament. The Blue Jays will undoubtedly be seeking revenge in their quest for another national championship. Women’s Lacrosse Hopkins women’s lacrosse also competes in the Big Ten conference. Last season, the women’s lacrosse team saw legendary coach Janine Tucker’s retirement. Tucker is the winningest coach in Hopkins women’s lacrosse history, amassing 313 wins over her nearly three-decade tenure. In her last season, the Blue Jays made the NCAA Division-III lacrosse tournament before losing to Duke University. Hopkins women’s lacrosse will seek a Big Ten conference championship and an NCAA Division-I national championship.

Women’s Tennis Hopkins women’s tennis is a dominant force in the Centennial Conference, boasting a perfect 9-0 record in conference play and 13-7 overall. The team won its 15th straight Centennial Conference championship with a win over Swarthmore College and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division-III national tournament before losing in a close contest to the Williams College Ephs. Hopkins is looking to win its 16th Centennial Conference championship and contends for the national championship.

Men’s Basketball Hopkins men’s basketball competes in the NCAA Division-III Centennial Conference. Last season the men’s basketball team went 23-4 and won its second straight Centennial Conference championship in an exciting game against Swarthmore College. Hopkins advanced to the NCAA Division-III basketball tournament before losing in the second round to Stockton University. The 2021–22 season saw the graduation of Conner Delaney. Delaney was a point guard for the men’s basketball team and holds the school record for most assists in a career. He was also a member of the 1000-point club and a multiple-time All-American. He ends his career as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, basketball players in Hopkins history. The team will be attempting to three-peat as Centennial Conference champions and continue Delaney’s quest for a national championship, which unfortunately went uncompleted in his storied career.

SPORTS EDiTORS ’22-23

The Blue Jays will be looking to avenge their loss in the Centennial Conference tournament this upcoming season. Both basketball teams play home games in is free for students. The atmosphere at home games can get wild and is one of the best experiences at Hopkins.

Last season, the Hopkins men’s tennis team went 19-2, with multiple wins over top-ranked teams such as Emory University and Carnegie Mellon University. The team won the Centennial Conference championship against Swarthmore College, claiming its 16th Centennial Conference championship in team history. In the NCAA Division-III national tournament, Hopkins dropped a heartbreaker in the second round against North Carolina Wesleyan University. Hopkins seeks to win its 17th Centennial Conference championship this spring

AN iNTRODUCTiON TO HOPKiNS SPORTS TEAMS

Women’s Basketball Hopkins women’s basketball also competes in the Centennial Conference. Women’s basketball went 22-5 and made the Centennial Conference championship Bullets in a heartbreaking game. Hopkins Division-III national championship tournament, led by senior Diarra Oden.

Men’s Tennis

While Hopkins is known for its topranked academics, it also boasts some of the best teams in collegiate sports. As sports writers for The News-Letter, we have the privilege of covering Hopkins athletics, and we encourage you to attend their games to have fun and support your peers. Here, we will introduce some of the teams that we have covered in depth.

Men’s Lacrosse Lacrosse is the only National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division-I sport at Hopkins. Men’s lacrosse is the most successful lacrosse team in college history with 44 national championships.

Centennial Conference Player of the Year and All-American. In addition, she was nominated by the Centennial Conference

Men’s Football After not having a season in 2020, the men’s football team went 10-2 last year, making it all the way to the second round fourth-ranked University of Mount Union 45-35. Last season was highlighted by a 77-0 victory against Juniata College (yes, you read that correctly), one of the largest margins of victory in school history. The Blue Jays will face Juniata in their home opener this year on Sept. 17 — we’d love to see you there! 28

IMollyalways envisioned the bulk of my freshman year being spent in a small, drafty dorm room, used as a landing pad between my classes and meeting up with friends. Instead, it was spent in my of endless Zoom calls. The high hopes I of the window as the pandemic brought normal life as we knew it to a halt, leaving everyone to contemplate how to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. to integrate myself into the campus community. Attending the virtual Student Involvement Fair, with its myriad of booths, illustrated to me the vast opportunities I could take part in. As I browsed the numerous options available, The News-Letter stuck out to me, as I had always enjoyed writing and didn’t have the opportunity to work on a student publication at my small, rural high school. After settling on writing for the News and Features section, I found myself any formal training. Although writing my substantial revisions, I was excited to learn more about Hopkins and its place within Baltimore, even from a distance. my sophomore year, I was excited to experience. Adjusting to in-person learning and living away from home the comforting routine of going to the Gatehouse on Monday evenings for editors’ meetings, answering irreverent around the space heaters in the cozy front room as the weather got colder became a consistent highlight of my week. My experiences as a News and Features editor provided me an outlet to explore topics I found important, as well as provided me with a great support system of fellow editors to learn from. Over the course of a year, as I read the incredible variety of articles the paper published, I came to realize how important student journalism is and the potential impact of our Beingwork.apart of the paper has shaped my interests and aspirations, taught me invaluable skills and provided me a community I would not trade for anything. If you have any interest at all in writing, media, communications or design, I encourage you to indulge yourself and give The News-Letter a try — you never know where it may lead.

WhenMichelleIwasapplying to colleges, I was only certain of two things: I wanted to major in biochemistry and minor in journalism. Funny how three years later, both of these goals did not become reality. Instead, I am now majoring in public health at one of the few universities without a journalism program.

At The News-Letter, you hold the yourself but those around you through write. I invite you to take this opportunity to make your mark and contribute to the 126 years of work set by former journalists of our publication. So whether you are a novice journalist, aspiring cartoonist or only have the slightest curiosity in writing, The News-Letter your own beat within the Gatehouse, Hopkins and Baltimore City. 29

As my freshman spring was made uncertain by the COVID-19, I continued to attend weekly meetings with my editors and report on the school’s changing guidelines. When our lives were shifted fully online and I completed my sophomore year with a 12-hour time and Features editor kept me connected to campus and Baltimore. Even when I was nervous about returning to campus in the fall of my junior year, my excitement to return to the community within the paper as a Managing editor overcame any unease I was feeling. And now, as I grapple with the unknowns of life beyond college, the paper remains a constant for my senior year. Writing for The News-Letter has spurred me on to grow and step out of my comfort zone in ways that I never expected. From covering various protests and events to writing my own columns to investigating the history of the Hopkins Hospital, I found my purpose and impact in documenting our institution’s history.

MiCHELLE LiMPE AND MOLLY GAHAGEN, EDiTORS-iN-CHiEF ’22-23

Yet, beyond writing and publishing pieces, the people themselves are what make The News-Letter a community. Being surrounded by people who share the same passion for journalism and commitment to uplifting the voices of our student body continues to inspire me everyday. Like any skill, improving on my journalistic craft was not an overnight process — in fact, I still learn something new all the time. But, the genuine support and encouragement from everyone here has helped me develop into the journalist I am today.

While I felt excited by the renowned science opportunities at Hopkins, I lamented having to let go of my passion for journalism during my freshman year. Fortunately, I found The News-Letter.

Even before arriving on campus, I knew that I wanted to be involved with the paper in some capacity, having had a bit of journalism experience in high school. I remember seeking it out during our annual Student Involvement Fair without any idea of how the paper operated but eager to report and write. I remember meeting the but welcomed by the community they formed. At that time, I never expected The News-Letter to become one of the major constants throughout my college career.

WHY WE JOiNED THE NEWS-LETTER AND WHY YOU SHOULD, TOO

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Want to get involved with The News-Letter? Email managing@jhunewsletter.com! Front and Back Cover Art by Sophia Park Cartoon Art by Jina Lim

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