The Spotlights Issue

The Spotlights Issue Volume CXIX, Issue XV January 29, 2015

Table of Contents Introduction ....................... 3 Katherine Quinn, Magazine Editor

An FFC legend .................. 4 Ms. Gladys

Sophie Mancini

Mr. John

Journey to a Ph.D. ......... 11 Humans of Hopkins .... 12-13 Isabella So and Whitney Kim

An ever-present force......... 7

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Balancing passions.......... 10

John Moon

MSE’s guardian angel ........ 6

The Johns Hopkins News-Letter

A random selection

Elena Hirsch

Behind the Blue Jay .......... 5

A Hop Cop

The Students .................... 8

A senior with a story ...... 14 Destiny Bailey

The Spotlights Issue

January 29, 2015

Dear Hopkins reader, You know that person you always see around campus? The guy with red hair who’s been in almost all of your econ sections? Or the girl with glasses that you shared the elevator with on move-in day? How about the chemistry professor you had before you switched sections but still notice every time you pass him in Gilman?

Hopkins, especially for a senior like me, can be a place with so many recognizable faces. With a student body of roughly 6,000 undergraduates, the ratio of recognizable faces in and around campus continues to surprise me. This week, walking to class for my “last first” — my last first day of school, I watched as the once-deserted intersession campus came alive with the usual classmates, friends and professors, each one trudging through the snow.

These Hopkins faces turn up everywhere — not just around campus. Familiar faces are found across the aisle at the Charles Theatre and interviewing at job fairs in D.C. Familiar names fill award announcements and magazine journals in and around the world.

Something to continue to wonder about, though, are the unknown faces and names in and around Hopkins. Do you ever wonder, what about the people you’ve never seen? What about the names you don’t know? As Hopkins students, what remarkable things do they have planned? Where have they come from? What do they value?

This magazine, our “Spotlights” issue, hopes to answer those questions. We hoped to dig a little deeper with the familiar names and faces, but at the same time, we also strove to introduce potentially unfamiliar faces as well.

In this issue, you will find interviews with Brody café regulars, a class president and employees of the University.

You’ll find interviews with Hopkins icons — Ms. Gladys, a person who is quite literally the Hopkins Blue Jay, and the humans behind Humans of Hopkins. We also ask questions like, “What do Hop Cops really see on Friday nights?” “How has the campus changed in 30, 40 years?” Inside this issue, you’ll find a few “Two-Minute Interviews” with students in and around the Homewood campus. Some of their answers may surprise you.

I learned a lot about many of these unknown faces. They also taught me something about Hopkins — the unifying factor everyone identified as their reason for coming to this school: drive. Everyone on this campus is driven, singled-out for their passion, their intelligence and their unerring desire to improve — improve themselves and improve the world around them.

We hope you enjoy learning about those drives and that you get to know a bit more about the faces around you, either in this magazine or during your time on campus. Probably by the time you’re a junior or senior, you’ll stop noticing the girl you met at Pre-O, or the TA you had for Intro Philosophy. Or maybe you’ll meet that person again. That physics professor is your most trusted advisor. This time, that funny guy from French class is the person you travel with abroad. That person you sat behind in Vaccine Development is your lab partner. That person you saw in the News-Letter magazine is the newest person you notice around campus each and every day.

— Katie Katherine Quinn, Magazine Editor

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January 29, 2015

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A Hopkins icon: Ms. Gladys

By JANE JEFFERY Gladys Burrell, or Ms. Gladys as students commonly know her, has worked in Hopkins Dining Programs for 41 years. She is now the cashier in the Fresh Food Café (FFC) and plans to retire in the next few years.

Burrell began working at Hopkins as a temporary measure. She wanted to save enough money to buy a car so that she could begin working as a cook at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. “But then when I came out here, I got to working and working and working and the money started being really good and really good and really good so I said, ‘I’m going to stay out here a little while longer,’ and a little while longer turned into three years, and I’ve been here ever since,” Burrell said.

When she isn’t working in the FFC, Burrell dedicates much of her time to the Elevation Chapel AME Church in Baltimore, where she attends Sunday services. She also volunteers to help clean the sanctuary, and she cooks dinner for congregants at their weekly Chat and Chew, a Bible study group where parents who do not have time to attend a conventional Bible study can bring their young children for dinner and discussion.

Burrell has lived in Baltimore since the age of six.

“We were very poor. And when I say poor, I mean we didn’t have a lot of food. My father worked at Bethlehem Steel. But it was a fun childhood,” she said.

She recalled her older brother, now deceased, as a major influence in her early life.

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Burrell cites not attending college “I was a tomboy because I wanted to be like my brother. I wanted to fol- herself as her greatest regret.

“I would have gone to college. I low behind him all the time,” Burrell would have studied business. Besaid.

She even met Robert Burrell, her cause—my daughter taught me this— husband of 45 years, within her broth- education is power and money. But at that time we were striving and struger’s group of childhood friends.

“It just so happened that one of gling just to make ends meet for our the guys that would hang around two kids,” Burrell said.

Despite never having had the my brother all the time I ended up chance to marrying. I’ve study business, been married Burrell and her since 1969. partner opened Some people a catering comhave been marpany 15 years ried quite a bit ago called Caof times to diftering by Grace. ferent people, “Grace is but I’ve been not a who. It’s married to a what. God the same man gives us grace that long. My for no reason. brother used to It’s because he always tell him loves us,” she friends, ‘Don’t said. be messing B u r r e l l ’s with my siscompany cater,’ but we did ters weddings, get married baby showers, and I have two bat mitzvahs, kids,” she said. and birthday Burrell has parties.

The a 42-year-old company also son, a 45-yearcourtesy of jane jeffery old daughter, Ms. Gladys is known for her bright smile and attitude. prepares and delivers individual and one ninemeals. The company runs mostly duryear-old granddaughter.

“She’s something. I’ve only got one ing the summer when Burrell is not so I’ve got to spoil her,” Burrell said of working at Hopkins.

Burrell has seen Hopkins change her granddaughter.

Burrell’s daughter and son-in-law physically and within the character both work in education. Her daughter of the student body. The University teaches sixth grade in Christiansburg, has undergone notable developments Va., and her son-in-law is a professor and building projects since she began working at Hopkins. of sociology at Virginia Tech.

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“So many buildings are going up on campus now. There were so many woods when I first came here. AMR I used to be the dining room. Downstairs in the basement is where we used to cook the food. [The FFC and Buildings A and B] weren’t even here,” Burrell said.

She also noted that students’ general attitudes have changed, and that the zeal of activism that existed when she began at Hopkins has diminished.

“The students have changed quite a bit. Years ago, if the students didn’t like anything, they protested about everything. And now — I have talked to a couple of students — the students now accept the decisions made for them and don’t make a big deal about it,” Burrell said.

She suspects that the increase in workload that college students have experienced since the 1970s and ’80s is a contributing cause to their lack of activism.

“Some of the students told me school is so stressful they don’t have time to make waves. That’s the difference; they put more work on the students now than they used to. The pressure wasn’t as bad as it is now. They’re so upset now over getting a really good grade,” she said.

Burrell lives by the tenet of self-love and hopes to spread that message to everyone around her.

“I’m into the love thing. In order to do anything or be anything in life, you have to love yourself. There are so many people today that have so many opportunities to do well, but they have no clue of what they want to do. You have the opportunity to do well in the world. Love yourself. Do what you want to do,” she said.

January 29, 2015

Behind the Blue Jay

By RACHEL BIDERMAN

Freshman Sarah Zappone wears her Hopkins pride on her sleeve — and also on the rest of her body. One of the three faces behind the Blue Jay suit, Zappone’s mascotting career all started with a spontaneous email.

“This summer when I found out I was going to be a Blue Jay, I emailed someone in the Rec Center, the athletic director, and basically was like, ‘Hey, let me be the Blue Jay!’ because I knew there would be no other chance in all of eternity that I would ever have another spotlight moment on a JHU athletic field,” Zappone said. “I’m a total NARP [Non-Athletic Regular Person].”

Although mascotting did not require any previous experience, the athletic department got Zappone involved soon after she arrived on campus.

“So I went over during O-Week, [they] set me up, it was great,” Zappone said. “So, now I’m in the suit, and it’s the best thing and the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”

In the first few weeks of the semester, Zappone was less active, concerned about the heat under the summer sun.

“One time I referred my friend to [mascot], and he at the end of the day was like, ‘never again’ because he did it in the first week of school when it was blazing hot,” Zappone said. “Basically he told me that when he got in it, the suit was soggy from the previous person, which scared me away from being in the suit for a good couple weeks.”

Once she got inside the suit, however, Zappone found a way to make the weather work.

“I’ve done it a few times, and this is the perfect weather to mascot in — if there’s such a thing as good mascotting weather,” Zappone said. “It’s breezy, sometimes you get a little neck airflow, it comes in through the teeth.

So, you smile really big, the Blue Jay’s smiling, and you get that airflow.”

Regardless of the weather, she insists that a post-mascot shower is necessary.

“I always wear just a short-sleeved tee and normal athletic shorts, but you just count on jumping in the shower right after you get out because you’re touching the fabric from the knees down and your face,” Zappone said.

Although overwhelmingly content with her choice to mascot, Zappone has one overarching apprehension concerning her job.

“I think that my most feared moment is being a total goofball, and then somehow my head gets knocked off and everyone sees it’s me,” Zappone said. “That would be so bad.”

Although her identity has never been revealed while in the suit, she’s has some close calls with keeping the mystery.

“It almost happened,” Zappone said. “I was at the Cava Cook-off and this very tall guy was like, ‘Hey, ‘sup Jay?’ and he comes in for the hug and literally almost knocks the head off, and it was terrifying. I bent down and picked it up and stayed hidden.”

While an unexpected revelation would violate her guidelines of mascotting, Zappone can freely discuss and advertise her status as one of the few students inside the Jay. “When I’m in the suit, I can’t say a word,” Zappone said. “People come up to me and they’re like, ‘Is that you, Sarah?’ or I’ll just go hug someone I know, and they don’t know if it’s a friendly Blue Jay or if it’s me. That’s part of the fun of it. I can tell them afterwards, but when you’re in the suit, you want to just make sure you’re being representative of the school and of Jay, and not yourself.”

The task of representing the school includes mascotting at social events affiliated with the University as well

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as the standard football and lacrosse games.

“The most embarrassing [time], hands down, was having a dance-off with the [Baltimore] Ravens’ mascot Poe at the Cava Cookoff— like a real mascot,” Zappone said. “We had a dance-off, we threw some moves down, I was throwing down, I was moving like Bernie, I was twerking, you don’t even want to know.”

In addition to mascotting at events, occasionally Zappone or one of her peer mascots are requested to pose for pictures at publicity events.

“I did a photo shoot thing for the admissions packet, so when the little pre-frosh open their admissions book, they’ll see a big shining Jay pointing at them saying, ‘Come to Hopkins!’” she said.

“That was fun — I was posed on the field, and some guy in a ladder was looking down at me. It’s very hard to look up in a Blue Jay head, I’ve found.”

Zappone also appeared as the Jay in a thank you video from University President Ronald J. Daniels released in December. The video was a compilation of rapid-fire of shots of people holding a thank you sign, concluding with a final shot featuring Jay. “It’s a one-minute video, but the guy who talked to me told me that it’s months worth of work in sixty seconds because they take over 100 or 200 shots,” Zappone said. “I think I’m going to be at the end, and there’s a big group of students behind me, and I’m dancing and holding this sign that says ‘thank you,’ and walking toward the camera.”

Generally, she has received positive

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reactions from students, professors and administrators alike, although she cited a few less comfortable interactions.

“I don’t think I’ve scared anyone, but once I posed with Dean [of Student Life Terry] Martinez,” Zappone said.

“I found out later that she’s terrified of mascots, and it was a moment of bravery for her to pose with me. So, I guess I’ve helped people conquer their fears.”

Although she never originally planned on getting inside the suit, after her time as a Jay, she is sure to keep the commitment for the remainder of her time at Hopkins.

“I don’t even think I know why I’m interested in doing it, so I don’t expect other people to understand why I’m doing it,” said Zappone. “Honestly, sometimes I’m in there, mid-danceoff, and I’m like, ‘Am I doing this right now?’ But I’m doing it, and it’s so much fun, and I don’t want to stop.”

January 29, 2015

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Mr. John: the keeper of MSE Library

By SAMHITA ILANGO For a loyal MSE Library patron like myself, M level has evolved into a home over the years. Like many students, I’ve observed the rush to computers to print at the half hour mark before classes start, security’s kind shove around 2:30 a.m. and the spread of seating options to fit every student’s nocturnal needs. MSE has proven to be a Promised Land for some, a constant in a world of change.

Much of the smooth operations behind MSE can be attributed to one Mr. John. Seen scurrying across M level, pushing chairs and shelving books at all hours, John Schweitzer is a true icon of the library. Sitting down to interview Mr. John was an enlightening experience as he told me told me about his arrival in Baltimore, his life outside MSE, and of course, his love of the library.

Samhita Ilango: How would you describe your position at the MSE Library?

John Schweitzer: Well, the official title is evening/weekend building supervisor, but its an all-encompassing job, which involves printers, copiers, multifunction devices — keeping them operational, helping patrons to scan documents, file and stage books in the stacks, inspections of electrical equipment, making sure computers and work stations are running. There are eight of us that work during the day, and I am the last one here at night.

SI: Are you from Baltimore originally?

JS: No, I’m from rural Wisconsin — a small place, Williams Place, Wisconsin. It’s dairy country.

SI: Oh, wow.

JS: I grew up in a small place with

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four siblings, four seasons, harsh winters.

SI: And how did you come to Baltimore?

JS: I had a friend who was a graduate student in political science, 25 years ago. It was a big city in 1988.

much better emphasis on the environment, greater recycling. The city is participating. And as for the campus, it is much more beautiful now than it was — at least the Homewood campus — there has been improvement in landscaping, [Former New York City Mayor Michael] Bloomberg gave a lot of money, he improved the walkways.

There used to be kind of asphalt paths, about four feet wide, but those were taken out about 10 years ago — that’s when the brick walkways came in, streetlights, benches. So those red brick walkways that cover the campus — those are probably only 10 years old.

SI: What was your perception of the city before you got here?

JS: Well, let’s see, I was frightened — but because I didn’t know what to expect.

Indeed Baltimore proved to be a bit grimy, but nevertheless I was so impressed with the University and applied for a position right away. Within a few months, [I] snagged a SI: What do great job at Welch you do for leisure Medical Library in Baltimore? and worked at the JS: Well, I COURTESY OF SAMHITA ILANGO circulation and in- Mr. John keeps the library running smoothly. love to go to the formation desk for national wildlife a few years. I migrated my way over to refuges. There are some really outEisenhower in 1992. And I’ve been in standing ones not too far away. In Eisenhower for 21 years and 25 years Delaware there are two and some in the entire system. others nearby in Virginia. I like to camp and go to parks. Shenandoah SI: Has anything changed at all National Park is not far away, and from your initial perception of Bal- I would encourage anybody who timore? hasn’t camped or seen Shenandoah JS: In the city or the University? to go. It’s in the Appalachians and SI: I guess both. First maybe we can only about two and a half hours do the city and then the University. southeast of us.

JS: Well, in Charles Village there SI: How often do you go? has been great improvement as you JS: As often as my friends will go! can see right out on the east side. It’s a gorgeous national park. It runs 90 Charles Street has been completely miles north to south and straddles the redeveloped. I think now there is a top portions of these mountains. It’s

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beautiful and overlooks a great area.

Fall is the best time to go. It’s a beautiful escape. There are black bears and cubs and whitetail deer. I once saw a gorgeous Luna Moth. It’s a lime green moth about the size of your two palms, and it only lives for about ten days. It’s a very, very special place.

SI: Being in the library, do you think your two worlds of nature and reading ever collide?

JS: Not directly, but through books it definitely does — nature and literature. But obviously the library has immense resources. I devour books. We’ve got a small federal depository downstairs with a number of good books on national parks and I get to use them all. Books are such treasures. I am living in a kind of Paradise.

SI: Are there a lot of differences between working at the Welch Medical Library and MSE? JS: At Welch in East Baltimore, it was more biomedical. Here, well, it’s everything. It’s history to zoology.

There is a much wider and richer array of materials. Here, we have geology and physics and all these other disciplines. I prefer the richness of this collection. I feel so honored and privileged working with young people — kids and some faculty. I get to help and it’s fulfilling. I get exercise running around the building all night. I don’t make that much money, but it’s the best job in the world.

My short yet profound meeting with Mr. John has revealed him to be a man of many facets. He spends his days not only running MSE but also absorbing the wealth of knowledge it has to offer. Thank you, Mr. John, for sharing your library with me.

January 29, 2015

Lawmen of Hopkins: A Hop Cop’s perspectve

By WILL MARCUS

WM: What’s your favorite part of campus to patrol?

HC: Well we’re all over campus really, but my favorite place to patrol is 33rd and St. Paul. That’s where the most activity is... Normally things only happen on Friday and Saturday nights. You know and when things happen that’s entertainment for us. 33rd and St. Paul on weekend nights is just so alive and active.

Ah, the omnipresent Hop Cop. Their well-traveled patrol routes effectively form the border of the Homewood Community. There is at least one in your line of sight at all times no matter where you are on campus, and they’re happy to do what they do.

I was thinking about whom I wanted to interview for this piece in the magazine, and my mind WM: Do Hop began to wander Cops enjoy the to the tornado of weekend shift? belligerent stupid- “I’m not going to say it’s HC: Every time ity that was my I get my team prea drinking problem, but... pared, I tell them first semester at Hopkins — then some people — mainly that tonight’s goI started to woning to be live toder about what the freshmen — they night, there are conclusions the to a lot of don’t know how to handle going average Hop Cop students in the has drawn about their liquor.” area, a lot of them the student body are going to be after witnessing highly drunk, a other whirlwinds lot of them are goof imbecility for years. So, I decided to ing to be acting a fool, so we have to interview a Hop Cop anonymously to make sure that we’re highly visible, answer this as well as other pressing we’re alert, and not letting anything questions such as: distract us. Friday and Saturday nights, I can’t stress it enough, are Will Marcus: Do you think that when we have to be the most vigilant, there is a binge-drinking problem on because it gets out of hand some of campus? these days! But yeah these freshmen Hop Cop: I’m not going to say it’s a — I don’t understand — a lot of them drinking problem, but I’m going to say like to take their shirts off and run that some people — mainly the fresh- around a lot. You know a lot of the men — they don’t know how to handle guys like to do that; I just don’t untheir liquor. They feel as though they derstand. But yeah, it’s only the freshgot to prove themselves when they man though. I don’t get it. drink, and that’s normal around here.

A lot of these kids come from sheltered WM: What’s the funniest thing homes and they got all this freedom you’ve seen while working here ? they don’t know how to handle yet.

HC: Man, I’ve seen a lot of things.

ummmm.... [pause] this may sound come through campus every day and explicit, but it was a drunk on 33rd everyone knows us. It’s really nice. and St. Paul. He was a non-affiliate, but he found himself on WM: How’s the manage33rd and St. Paul walking ment? as if he was trying to go up HC: It’s a really high cola hill but he was just leaning laboration with this company so far back. So we go up and [Allied Barton]. We all comapproach him about it and municate and we all play a asked him if he was drunk. role, you know what I mean?

He said “Nawwwwwwww And that’s what makes us a mannnn” We were just trygood organization. ing to get him to show proof of it so we told him to walk WM: Hopkins has taken toward that door [points some flack recently for not E to door of 7/11] and he just treating its employees with M walked besides the building the consideration and reE [pretends to stumble toward spect they deserve, so that’s Maxie’s]. really nice to hear.

R WM: So he tried to walk HC: Yeah I like working G to a door that was 10 feet dihere. The management reE rectly in front of him and just ally does make an effort to N missed? recognize good work and C HC: Yeah he just comthey’re fair.

Y pletely missed it. You have to be highly intoxicated to I was pleasantly surprised completely miss that door…I by the Anonymous Hop wouldn’t have missed it.

Cop’s answers. He was highly courteous and professionWM: What’s your favorite al while also relaxed enough place to eat around here? to share some hilarious anecHC: The Dizz for sure. dotes. Every interaction I’ve They have some delicious had with one of them so far lemon pepper chicken and has been very pleasant. For sandwiches. It’s probably my such a candid interview, he favorite place. convinced me that he really does take his job seriously WM: Is this a healthy and genuinely wants to help work environment? protect the student body. So HC: It’s a really peaceful next time you’re in danger environment to me. As much around campus, there’s no as we move around, it’s nice doubt in my mind that this because most of the stores anonymous Hop Cop’s got pretty much know us. We your back.

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January 29, 2015

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In and Around Homewood:

Name: Kaitlyn Whyte Year: Junior Major: Biomedical Engineering

Name: Jacqueline Burke Year: Sophomore Major: Biomedical Engineering

What do you find most challenging about Hopkins?

What is something people might not know about you?

Probably the level of intensity. I mean I work hard, but sometimes I can be very introverted and I just need a break.

Hopkins can be kind of intense — it can push you to do your best, which is amazing, but it can also be a little bit overwhelming.

One of my dogs is the Target dog.

We have bull terriers... My dad’s really into bull terriers. [Shows picture.] That was our Valentine’s day card. They put the heart over his eye instead of the target sign.

That’s my dad’s profile picture.

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Name: Dillan Villavisanis Year: Freshman Major: Anthropology What has surprised you most about Hopkins?

Probably how friendly and outgoing everyone is, how collaborative everyone is considering the reputation of the school.

January 29, 2015

Two-Minute Interviews...

Name: Madeleine King Year: Sophomore Major: International Studies

Name: Kidist Ketema Year: Senior Major: Public Health and Economics

Why did you choose Hopkins?

I was struck by how focused everyone seemed at Hopkins. I tend to be a little all over the place so I felt like coming to Hopkins would help me find a path — being around people who are so driven and excited about the future is really inspring for me. I’m not the type of person who tends to plan ahead.

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What is something people might not know about you?

I have a weird knack for impersonation. I can do weird ones — Shakira and Brittany Spears. Obama is a surprising one.

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By KATIE QUINN

Name: Sarah Manning Year: Sophomore Major: GECS and Public Health What do you think you’ll remember most about Hopkins?

Oh that’s tough. I’m sure I would remember a lot of the amazing experiences that I’ve had, but I think it all boils down to just the people here.

The time that I spend with my friends here is what makes those experiences so great. The amazing group of people I’ve met.

January 29, 2015

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A Balance of Passions: Medicine, Yoga, Travel and Art

By RITIKA ACHREKAR

“It was so surreal. We would wake up 5:30 a.m. and do 3 hours of yoga “In yoga, we talk about a drishti or then eat delicious food, talk about a gaze. Something to focus on when yoga, and go surfing,” she said. you’re balancing” sophomore Elena Her interest in yoga carried forHirsch said. Hirsch has found inspi- ward into college when she started ration to follow her goal of practicing teaching at the Ralph S. O’Connor Rec medicine through conventional pur- Center during the spring semester of suits like neurobiological research at her freshman year. She also found it Weill Cornell Medical College and connected to her academic interest in science classes here at Hopkins. How- medicine. ever, her other passions, including “As I have developed a strong interyoga and travelling, have simultane- est in yoga, I have become interested ously helped her achieve balance and in integrating the two. I think that’s find focus. ideally where medicine is headed in Elena first stumbled upon yoga the future,” she said. at sleepaway camp when she was 12 In particular, Elena is interested in years old and started regularly at- the Integrative & Holistic Medicine tending classes the following year center on the Johns Hopkins Medical when a studio opened up near her campus. Some of their research entails house. studying the ef“It was a refects of meditation ally local place.” on conditions like “It’s so beautiful when Hirsch said. “I’m migraines and Alfrom a small people can just commit to zheimer’s. neighborhood in “I think that Brooklyn. It’s very their passion.” the pharmaceucom mu n it y- or icompanies — ELENA HIRSCH, tical ented and everymight make that one knows everyYOGA INSTRUCTOR a little more difone’s name.” ficult in the proAmongst all gression of intethe people who grating the two practiced at the studio, Hirsch was kinds,” Hirsch said. “Learning to conconsistently the youngest. trol your mindset can aid in your men“It progressively became more tal health which can then really affect meaningful and significant to me the your physical health.” more I did it,” she said.

Elena’s perspective on the medical The summer before her freshman profession has also been shaped by her year of college, Hirsch completed 200 experiences travelling. hours of teacher training in Costa Rica.

“One of my largest motivating facIn addition to covering the physical as- tors for being pre-med is to work for pect of yoga, the training comprised of Doctors without Borders and travel subjects like anatomy and philosophy. and bring healthcare to underserved

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communities,” Hirsch said.

Last summer, Elena travelled to Central America with Global Brigades, a non-profit organization that aims to address health and development challenges in under-resourced communities. After completing the two week long program, she spent some time working on an organic farm in the same region.

When she was in high school, Elena went on a service trip to Chinchoti, a rural village in Maharashtra, India.

“No one spoke the same languages, but we became so close with my host family,” she said. “As I travel and I see things that are motivating for me in terms of medicine, I can remind myself of why I’m doing this and what my passion is.”

Elena partially attributes her outlook to the values imparted by her high school.

“I went to a high school that was all about learning for learning’s sake.

One of our big mottos was ‘think globally, act locally,’” Hirsch said of the Berkeley Carroll School.

“I wrote a final paper on Beyoncé and how she embodies American culture throughout history. It helped me learn to look at the bigger picture through a creative eye.”

Hirsch also chooses to express her creativity by working with ceramics and sculpting.

Elena Hirsch

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“I did a collection of things I made [while] blindfolded, which was weird at first. I was like, ‘What am I doing?

Is this crazy?’” she said. “It’s easier when you’re really in it, because you can focus. You pay so much more attention to the thickness and tactile sensations.”

In all of her various academic and personal pursuits, Elena has consistent common themes of dedication and enthusiasm.

“It’s so beautiful when people can just commit to their passion,” she said.

Courtesy of Ian Bothwell vIa flICKr

is a yoga devotee and instructor at Hopkins.

January 29, 2015

A world of travels before landing in Baltimore

By SARI AMIEL

John Moon is a Ph.D. candidate in the economics department, but his life didn’t begin when he arrived at Hopkins. Moon has lived in many countries, including South Korea, Japan and Australia, and he hopes to travel to many more.

Born in South Korea, Moon lived in Japan until the age of five. His family moved back and forth between both countries several times during his childhood.

“I have some identity problems,” Moon said. “Those two countries traditionally hate each other… So as a child who was born in South Korea and would get educated in Japan, the kids [there] said, ‘Oh, you’re a Korean,’ and back [in] South Korea they said, ‘Oh, you came to Japan.’”

At 13 years old,

Moon traveled alone to Australia to attend high school. He was used to living in different countries, so the prospect of living on a foreign continent was not too daunting. He lived in a neighborhood with many Japanese immigrants, so he did not have to acclimate to a culture that was completely foreign. Moon was impressed

by Australia.

“Brisbane was the most beautiful scenery that I ever traveled around,” he said. “The ocean was really beautiful. That was pretty amazing.”

When Moon graduated from high school, he decided to begin his mandatory two-year service in the South Korean army right away. Following high school, most of his male compatriots went straight to college, taking time off after their freshmen years to complete their army services.

In the army, Moon worked in the translation office; he spoke Japanese and English in addition to Korean. Moon considers his time in the army to be the worst experience he has ever had.

“Some people said [the army] makes you grow up,” Moon said, “[but] it was a really, really terrible period in my life.”

After completing his army service, Moon embarked upon some more interesting and enjoyable endeavors. Instead of heading straight to college, he worked as an assistant at a film magazine called Film 2.0, where he helped report on events and edit articles.

“It was really hard, but that was the most interesting period in my life.

If you work at something you like, could study abroad. Moon was able how much effort you need to put in it to choose from a long list of internadoesn’t matter,” Moon said. tional programs, and he considered Moon did not see a future in the traveling to Oxford University in magazine industry, and his boss rec- England, but the prospect of studying ommended that he get a college de- there did not seem exciting enough gree and pursue a different career. to him. Instead, Moon looked at the Moon’s older sister suggested that bottom of the list of study abroad he participate in programs.

He Habitat for Hufound a program manity. Not long in Nicaragua after, he found “If you work at and, after learnhimself on his something you like, how ing that students way to Thailand from his univerfor a two-week much effort you need to sity rarely studvolunteering proied in Nicaragua, gram. Moon ex- put in it doesn’t matter.” he decided to emplained that his bark on the adability to speak venture. several languages helped him get into Moon feels that one can better the program. learn a language by living in the for“A language is kind of your weap- eign country and absorbing yourself on. When you graduate, if you can in the language than from solely takspeak different languages, you have ing classes. many more options,” he said.

“I usually recommend [that you] Moon extended his stay in Thai- just pause your school years and then land for six months, moved by the go to the countries you want to learn poverty of the people that the pro- the languages [of],” he said. gram was helping. While there, Moon In his free time, Moon enjoys readmet many students from American ing the news, watching comedy shows universities who were also volun- and spending time with his cat, among teering with Habitat for Humanity. other activities.

Some of these friends inspired Moon Moon has noticed that students in to get a law degree, and he decided the U.S. are often in a hurry to graduthat the time had come to apply to ate college and find jobs. He emphacollege. sized that it is important to take time Moon received a scholarship from off from school and make sure that the University of Illinois at Urbana- you are heading in the right direction.

Champaign, and he came to the U.S. Unlike in South Korea, job applicain 2010. He started off studying engi- tions in the U.S. are not allowed to ask neering and later switched to a major applicants for their ages, and Moon in applied math. Moon also studied thinks that students here should take in Nicaragua for a summer and spent advantage of this benefit and slow winter break in Burkina Faso one year down a little. before coming to Hopkins. “[For] undergrads, the most imporAt the University of Illinois, stu- tant thing is [that] you need to find dents with good grades were given what you want to do,” Moon said. “You more options of places where they can change. You can quit college.”

The Spotlights Issue The Johns Hopkins News-Letter

January 29, 2015

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A lens and a mirror for students:

By CAMILLE TAMBUNTING

mans of Hopkins page with her and I was like, “I was thinking the same thing!” I remember Bea saying, “Humans of New York was bringing a story and voice to the people in New York, and I want to show the depths of people at Hopkins.”

Juniors Isabella So and Whitney Kim started Humans of Hopkins in January 2014. Now, with over 2,100 Facebook likes, the page has become both a lens and a mirror for members of the Hopkins community. It is a medium in which we can pause, learn, CT: Did you find it difficult to get feel a little less alone and a little more Humans of Hopkins started? connected. Humanity is more than WK: No — the response was amazjust a face, but the story behind it, with ing. I think because you just connect all its arcs, corners with the porand shadows. And traits of people, sometimes humanit’s just someity, like with many “People don’t realize how thing people ingood stories, just willing people are to care stinctively like. needs to be told We don’t have to aloud. Here is an about other people. And advertise it beinterview with Isapeople are that’s why it’s important cause bella and Whitney so drawn to it. and the story be- to reach out when you IS: Yeah, I feel hind Humans of like people don’t need help.”

Hopkins. know these stobut people — ISABELLA SO ries Camille Tamwant to know bunting: Why did these stories. you guys choose to And it’s a great do Humans of Hopkins? thing to note about our campus, that Isabella So: It’s based off of Hu- people have compassion. But it was remans of New York, which is a popu- ally great that we jumped to 1000 likes lar Facebook page that we took the really fast. And we’re really proud of idea from. Whitney and I both wanted that. It was a lot of progress made very to let Hopkins students know more quickly. about their peers because there was WK: Also, when we initially startso much that we didn’t know. We ed, we both agreed on being anonycompete with these people, we study mous. But then some time passed this with these people, and there’s only so semester after releasing the “Shake it much we know about them. Everyone Off” video, and we asked ourselves if has stories about them that they don’t it really mattered or not. bring to college, and we really wanted to share them.

CT: Can you explain the process Whitney Kim: Yeah. One day I of going up to someone, deciding thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if there what questions to ask, how to decide was a Humans of Hopkins?” Then Bea whether or not a person seems willmessaged me one night and asked if I ing or apprehensive, etc.? would be interested in starting a HuIS: Typically, I just see people who

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look like they’re not busy. I approach them and tell them that I’m doing this project on campus where I interview people and photograph them. And sometimes people say they don’t like their picture taken, but typically I’ll just ask simple questions like, “Tell me about yourself” or “Where are you from?” And from there I choose more questions. If they seem really introverted and not willing to share, I’ll ask them very surface questions like, “What do you find beautiful?” or “What really drew you to Hopkins?”

And if they’re really open I’ll ask questions like, “What frightens you?” or “What was the best moment in your life?” You really try to get a feel of the person before you dare to go deeper into the conversation. That’s my method at least.

WK: Along the same lines, I’ll just walk around with my camera on campus and approach people that don’t seem busy. And sometimes I’ll have

The Spotlights Issue

The Johns Hopkins News-Letter

questions in mind that I’ll ask, but I’ll also ask them about themselves first.

And once I have a feel for them, you have a feel for what questions you should ask. Then you go deeper into it by gauging their comfort level.

CT: What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about the Hopkins community as a collective through Humans of Hopkins?

WK: One of my favorite interviews was when I interviewed someone that worked at Brody Café. The person I interviewed was talking about how at Hopkins, everyone kind of has a goal they’re working toward, but how she didn’t really know what her goals were. But so many Hopkins students related to her. And it was really cool to watch how quickly people identify with each other, even though they feel like there’s a separation between them.

IS: I was most surprised by how willing people were to be honest and

January 29, 2015

looking behind Humans of Hopkins her life story, and she really went into depth during the conversation. She even told me at the end to not include it in the interview, but she told me all that information anyways because she was so willing to trust a stranger that quickly. I’m really surprised about how people really want to get their stories out. And if somebody is there to listen, they’ll give it to you.

WK: Yeah. We’re really thankful that people are so open.

CT: What do you want people to get out of Humans of Hopkins?

WK: I just really want to encourage people to get to know different people at Hopkins, to really get to know the campus, and not to just be focused on studies.

IS: On the same lines, just always be there to support others. Even if you don’t know them, be willing to lend an ear and listen to what people have to say. And if it seems like somebody

wants to say something and they’re too afraid to, be a source of support for that person so that they’re not afraid to share their story. There might be a reason that they’re hiding it, you know?

There might be a reason why they can’t share it.

CT: Do you think Hopkins has enough resources for people where they can be honest? From your interactions with people through Humans of Hopkins, do you think these resources are enough?

IS: I think it’s pretty terrifying, just because you can’t maintain anonymity when you approach these resources. I have friends in APTT and I have friends at the counseling center, and it’s not easy to just go up and ask for help and be vulnerable toward people you might know; so it is kind of hard.

I think the resources are there to help people, but it’s difficult to just reach out and throw yourself out there. So I

COURTESY OF HUMANS OF HOPKINS

understand why people might be struggling to find the resources for themselves.

WK: Before coming to Hopkins, people only talked about the happy parts of college.

But once I started college, I saw how there are a lot of kids that are more stressed out than I thought they would be.

It was kind of surprising for me. And I don’t actually know if the resources are enough, but I don’t think they’ll ever COURTESY OF CAMILLE TAMBUNTING be enough. As Humans of Hopkins we just have Isabella So (left) and Whitney Kim run the popular Facebook page. to make sure that we’re there for each other. that that was all that person wanted IS: I think a lot of the support to talk about. And I thought that was comes from your own community and interesting. People don’t realize how not necessarily by the administration. willing people are to care about other That’s where you need to look for it. people. And that’s why it’s important to reach out when you need help.

CT: What has been the most standout interview you’ve had?

CT: Are there times when you WK: Probably the interview with choose not to interview someone? the worker from Brody Café that I WK: A lot of people have apmentioned earlier. But for my inter- proached us and have said, “You views, I don’t always want serious, should interview me.” And our rule deep interviews. I also want the funny, of thumb is that if you ask us to interunexpected moments. view you, we’re not going to interview IS: People usually immediately you. This page isn’t a page to have your open up when I interview them. May- moment of fame; it’s a page where you be it’s because of how slowly I talk connect with people in unexpected when I ask my questions. [Laughs.] places. We don’t want a set-up thing.

But I’m trying to think... I guess it was We’re also very mindful about who one in which this interview was driven we interview. So if we feel like we’re mostly by conversation about another interviewing too many people of one person. Through that interview you gender, race, class year or one characcould really see that people’s priori- teristic, we try to keep that in mind. ties don’t always lie in their own selfIS: Yeah everyone deserves a interests. But this person just cared so voice, even if it doesn’t stand for much about the people around them their community.

The Spotlights Issue The Johns Hopkins News-Letter

January 29, 2015

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More to senior class president than just SGA

By CATIE PAUL

skin over an exposed part of her spinal cord, leading her to have surgery I met up with Destiny Bailey, the when she was two weeks old. Docsenior class president, outside of the tors told her parents that she would Center for Student Activities in Mat- never be able to walk. tin. Bailey is clearly well-known there: Amazingly, Bailey did start to walk There was plenty of foot traffic dur- when she was 10 months old. ing our interview, and for almost ev“That was a huge miracle in my ery person who walked by, she had a parents’ eyes and I guess in the docgreeting and a wave. Bailey is well- tors’ eyes too,” she said. known to most seniors as the person Unfortunately, her health probwe receive numerous emails from lems didn’t stop there. When she was about SGA events. However, after a 18, she started to lose sensation in her conversation it quickly became appar- legs. An MRI scan revealed that she ent that there is so much more to her had a tethered cord, which required than just senior class president. more surgery in December 2013. BaiFor a start, she has diverse interests. ley knew that it would be difficult to She’s a neuroscience major, but she heal from her surgery and be in school also enjoys art history and has taken at the same time, but she chose not to many classes on it here at Hopkins. take any time off.

She also enjoys arts and crafts and “I came back to school because I has done some oil love the things I paintings. Aside do here,” Bailey from being senior said. “I just didn’t class president, “I was supposed to want to risk losing she also is a chem those things.” She lab teaching assis- be paralyzed — but I is still not really tant and a mem- was always the fastest able to feel pain in ber of Pi Phi. her legs.

The youngest runner.”

Bailey thinks of five siblings that her experi— D ESTINY BAILEY, ence with spina from Loredo, Texas, Bailey has S ENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT bifida will help always wanted her be a great docto become a neutor: rologist, and she “If you have a set her sights on Hopkins for its neu- stake in it, if you have a personal pasroscience program. She is so open sion, you have a much better chance about why she decided to become of being satisfied,” she said. a doctor, it’s almost as if we’re still Not only did spina bifida make her talking about her hobbies. As a baby, passionate, but she feels that it also she was diagnosed with spina bi- gave her empathy for and perspective fida, a congenital disorder caused by on the patients that she will be workproblems in the development of the ing with some day. central nervous system. Specifically, “It is always so much harder to be she has spina bifida with a myelome- on the patient’s side of things than the ningocele, the most severe form. She doctor’s,” Bailey acknowledged. was born with a very thin layer of And she has never let her disease

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stop her from doing something. In high school, she was a varsity cross country runner “It was ironic, because I wasn’t supposed to walk — I was supposed to be paralyzed — but I was always the fastest runner,” Bailey recounted.

Although she chose not to continue running cross country in college, she still runs on her own. In 2013, she completed the Nike Half-Marathon, a feat which she hopes to repeat soon.

Bailey has many other activities she’s interested in, but the one that takes up most of her time is, of course, the SGA. In high school, her sister suggested that she go into student government.

“Student government is an outlet for you to be a representative for your peers,” Bailey said. “And I’m naturally geared toward being involved with things.” That led to her being class president for all four years of high school.

When she entered Hopkins, Bailey became homesick and, like most freshmen, struggled to find where she fit in.

She decided to return to student government, which she found to be more exciting on the collegiate level.

“Instead of just being prom committee, here we’re able to have more of a voice and a hand in changes,” she said.

Bailey ran for class president as a freshman but didn’t win; however, she’s been class president since sophomore year.

“All of my initial thoughts about what it meant have completely come true,” she said.

She has found SGA to be extremely fulfilling and feels that it has given her a home away from home.

When asked what she felt her biggest contribution was, she responded, “keep-

The Spotlights Issue

The Johns Hopkins News-Letter

ing the mission of class unity and creating a family within our class.”

Like most seniors, Bailey is facing the looming date of graduation. She agrees that it will be bittersweet to go, but she is looking forward to the next stage of her life.

“Leaving [Hopkins] is really sad because you know that you’re never going to be in the same place with all of the same people ever again,” she said. “I have had such a great growing experience throughout college, and I would say that it’s time to move on and grow more.”

Although she doesn’t have her post-graduation plans figured out yet, she’s considering her choices. Bailey interned at Massachusetts General Hospital over the summer, and was invited back to work there next year.

However, she has decided to keep her options open, and she has also applied to Teach for America.

When asked if she had any advice for freshmen, Bailey offered, “You are not the only one who feels the way you feel. I had such a hard time coming into college. Everyone around you looks so happy and puts on facades, you don’t realize they’re feeling the same things, or maybe they’re having a difficult time in other ways.”

“Most importantly,” she added, “if you leave college with a 4.0 and that’s all you have, then you didn’t do it right.”

January 29, 2015

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