Class of 2020

On reaching the end: my Hopkins story

I never thought I’d make it to graduation, and I mean this in every single literal sense. When I first became depressed, I was convinced that the campus was poisoning me, infusing me with a sadness that was not my own. I desperately searched left and right for reasons outside myself. 

A letter to my freshman self

Dear freshman self,

I know I’m not actually writing to a seventeen year-old me in a parallel universe. I can’t turn back the clock to relive the highs of my Hopkins experience or correct the mistakes I’ve made. However, I hope that this letter might be useful to incoming and current freshmen. 

What you didn't know when you applied to Hopkins

The past three years have been some of the most personally challenging and enjoyable of my life. From the friendships formed in the traditional dorm halls of the AMRs or the long nights spent alone in a study room closed off to the world, Hopkins has given me some great times. It does feel a little strange that I’m graduating because I don’t feel any different as an unemployed adult versus as a full-time student. 

Fantastic places and where to find them

As a tribute to our four years at Hopkins, we’ve mapped out the places we’ve visited in Baltimore, quickly realizing that while these places make it difficult to say goodbye, they also remind us of happy memories we will cherish forever. We wanted to share our favorite spots in hopes you’ll enjoy them as much as we did. 

The meaning of a college degree

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only about 33 percent of Americans 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree.  

When I first heard this statistic, I was rather shocked. Throughout my life, my family has ingrained in me the importance of education. I asked myself, “Why do others fail to share these values?” Like many other Hopkins students, my parents are immigrants who traveled to the U.S. for a chance at a more equitable life.