Hey y’all!
I can’t believe my first semester of college is officially over; it honestly felt like time flew by so quickly! I wanted to share some highlights as I reflect on my first semester at Hopkins. Thanks for coming along on the ride!
1) Convocation
I am so thankful to have met these wonderful people during orientation week! O-week was a great way to get introduced to Hopkins and learn about everything it has to offer. I remember feeling so excited to get started with my Hopkins journey on the night of convocation.
2) Exploring Baltimore for the First Time
Baltimore is such a diverse city with rich history and culture, and I feel very lucky to be able to call it home!
3) Celebrating Diwali
It makes me so happy that Hopkins student organizations such as Hindu Students Council allow me to continue celebrating my culture and heritage!
4) Sunsets over Gilman
There were a few times throughout the semester that the sky captured the beauty of campus
5) The Johns Hopkins Debate Team
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I was very involved in debate throughout high school, and I’m so glad I’m able to continue pursuing my passion for public speaking here at Hopkins. The members of the debate team have given me a phenomenal community!
6) Snow!
It was so exciting when it snowed at Hopkins, especially for my friend Qing…she’s from Florida where snow is rather rare! The snow also provided a great view for my 3 hour chemistry lab that morning!
7) Joining Blue Key Society
Joining Blue Key has been one of the best decisions I’ve made! I love writing on this blog, giving tours, and talking about why I love Hopkins!
8) Celebrating the Holidays with SASH (South Asian Students at Hopkins)
As I mentioned before, I am so grateful for student organizations that allow me to keep my culture close to me. I’m also very happy to have met so many incredible people through such organizations!
9) Lighting of the Quads
Lighting of the Quads was the perfect way to get into the spirit of the holidays! We really enjoyed seeing the whole campus come together to celebrate the end of the semester. Also, I am so incredibly grateful for Hopkins giving me some of the greatest friends I could ever ask for. They make being away from home so much easier, and I can’t wait to continue growing and learning with them.
As I think about my first semester at Hopkins, a lot of mixed emotions come up. To be completely honest, at times it was more difficult than anything I’d ever experienced before, and that could be very overwhelming. But, at the same time, my first semester at Hopkins challenged me and honestly made me grow as a person. Sure, classes were a lot of work at times, but the experience was so incredibly rewarding. Looking back, I learned so much this semester, both inside and outside of the classroom, and for that, I am truly grateful. I can’t wait to see what the next 7 semesters hold…
Until Next Time,
Neha