I woke up at 7:30 a.m. this morning, the earliest that I have woken up in over three weeks, to take my place as a greeter for the SOHOP program in Mason Hall. Eagerly awaiting admitted high school seniors, I picked a chair in the lobby, one with a prime view of both entrances, and waited. And waited, and waited, and waited.
Finally, 30 minutes later, Ben from Santa Monica, Calif. walked through the imposing french doors. I quickly sprung out of my seat and ran over to shake his hand. “Hi, welcome to Hopkins! My name is Danielle, nice to meet you!” I shuttled Ben over to Kandice, the Mason-Levering walker, who took him to the Great Hall to check in and drop off his luggage. I returned to my seat. And waited.
In the coming half hour, a few prospective high school juniors on a tour trickled in, noticeably intimidated by the over-excited SOHOP girl coming up to mistakenly greet them. Two buses came in from BWI airport, filled with weary-eyed Californians and Ohians that had recently landed on a red eye. I chatted with some Admissions Representatives and tour guides, and recited out loud the Italian presentation that I was to give in less than two hours.
My friend Renee came over to join me — another Mason Hall greeter without anyone to greet. We leafed through some admissions pamphlets and took a post by the doors on either side of the building. A bus pulled up from Penn Station, this one brimming with admitted students from the Northeast, and I introduced myself once more.
I directed them to Kandice who sent them on their way, stood at the door facing the tremendous tent on Decker Quad and watched them walk towards the next four years of their lives.
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