In the end, every “first” I met at Hopkins — person, place, moment — taught me something about who I was and who I could become. I didn’t expect a campus, a group of strangers, a pile of dirty laundry or a lost friendship to matter this much. But they did. And that’s the real secret of firsts: you don’t get to choose which ones last.
To my first college best friend
I love you. I don’t think either of us gets the chance to say it enough but you helped me get through these first two years of college. I love you for the elaborate birthday celebrations, the random doodles in the margin of my notes, the impeccably clean bathroom and the devastating case of food poisoning I caught from you (I’m not as thankful for that last one but at least we had fun in the ER).
I love you for being my partner in crime, for the rants and giggles and tears over guys and classes, for being my new Costco wonton supplier, for living with me last year and for signing a lease for our first apartment together this year. I can’t wait to make a hundred new memories in the next two years, hopefully less of them involving one of us ending up in a hospital. :))
To the first org I joined on campus
It feels very meta to write a letter to The News-Letter in The News-Letter but I think it’s fitting — you transformed my time at Hopkins more than I ever expected.
I came to college not fully knowing what I enjoyed outside of medicine. In a sea of Hopkins students who seemed to have everything figured out, I felt alone. Everyone else had passions — dance, rock climbing or just playing video games. I didn’t. I was scared to try something that I’d end up just giving up on.
But then I joined you. At first, it was easy. I was writing about silly little science events to hear people talk about their research. But everything changed as I met the people behind the paper. I became enamored with the environment and yearned to transform it so everyone would love the paper like I did.
You gave me space to rediscover my love for writing and surrounded me with passionate, opinionated people who love immersing themselves in Hopkins and Baltimore. I’ve learned so much about this community simply by reading and editing your pieces, and I can’t wait to see how you change and evolve.
To my first Hopkins “friend group”
It’s crazy that I met my closest friends through what most would describe as the most nerdy, academics-heavy set of activities. As a shy freshman, I was terrified the first few times I met you all. You seemed so motivated, so driven as though you had your whole lives planned out. Becoming so close with you all was the last thing I expected to happen in my BME design team.
For once, I could just enjoy the ride — letting someone else plan the hangouts. D.C. trips, Six Flags, horror movies at Towson Cinemark, 3 a.m. testing at Clark Hall — it was all worth it.
Thank you for everything: the takeout orders when we forgot to eat, the notes and extra help, the course advice, the food and coffee recs. Thank you for becoming more than just friends to me. Thank you for being my forever family.
And finally... to the first friend I lost at Hopkins
I’d always been an explorer and you were always the first person I’d go to when I wanted to see something new.
But the moments I truly cherished were our quiet ones — eating momos from Harbor Tandoor or mapo tofu from Orient Express, watching “Jeopardy!” in my living room. You brought joy to study sessions, late-night projects and shared Brody coffees that wrecked your stomach. Around you, my best traits and worst flaws surfaced — I was fully myself.
You helped me understand what I loved and hated about myself; you helped me figure out the best way to take on the world and try new things.
I’m eternally grateful to you for all of it. I don’t regret a second of our time together, and I will always wish we had more. If anything, losing you, my closest friend, taught me to hold onto the rest of my life even tighter.
So, thank you for your company while I had it. So long, and thanks for all the momos.
Shreya Tiwari is a junior majoring in Biomedical Engineering from Austin, Texas. She is a Managing Editor for The News-Letter.
