With nearly 400 student organizations on campus, there is no shortage of clubs at Hopkins, but finding where you belong can be a daunting task. While the University organizes events like the iconic, semesterly Student Involvement Fair (SIF) or brings together a list of events occurring on campus through HopkinsGroups to help students connect with clubs, just knowing which organizations exist doesn’t always mean you’ll immediately find which clubs you fit in with. That’s where I hope to shed some light.
Like most freshmen, I used SIF as my opportunity to join every club I could think of. If it piqued my interest, my name was on the signup sheet. What I quickly realized, however, was how unfeasible my plan was. Within a week, my inbox was flooded with emails from clubs I barely even remembered, bombarding me with reminders to fill out the application forms. I never thought that club sign-ups could be that overwhelming, but now that I’ve gone through it, I can offer you some advice on how to avoid the stress of extracurricular sign ups.
I’ve compiled a list of clubs that I stuck with throughout my freshman year, and I hope that they give you some guidance on how to approach your freshman fall.
The Johns Hopkins News-Letter
I wouldn’t be much of a staff member if I didn’t plug The News-Letter as my number-one recommendation for which clubs to join. I joined the staff during the beginning of my freshman fall as a Copy Editor, a position I’ve grown to love. While I didn’t know any people on the editorial staff prior to joining, within a few weeks, I quickly grew to recognize my place. Whether it was through the various social events that the staff hosted or saying “hi” to familiar faces around campus, being on The News-Letter has been one of the highlights of my freshman year, and I encourage all new students who are interested in writing to give it a chance. Whether your interest lies in news, science or the arts, the various sections of the publication mean that everyone can explore their interests with us.
Thread
While technically not an on-campus organization, Thread is a great club to join if you want to break out of the Hopkins Bubble and get involved with the Baltimore community. The organization partners you with a high school student from Baltimore who needs a peer mentor, and you act as their “family member” for as long as they need. The club’s requirements are minimal: interact with your young person once per week and meet with your “family” once a month. Through my time with Thread, I've formed a meaningful connection with my mentee, and by working with them, I’ve learned skills that I can take with me for the rest of my life, including navigating challenging scenarios.
I joined Thread and found out how I fit in the club by attending an info session, which was something my friend suggested. Even though I had never met the people at the meeting before, I was greeted with such hospitality and kindness that I immediately knew that I would want to stick with the club. The leadership team at Thread makes everyone feel welcome, and the highly customizable nature of the club means that finding your place is effortless.
SHARE
The final club I stuck with in my freshman year is known as SHARE, which stands for “Supporting Hospitals Abroad with Resources and Equipment.” SHARE is a low-commitment, high-impact organization that exposes students to the healthcare industry in a unique way. Students spend time sorting through expiring medical supplies in the Hopkins Hospital to donate them abroad for communities that are in need. The way I made SHARE enjoyable my freshman year is by going to the hospital with my friends and making it a social activity. We’ll bring speakers to the sorting room and talk while we sort, making the hours fly by. Additionally, SHARE meets once per month for our general body meetings, where we learn about new medical devices and how to gain additional hospital exposure, like signing up for shadowing or connecting with physicians. Despite the low time commitment, it is also one of the most fun clubs you can get involved with.
Those are just a few of the hundreds of clubs that you can join, and in my opinion, some of the best ones. Have fun finding your place on campus!
Ayan Chaganthi is a sophomore from Atlanta, Ga. majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He is a Copy Editor for The News-Letter.
