As a freshman, there seems to be endless things to look for: your dorm key, where your classes are, the best coffee order on the Brody menu and the answers for that weekly assignment. To have “found” something often implies that you were once aware of its absence, or were in need of it to the point where you were searching for something that you felt empty without. But what does it mean to find your “place” among thousands of new students and hundreds of new opportunities in a new chapter of life? Being a senior myself, I feel like it wouldn’t be my last Cover Letter without imparting some kind of advice to readers from the incoming class. So if you’re ever feeling like you have yet to find your place at Hopkins, here’s a list of some places to look:
In the class you registered for since you didn’t get into your first choice
By now, you may know it all too well already: waking up suspiciously early to log onto SIS and enter the battlefield to register for your classes in the hopes of crafting the perfect ideal schedule. Yet, there will be some times where you end up getting your second or third choice class, whether it’s because of prerequisite requirements, low class seat availability or just plain internet bandwidth issues (one semester, a friend of mine walked from McCoy to Gilman for better Wi-Fi chances). Although the initial disappointment is understandable, you might find that your second choice class was more interesting than you thought.
Putting yourself in new and maybe unexpected environments will help you find your people during the beginnings of your first year. You might learn that you’re interested in things that you might not even know existed before college. And if you aren’t, that’s still some useful information to use going forward. Regardless, it’s helpful to think of setbacks as opportunities to calibrate your college path, and who knows; you might discover something interesting during the process.
Student Involvement Fair (SIF)
If you’re not sure what you’re looking to do in your spare time at Hopkins, SIF will have something to catch your eye. Whether it’s crocheting or debate, if you can think of a hobby, there’s probably a club for it. Hundreds of student associations gather for SIF and try to recruit new members (us included), so it’s definitely a place to look if you’re feeling up for wandering around booths. I joined The News-Letter after hearing about it at SIF, and I had my eye on it since I was interested in doing something related to publishing and journalism. It was one of the best decisions I made in college, and I’ve met so many brilliant and passionate people through the paper.
Many of these clubs are looking for freshmen as well, as recruiting new members keeps the club alive and keeps the student body interested in what they have to offer. Even if you have the slightest impulse about the club, there’s no harm in going to one general body meeting or event! If anything, you’ll meet some new people. If nothing else, the mere act of walking through countless lines of people through deafening noise and club members making slightly uncomfortable eye contact with you perhaps builds character itself. There’s bound to be something for everyone, so make sure not to miss this opportunity!
On a new walking route back to your dorm
Figuring out where things are on campus was one of the most nerve-wracking things for me in my freshman year. My high school was a small one, both in physical size and class size. I could walk around the entire square-shaped campus in less than five minutes if I really wanted to; so despite Hopkins having a medium-sized campus, it was still a pretty noticeable change for me. Being the type of person that needs to know the exact parking situation before driving to meet my friends, remembering where the buildings and entrances were at Hopkins and how to get to my classes was a whole ordeal. But once I figured out where certain walkways connected and where all the shortcuts were, finding my way around campus didn’t feel as daunting as it first seemed.
Sometimes, a different angle or a change of pace is what you might need in order to find what you’re looking for. Using a different walking route may end up in you noticing things you haven’t noticed before, like a new cafe to try or an interesting building you might look up online later. Plus, it’s a relatively easy thing to do once you’re somewhat familiar with the campus layout. Intentionally breaking your routine can help you feel less confined by things that may seem difficult or overwhelming, and put things into perspective. Although the detour may take longer than your preferred route, the possibility of finding something new makes it worth the extra time.
The Gatehouse
There is a small building nestled right next to one of the side entrances of campus near the Baltimore Museum of Art, with stone walls and a sloping roof that is often covered with branches and other debris. If you look closely, there is actually a sign near the roof that reads, “NEWS LETTER OFFICE.” On some late nights, the lights will be on, and you might find yourself wondering what’s going on in there. As the home of The News-Letter, the Gatehouse is where all our staff editors gather to have meetings, work on our print editions or just hang out in our spare time. As a staff member myself, it seems only fitting to promote the paper in my magazine piece here. There are so many different sections within the paper that there’s bound to be something for everyone, whether that’s as a guest writer or a reader.
So when you’re passing by that side of campus and see the quaint little building, I promise you that it has a purpose (and a great one at that). The printed newspapers lying around campus every few weeks are direct products of our staff’s efforts, and your writing could even be featured in it. We are always looking for new writers, and almost any idea of yours can be turned into a great piece. Putting your unique individual perspective into words and out into the world is one of the most important parts of the college experience, and the Gatehouse is where all those stories begin to be delivered to the Hopkins community.
How to know when you’ve “found” it?
With all these places that I’ve recommended where you might find your place at Hopkins, it may still be difficult to know when exactly you’ve “found it.” In reality, your role at Hopkins may not necessarily be something you can touch or actually carry around, so knowing when you’ve come across it can be hard. Personally, I believe that your “place” is not something that is inherently stationary or static, but rather, something that changes the shape of your character and helps you move toward your greater goals in life. Whether you know what that dream is or you’re still figuring it out, the “place” that is meant for you at Hopkins is one that makes you feel like the stepping stones toward that goal are things that you are capable of reaching.
Freshman year is a time of exploring your identity. There have been many times where I’ve wondered whether I belong at Hopkins, and perhaps it is in human nature to compare ourselves to others and compete. Hustle culture and impostor syndrome are rampant nowadays, especially as the world grows more advanced and there are increasingly more problems to solve. But every one of you freshmen deserve to be at Hopkins in one way or another. In a student body culture dominated by pre-meds and STEM majors, either fitting in or feeling unique are often struggles. Instead of questioning whether you belong here, spend your time considering how you belong here, and in what ways you can contribute. Lean into the things you are passionate about, no matter how minor or seemingly trivial. What can start as a small hobby or interest can become your greatest strength.
As a senior, there still seems to be endless things to look for: your club merch hoodie, that one research paper template from sophomore year, a job for postgrad and maybe even the energy to do those dense readings for the week. Throughout your journey here (and my own), there will be times of struggle, when the tide suddenly swells or a rip current forms right under you. But there will also be good times to match: clear skies, a nice breeze and calm tides. Because there is so much change in freshman year, moments of uncertainty are all but inevitable. Learning how to float with its current, rather than against it, will lead to greater clarity when all you see are gray skies. And who knows, maybe the current will carry you to a place where you were always meant to find.
Ayden Min is a senior majoring in International Studies from Los Angeles, Calif. She is a Managing Editor for The News-Letter.
