What advice would you give to incoming students?

“Make choices that you’ll be happy to have made in 10 years. Studying and grades are important, but some of the most treasured memories I have were because I chose to take a spontaneous night off to have an adventure. You won’t remember one extra, routine night of studying, but you will remember the time you explored a new part of Baltimore on a random night. Likewise, if you spend all of your time having short-term, fun experiences but not investing in your work, you’ll regret the academic opportunities that you lost.”

“Take advantage of the opportunities here, and don’t take the time for granted; it passes by faster than you know.”

“Try new things! There are so many hidden gems at Hopkins, so check your emails, look at flyers or talk to someone new. You might discover something really special.”

“Don’t feel pressured to find your ‘best friends’ in your first months of college! You don’t stop making friends after freshman year, I promise. I have met some of my closest friends in the most random circumstances, and even with the few days left of university, I am still making friends with people I didn’t know existed. If you seek opportunities that align with your values and goals, you will meet like-minded people who have the same set of morals and priorities. Follow what feels right to you, act genuinely and honestly and your intuition will lead you to great places.”

“When I was a freshman, a senior once told me, ‘Hopkins is tough, but you will grow and learn more here than anywhere else.’ This advice has stayed with me throughout my four years at Hopkins and has kept me extremely motivated. To any first-year students, please make sure you choose something that drives you from within, and you will find your place here at Hopkins.”

“Take time to do things you enjoy and goof off. Being happy is much more important that studying.”

“Never ever be afraid to ask for help or advice because everyone needs it at some point.”

“Take in every moment throughout your four years and realize how lucky we are to have the chance to study and grow at this incredible university. It sounds cliché, but the four years really do fly by. Take advantage of every opportunity, but also know when you are pushing your limits and when to say no. Keep an open mind, don’t compare yourself to others and reach for your dreams. Every once in a while, look behind you and you’ll find a whole army of people cheering you on.”

“My advice to incoming students is that they experience everything they can, that they be open to and hopeful for all that may come and that they approach their lives at Hopkins — and beyond — with joy and resilience. There’s a beautiful poem from Rilke, ‘Go to the Limits of Your Longing,’ in which he writes, ‘Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. / Just keep going. No feeling is final.’”