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College is a transformative time in many people’s lives, and a major aspect of this experience is the people you meet and befriend. However, making friends can seem intimidating when you first step on campus. While there is no single “right” way to go about making friends, here are some things to keep in mind to help you as you begin this chapter of your life.
For a while during my first semester of college, I could not separate Mondays from Tuesdays, Tuesdays from Wednesdays, Wednesdays from Thursdays and so on. My days were a blur of class, some form of lunch from Charles Street Market, studying, dinner and then more studying until midnight at minimum.
Out of the one or two things I learned about college, probably none of them prepared me for the unique obstacles that international students face. Just because I had to figure everything out alone doesn’t mean you have to. So, here are a couple of things I learned.
Buse:
Transitioning to college and beginning that “new college chapter” can seem daunting, especially for those unfamiliar with the University’s surrounding areas. Hopkins is nestled between Charles Village and Hampden, two bustling and charming Baltimore neighborhoods. With such a convenient and lively atmosphere comes an assortment of essentials to ensure your Hopkins experience is safe and worthwhile.
Has anyone ever told you that you need to be an extrovert or outgoing to join a club? Well, I’m here to bust that myth — not with the overused phrase “there’s a place for everyone,” because let’s be honest: life is truly not that black and white. The pressure to define yourself in clear-cut terms can be daunting, to fit yourself in one specific box and feel the need to stay there because you’re afraid of the change that may come from exploring a new part of yourself. I know, because I’ve been there. I thought that freshman year would define me, but over the course of my three years, I’ve learned just how much room there is to grow.
You’ve just arrived at Hopkins, a place where you’ll likely be spending your next four (or five... or eight... or 12...) years. You’re meeting a lot of new people and getting bombarded with endless information from your First-Year Mentor, Resident Advisor and Ron Daniels. While all this may seem overwhelming at first, you’ll get into the swing of things eventually. Here are a few things that helped me — and might help you — settle in and make Homewood Campus your home.
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.
When I first arrived at Hopkins, I was riding the high of graduating high school and coasting off an unforgettable summer. Like many others, I was thrilled — honored even — to be entering such a prestigious institution. I felt that I had made it. That my past successes were enough to carry me forward. That the hardest parts of life were behind me.
Welcome to Hopkins! Here are some words you might commonly hear. One of the first things you’ll pick up is our campus slang. While it’s not an entirely different language, the nicknames for buildings and spots can be confusing at first — especially since they often don’t match what’s on Google Maps. To help clear up the confusion, here’s a quick list of common terms you’ll want to know. It’s not exhaustive, but it’s a great place to start!
I really enjoy coffee. Having a good debrief session with my friends over a coffee or drinking one at the start of the day is one of the best things about it. It’s slightly bitter but also sweet. Some of the best, smoothest coffees have just the right level of aftertaste — tasting clean enough to sip throughout the day but interesting enough to come back for more.
I didn’t expect a classroom to feel like home — not so early, not so suddenly.
Hi everyone! It’s crazy to think that I’m writing the article that will bring to an end my time at Hopkins. Some of you may relate to this sentiment, but when I was applying to colleges, Hopkins was a dream. And it is somewhat confusing and inspiring to realize that I have lived that dream for four years. As this chapter closes, here are some of the Greatest Hits™ from my time at the Nest!
It is with a sense of gratitude — and a little bittersweet tug — that I say goodbye to the community and exciting work that made my four years leading multimedia efforts as Photo Editor of The News-Letter so special. Through taking thousands of photos, crafting dozens of photo essays and developing as a storyteller on the Homewood Campus, I am grateful to be closing this chapter with so many memories to look back on.
As much as I hoped it would be, my first semester of college was nothing like the made-for-TV movie I’d envisioned. I left my dorm door open like my mom told me to, but nobody stopped by. Students sat six feet apart in the dining hall, and, if you wanted to converse with a stranger, your only feasible solution was to shout. Even the Student Involvement Fair, which I’d imagined being the epicenter of student life, was online. Gone were the sweaty limbs pushing past each other in the gym, the carefully painted posters, the obnoxious upperclassmen desperate for names on their sign-up sheet. Instead, it was just me in pajama pants under my twin-XL covers, staring at a screen of Zoom links.
As a two-year editor for the Arts and Entertainment section of The News-Letter, I’ve received some flack for my approach to art criticism, especially in my coverage of Hopkins events. Though rarely said to my face, I’ve heard that my articles haven’t always been received well by certain student artists. I suppose this shouldn’t come as a surprise — one shouldn’t dish out what they can’t take — but it’s hard not to be reflective when I hear about it. It’s hard not to ask: Why did I even decide to publicly critique Hopkins art in the first place?
Lance Xu is a junior completing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and currently conducting cancer research. He is a recipient of the 2025 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. In an interview with The News-Letter, Xu described his research experience and future career plans.
Gavin Wang is a junior completing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, currently researching topics related to astronomy and astrophysics, specifically extrasolar planets. He is a recipient of the 2025 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. In an interview with The News-Letter, Wang described his research experience and future plans.
Edmund Sumpena is a junior completing a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science and Neuroscience. He is a recipient of the 2025 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. In an interview with The News-Letter, Sumpena described his research experience and future plans.
Enoch Toh is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Computer Science (CS). He is a recipient of the 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship. In an interview with The News-Letter, Toh described his research experience and future plans.