At the end of the day, the strong friendships that make it past freshman year aren't the ones with the most dramatic origin story. Your best friends will probably be the ones who keep showing up.
Through these explorations, I got to try and learn more about various nearby cafes throughout Baltimore. Here are some of my top finds, all of which feature Wi-Fi, outlets (a necessity for my laptop, whose battery pretty much requires life support) and a wide variety of caffeinated beverages.
Our Cover Letter would be incomplete if it didn’t include a guide to joining The News-Letter!
I remember when I first started this process, it felt like I was chasing the end of a rainbow. I can assure you that with enough patience and persistence, you will find a research position as a Hopkins student regardless of your previous experience or starting point.
I discovered hidden corners, favorite coffee spots and cozy lounges. Some of my favorite memories came from camping out in these spaces with friends during reading week or doing a “study crawl” across campus.
So, do not be afraid to ask questions, seek help and take risks. Congratulations on being accepted to such a fine institution — now go out there and be amazing!
You just have to take it one day at a time by doing what calls to you, and the best version of yourself will emerge from that process. Happy discovering!
You are allowed to change directions. Be the owner of your life, because you’re the main character and the director.
The ocean of the humanities is deeper than it might first appear, but you can’t learn how to swim without getting in the water.
The History major should not be considered solely by pre-law students or hopeful academics. Its practical purposes exist in the ability to analyze contradictory sources, recognize areas where academic study is currently incomplete and identify the successes and failures of existing interpretations of our common history.
These are just a few of the restaurants that made my freshman year memorable, and I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did.
Be open to meeting new people, give your residence hall a chance, and remember that home isn't created by the building itself. It's created by the community you build inside it.
Getting outside of the ‘Hopkins bubble’ is very important for your enjoyment of the city. Whether you want to visit the National Aquarium, check out restaurants in Federal Hill or see our nation’s capital, know you don’t always have to get behind the wheel to do it.
I was waiting for college to end so I could return to it. Homesickness thus called me to be honest with my feelings and the ways I could face it proactively rather than suppress.
Here are a few (hopefully) helpful points about making campus your new home, coming from someone who was completely unfamiliar with Baltimore before freshman year.
Fells Point, a historical port city, was settled by William Fell in the early 18th century and given its grid design by Fell’s son, Edward. The neighborhood served as a major hub of movement in America during the 19th and 20th centuries.
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.
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.
An archive, a record, a representation — no matter how it's spun, The News-Letter’s identity is rooted in the students. Write for us. We want to hear what you have to say.
What actually matters is this: taking care of your mental health as a freshman means deciding to set aside time for yourself, not feeling guilty about it and recognizing that it doesn't have to be big or perfect.
