Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
July 3, 2025 July 3, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

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PATRICK GILLESPIE/CC BY 2.0 Lacey suggests some local businesses to visit while in Baltimore.

Small businesses to look out for in Baltimore

By HELEN LACEY | September 1, 2022

Baltimore is a vibrant city full of small, local businesses. When you’re taking a break from classes this semester, consider supporting the many restaurants and shops found throughout the city. Not only will your visit provide you with fun weekend (or weeknight) plans, it’s also an opportunity to explore Baltimore beyond the typical “Hopkins bubble.” Many of these organizations also support non-profit organizations, making your visit a mutually beneficial decision. Below is a list of just some of the countless small businesses found in Baltimore. 

COURTESY OF SOPHIA PARK An anonymous writer describe their first date at Hopkins.

My first date at Hopkins

By ANONYMOUS | September 1, 2022

We had spoken online throughout the fall of my freshman year, and I eagerly anticipated our first in-person meeting. Our idea of a first date was nothing special. Essentially, in an attempt to be somewhat COVID-conscious, he and I planned to meet up on-campus and drink wine in one of the white tents meant for students to socialize in accordance with public health guidelines. (Sharing a bottle of white wine with a stranger is probably not in line with those guidelines... Sorry Hopkins!)

COURTESY OF CHARLENE HUANG Huang advises freshmen to learn to put themselves first after describing her first kiss experience.

My first kiss (a bad trade)

By TZU HSIEN (CHARLENE) HUANG | September 1, 2022

My first kiss happened in a stuffy, poky bedroom. The room was dark, not unlike a cave. I was on a spring break trip with my new boyfriend at the time, and we shared the same bed in our rental home. The bed, quite dusty, occupied almost the entire length of the bedroom. Beside it was a single-hung window with horrible soundproofing. Throughout the night, I could hear cars zooming past or honking their horns. Not the most romantic setting.

COURTESY OF SOPHIA PARK After dealing with imposter syndrome herself, Li describes strategies on how to tackle imposter syndrome. 

How to overcome imposter syndrome

By ALIZA LI | September 1, 2022

As a rising junior, I wish I could say that I’ve overcome imposter syndrome and have somehow reached full confidence in my abilities, but of course, I still compare myself to others all the time.

COURTESY OF MARVIS GUTIERREZ Gutierrez reflects on their journey of exploring their gender identity at Hopkins.

My journey of gender exploration at Hopkins

By MARVIS GUTIERREZ | May 22, 2022

It was late freshman year when I realized I wouldn’t be able to pass, nor did I want to. On the verge of a crisis, I remember sending a series of panicked texts to my guy friend, asking how I could dress and act more masculine. He responded in confusion and afterward listed the kinds of clothes he wore. However I only felt increasingly alienated, as I’d tried his fashion style before — I had already tried the men’s button-down shirts but could never really “pass.”

COURTESY OF MUHAMMAD ABIDI Abidi discusses the lessons he has learned while planning to graduate in three years.

Graduating early amid a pandemic

By MUHAMMAD ABIDI | May 22, 2022

How do you feel about graduating? I have been asked this question almost every day for the past couple weeks leading up to graduation on May 22. To be entirely honest, I am not quite sure how I feel. As someone who is graduating early after three years, with COVID-19 sending me home for almost a year and a half in the middle, I have certainly not had the “traditional” college experience.

COURTESY OF ALINA PANNONE Pannone and her friends share their favorite places in Baltimore.

Favorite places in Baltimore from '22 grads

By ALINA PANNONE | May 22, 2022

For many of us, Baltimore might not have been the first city that came to mind when we envisioned our college life. But after spending four years here, I've grown to appreciate the city and its hidden gems. So, without further ado, here is a list of places in Baltimore that have become favorites for my friends and I:

COURTESY OF ELIZABETH IM Im discusses her changing mindset in regards to college as she prepares to graduate.

My ever-changing impression of college

By ELIZABETH IM | May 22, 2022

My impression of “college” was a place that determined who you would be, perhaps permanently. This idea haunted me, because I had repeatedly been told that I needed to obtain a certain level of college education in order to start my life right. If not, well, maybe that was it for me. 

COURTESY OF NEHA SANGANA Sangana reflects on learning to enjoy time with herself and to explore Baltimore on her own.

A year of bike rides through Baltimore

By NEHA SANGANA | May 22, 2022

I think it’s fair to say that everyone lost their minds during quarantine in different ways and dealt with it in different ways. Me? You guessed it — I developed an addiction to lazy bike rides in the Texas sun through my suburban neighborhood.

COURTESY OF ANDRE VU Vu discusses the tumultuous path to college as a first-born, first generation student.

On being the firstborn and first in college

By ANDRE VU | May 22, 2022

College was neither a guarantee nor an expectation. It was my only resort. College was a word passed around my community like a looming icon of the mythical “American Dream” — a dream of social mobility, wealth and generational prosperity. My parents fled from their homes, as their families were torn apart along ideological lines, to a foreign land with the hope for a better future: a future of prosperity for their children. 

COURTESY OF HANNA SUH Hanna Suh and Adyant Balaji list the top things to do at Hopkins before graduation.

22 Hopkins things to do before you graduate from ‘22 grads

By HANNA SUH and ADYANT BALAJI | May 22, 2022

While this list compiles a few events and activities that (as the title suggests) must be experienced during your time at Hopkins, it is most enjoyable when they are done completely by accident. We encourage you to spontaneously do random things as well and create your own list. If you find yourself wandering through campus and hear commotion and noise from Arellano Theater, approach it. And always say yes to free food — you’ll find yourself staying for the event. 

COURTESY OF REBECCA MURATORE Muratore reminisces on her time at The News-Letter.

Saying goodbye to The News-Letter

By REBECCA MURATORE | May 22, 2022

Like many freshmen, when I first got to Hopkins I had no idea what I was going to do with my time here. Pacing through the aisles at my first Student Involvement Fair (SIF) and putting my name down for any club that sounded vaguely interesting, I cast a net as wide as I could. Most of those frantic, overeager freshman sign-ups amounted to little more than receiving monthly emails from clubs I never ended up attending. The News-Letter, however, sent the one club email I actually paid attention to.

COURTESY OF RIA ARORA Arora reflects on her first year post-graduation.

When we all graduate, where do we go?

By RIA ARORA | May 22, 2022

Hi Class of 2022,  It’s the most wonderful time of the year: graduation season! With perfectly manicured pictures of your cap and gown, a flurry of “Congrats Grad!” balloons and bottles of champagne, graduation season is (and should be) a time of merriment and joy, celebrating all the hard work you’ve put in for the past four years. 

COURTESY OF ANANTA SRIVASTAVA Srivastava shares some advice and life lessons for her freshman self.

Letter to my freshman self

By ANANTA SRIVASTAVA | May 22, 2022

Dear freshman self, You made it. As cliche as that may sound, I know that wasn’t something you could have easily imagined, especially after your first semester. You are graduating today and are about to begin a new, exciting chapter of your life. These past four years have flown by faster than you could have imagined, and it has definitely been a learning experience. I’m going to do my best to share what I wish I had known when I was in your place. 

COURTESY OF MEGHANA RAVI Ravi discusses how her love for science and creative writing have intertwined to shape her experiences and goals.

Pursuing the intersection of science and the humanities

By MEGHANA RAVI | May 22, 2022

Growing up, I got the impression that people expected me to eventually choose between studying the humanities and science. However, I’ve always felt an equally strong affinity for both. Even in my undergraduate days, which are coming to a close now, I decided to major in both Writing Seminars and Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), because I couldn’t imagine not having either discipline as a part of my life.

WOLFGANG LONIEN/CC BY-SA 2.0 Park reflects on the computer games she played growing up.

A breakdown of the top gaming websites of the 2000s

By SOPHIA PARK | April 21, 2022

As one of the founding members of Gen Z, I was lucky enough to experience firsthand the descent into our current, modern-day internet frenzy. From binging the music videos of iconic Disney superstar Ashley Tisdale to learning how to poke my friends on Facebook, I was a seasoned internet user by the age of 10. 

COURTESY OF LEELA GEBO Leela on her first day of kindergarten.

Growing up in Brooklyn

By LEELA GEBO | April 21, 2022

My childhood is chronicled by the first-day-of-school photos taken on the stoop of the apartment building I grew up in. Though my backpacks, hair and outfits change over the years, the limestone columns and wrought-iron door remain constant behind me. 

COURTESY OF LAURA WADSTEN Wadsten spent countless hours hanging out on the rooftop terrace of Mattin Center.

Back in my day

By LAURA WADSTEN | April 21, 2022

Since I first stepped on campus in 2018, lots has changed (obviously). For the sake of prosperity — and so I can reminisce in pre-pandemic nostalgia — I racked my brain for some places, policies and things that just aren’t what they used to be. For better and worse (mainly better), this school is a different place than it was four years ago. 

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