Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
July 4, 2025
July 4, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Magazine



MARCO VERCH PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER / CC BY 2.0
Daum provides some ideas for fun fall activities to enjoy at home.

Cozy activities for a perfect night in

The seasons changing offers a perfect excuse to kick back and relax on a cool night. Amid midterm season and the endless stress of college life, we all deserve a break or two. So here are some ways to spend your free time effectively as the weather turns cold, or just to have a cozy night in your dorm.


ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR
Tiwari explains the lasting power of the 2000s TV show Gilmore Girls.

The cultural relevance of Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls was never a hit during its original run. It didn’t win awards or gain a large following, but the show’s Netflix-sponsored revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, and the wave of millennial nostalgia in the past two decades sparked the show’s current fame. Its enduring cultural impact is a hallmark of Gilmore Girls itself; there’s a hard-to-place something about the show that makes it appeal to its large fanbase today. 


JESHOOTS / PEXELS LICENSE
Isaly gives readers recommendations for entertainment to stream this fall.

Fall watchlist: Movies and shows to welcome in fall!

Before the season of nostalgic Christmas movies and cheesy Hallmark Channel love stories comes television with its own unique aesthetic — movies and TV show episodes that simply match September-November energy. The fall season has lots of nostalgic, light-hearted choices to pick from, so here is a list of my top movies and TV shows to watch as the weather starts to cool down. This list purposely excludes horror movies, as they are a category of their own. 


ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR
Liu reflects on the transitional nature of fall.

A season of renewal, a season of many faces

Why is it that we associate the season of fall with endings? The answer seems obvious when we place fall in context with the other seasons. It comes after the bright and warm vitality of summer, and it precedes the barren wasteland of winter. Naturally, we call that process of going from life to death “dying”. Thus, we could think of fall as a melancholic season of endings.


COURTESY OF SHAYNA FAUL
Faul reflects on how the transitional nature of fall mirrors her life.

Stuck in-between

Autumn is the season of in-betweens. It is the soothing nook — a gentle space of transition — between Baltimore’s sweltering summers and its icy winters.


COURTESY OF MOLLY GAHAGEN
Gahagen shares how growing up in the subtropics influenced her love of fall in Baltimore.

A Floridian’s perspective on fall

Coming from South Florida, I grew up experiencing an endless summer, punctuated by the winter ‘cold fronts’ every few years that would bring temperatures down into the 60s. Every day, the weather was warm, the air was humid and the sun was bright. Fall was no different, distinguished from the rest of the year only as being the second half of hurricane season and the tail end of the wet season.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Ahmed describes three enriching courses offered at Hopkins.

My favorite Hopkins classes

As a rising sophomore, I remember being nervous to apply to courses as I was freshly entering college last year. I would wonder, “Is my course load too tough?” or “How can I be sure that I will like the class?” After two semesters of grappling with these thoughts, here is a list of my top three favorite courses (not in any particular order):


COURTESY OF ESTELLE YEUNG
Yeung explains the importance of getting involved in the Baltimore community and various opportunities to do so.

Getting involved with the Baltimore community

It’s important to recognize that you are a student at an elite institution and that this status carries immense privilege with it. You are likely a transient member of the Baltimore community, hopefully here to learn from residents of the city — not only from your educational institution, but from leaders in Baltimore, who are experts in their fields, as well as community members, who are experts on their own experiences.


ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR
Zhu offers ways new Hopkins students can tend to their mental health needs.

Mental health as a freshman

It’s everything you’ve worked toward. It’s what all your high school years have been leading up to. It’s college.  College is one of the biggest transitions — a stepping stone from the more rigid high school setting to the freedom of adulthood. Here, people get a taste of independence, gain new experiences and meet a world of different people.


COURTESY OF ALIZA LI
Li reveals how she budgets time for her academic and social commitments.

Balancing school and a social life

Everything you do has an opportunity cost. More time studying means less time with friends. Going to office hours might mean missing a club meeting. Rather than feeling overwhelmed with all the options while trying to do it all, think about what matters to you most and prioritize those. 


ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR
Garcia details the serendipitous formation of her college friend group.

The groups that connect us

Upon my arrival at Hopkins, it seemed that everyone around me immediately congregated into friend groups. At first, these social clusters were loose and ever-changing, breaking apart and re-forming like schools of fish. I kept hearing people say, “Join as many clubs as you can” and “Put yourself out there.” The hostess at HomeSlyce Pizza Bar told me, “It took me till junior year to find my people. Don’t worry, you’ll get there.”


COURTESY OF MADELYN KYE
Kye explains strategies that helped her cope with homesickness while studying abroad in Paris. 

Dealing with homesickness

Even as a senior at Hopkins, I haven’t exactly mastered control over my own homesickness. Initially, this lack of proficiency was a product of not experiencing much homesickness early on in my time at Hopkins. More recently, during my semester abroad in Paris, I was overwhelmed by how isolated I felt. It’s likely that no one is completely in control of their homesickness, but over the years, I have found a few effective strategies to mitigate dwelling on it.


ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR
Malik lists some useful websites Hopkins students should have in their back pockets.

Must-have websites for freshman year

College is a fast-paced and information-packed environment where it's easy for students to fall behind if not properly prepared. However, in the age of the internet where information is at our fingertips, there is nothing you can't find, learn or utilize online. Here are eight helpful websites you may find helpful during your time in college. Don't forget to bookmark them!


ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR
Liu reminds students who are overwhelmed with work to look after themselves.

Feeling overwhelmed with coursework

So you’re feeling overwhelmed with coursework... The funny thing about time management is that it is neither about time nor management. During my first semester at Hopkins, I had almost 700 pages of required readings a week. Between that, an on-campus job, application essays and various extracurriculars, I was overwhelmed and fell behind on my responsibilities. Being diligent with a calendar and checking boxes in a planner only goes so far when there are only 24 hours a day and seven days a week.


COURTESY OF SHAYNA FAUL
As a native of the area, McShea discusses Hopkins students’ relationships with the city of Baltimore.

Beyond the Hopkins bubble

There are a few terms and phrases which are endlessly repeated in Hopkins small talk and have varying importance. If you’ve ever heard someone discuss how they “want to become more involved” or how they need to “find their people,” then you’ve already witnessed what I would name the “Hopkins anxiety” or more simply, “Hopkins FOMO.” Basically, everyone is constantly anxious to make new connections and further their career. Just another part of the ambition that Hopkins requires.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Felton gives incoming freshmen advice he wishes he had his freshman year.

What I wish I knew freshman year

Freshman year of college is a thrilling experience. As you begin this new chapter of life, you’ll be bombarded with opinions, expectations and responsibilities. Looking back, there are several crucial lessons and insights that many students wish they had known before stepping foot on campus.


COURTESY OF ZACHARY BAHAR
Bahar advises new students on creating and managing friendships at Hopkins.

Finding your place at Hopkins

“Welcome to Hopkins! We’re glad you’re here!” Over the next few weeks, you will hear variations of these words more times than you can count. You will be inundated with invitations to the new world in which you find yourself. Maybe Hopkins feels wholly foreign to you or maybe it feels natural. In either case, you will need time to explore it and find your place. I urge you to savor this time.


COURTESY OF CATHARINA AUSFAHL
John provides an array of study spots to choose from across the Hopkins campuses.

Places to study on campus

Welcome to Hopkins! As a student, a lot of your time is unfortunately taken up by studying for your upcoming midterm or finishing up a problem set. Fortunately, our campus is filled with a plethora of places to study, and, depending on your mood, you can always find a new place to get some work done. 


ARANTZA GARCIA / DESIGN AND LAYOUT EDITOR
Lacey explains the transportation options available to Hopkins students looking to get around Baltimore. 

Guide to getting around Baltimore

There are abundant options for getting around Baltimore without a car while living on or near the Homewood Campus. From local buses to Hopkins-specific transportation options, exploring Baltimore at a low cost is easy.


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