Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
March 9, 2026 March 9, 2026 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Voices

Hopkins is a diverse university where an incredible mix of cultures, academic interests and personalities coexist and thrive. Here is the section where you can publish your unique thoughts, ideas and perspectives on life at Hopkins and beyond.

DARIA SHEVTSOVA/PEXELS LICENSE Limpe works to bring more positivity into her life through routine and the power of thought.

Becoming my version of “that girl” this new year

By MICHELLE LIMPE | March 15, 2022

This new year, I made a personal commitment to make a change in my life: Be more positive. Even if this seems simple, developing a positive mindset was something that I always struggled with over the years and never made a priority. Upon reflecting on my 2021 and setting goals for the new year, I realized that cultivating positivity does not have to be a drastic change but rather should be incorporated into my everyday actions and outlook on life.

COURTESY OF MADELYN KYE Kye looks back at her family’s December tradition of gathering at her aunt’s log cabin.

My aunt’s log cabin

By MADELYN KYE | March 8, 2022

The Decembers of my childhood shared one constant: a weekend trip to my aunt Dolores’ log cabin in New Hampshire. Years ago, the house was built by my great-grandfather, grandfather and other relatives of mine, and it has maintained its place in the family ever since, hosting many annual gatherings during which all of my relatives pack into the cozy kitchen and living room. 

COURTESY OF SUDHA YADAV Yadav looks back on a year of graduate school and the lessons it has taught her.

Flipping the hourglass for another year

By SUDHA YADAV | March 2, 2022

After a month-long vacation and my first break since starting graduate school, I am back from India. Last year passed so quickly, I still cannot believe that I am a graduate student. 

COURTESY OF JACKIE RITTENHOUSE Rittenhouse expresses gratitude for the friends who have shaped her life.

Ode to my friends

By JACKIE RITTENHOUSE | February 28, 2022

For the very first time in my life, I am living on a different continent than everyone I have ever known. The more than 5,000 miles between myself and all my loved ones have definitely proven that saying Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

COURTESY OF JACKIE RITTENHOUSE Rittenhouse describes her hopes for her semester abroad in Amsterdam. 

Dear future me

By JACKIE RITTENHOUSE | February 20, 2022

Dear Me, You’ve just finished a semester abroad in the Netherlands. Congratulations! It finally happened despite the continued global pandemic and unprecedented times. 

COURTESY OF ABIGAIL TUSCHMAN Tuschman explores her mixed feelings about growing older.

Birthday cake is bittersweet

By ABIGAIL TUSCHMAN | February 15, 2022

This year I blew out my birthday candles a week early. It’s the first time I’ve been away from my family for the big day, so before I left for Baltimore, we sang around a Publix cake on the kitchen island. 

KELLY SIKKEMA/UNSPLASH LICENSE Paulisich learns to love despite the potential for pain.

Construction paper hearts

By CHRISTIAN PAULISICH | February 14, 2022

On a morning walk with two of my best friends, bundled in our winter coats like pigs in a blanket, we realize that this year, we all have Valentines. It’s almost hard to believe. How could we all be happy at the same time? Is there enough space in the atmosphere for all our smiles? 

COURTESY OF AASHI MENDPARA Mendpara details how she found contentment after a breakup.

What my first relationship taught me about self-love

By AASHI MENDPARA | February 14, 2022

My first boyfriend was an interesting man. He was a phenomenal cellist that never really practiced, a swimmer that hated the way chlorine made his fingers feel and the biggest foodie I had ever met (that has very much changed since getting to Hopkins). We were very similar; everyone made it a point to tell us and we knew it, too. 

COURTESY OF MADELYN KYE Kye looks back fondly on the French classes she took before coming to Hopkins.

My high school French class

By MADELYN KYE | February 8, 2022

As an International Studies major, I am required to take a foreign language. For freshman fall, I signed up for Intermediate French I, feeling excited for what was ahead in college but nostalgic for my experiences with French before college. Namely, the six years of French I took in Huntington, N.Y.

COURTESY OF MICHELLE LIMPE Limpe describes her unconventional Christmas, made special by her parents’ surprise visit to the U.S.

(Not) home for the holidays

By MICHELLE LIMPE | January 29, 2022

Among the many things in life that have been affected by the pandemic, my Christmases are one of them. Rather than whisking away to the winters of China to spend Christmas Day with family there, our first pandemic holiday last year was spent at home under the Philippines’ heat due to travel restrictions and COVID-19 surges. At that time, I was still taking online classes on a nocturnal schedule. 

COURTESY OF AASHNA SUNDESHA As graduation approaches, Sundesha looks back on all her favorite experiences at Hopkins.

My college bucket list

By AASHNA SUNDESHA | January 28, 2022

Last semester, I experienced the first of many lasts as a senior. I know. Weird. The thought that I am going to graduate in less than six months is beyond fathomable right now because I’m still not over how fast last year went by.

Swallowing vinegar

By ALIZA LI | December 3, 2021

Once when I was young my mother brought home a bag of kumquats, a dozen of them, small and ripe, picked from a friend’s tree. I ate quickly, swallowing chunk after chunk of fruit until one of the chunks was a little too large for my throat.

COURTESY OF AASHI MENDPARA Since she was a child, Mendpara has documented her memories in the form of stickers.

Why I cherish my sticker collection

By AASHI MENDPARA | November 29, 2021

My life savings are stored in seven 5.5 x 8.5 faux leather journals. A bit odd, but it’s true. When I was a child, and someone asked me the classic “If you had to save three things during a fire, what would they be?” my answer was always (in this order) my dog, my glasses and my journals. 

A sacred name or a deadname?

By ANONYMOUS HOPKINS ALUM | November 23, 2021

A pain surged in my chest when I saw the pictures side-by-side on the wall. Even though I transitioned years ago, I tend to be very protective of that old self because of the backlash that I experienced at Hopkins in going from one state of being to another. 

COURTESY OF MADELYN KYE Kye reminisces on the vibrant Thanksgivings of her childhood in Asharoken, N.Y.

Thanksgiving on the beach

By MADELYN KYE | November 22, 2021

It’s been several years since my grandparents left Asharoken, but I cannot stop imagining Thanksgivings on the beach. 

PHOTO EDITOR/MIRI CAZES Iyer and Salem express their frustration with the University’s waste disposal process.

Are we trash or is the system trash?

By DIKSHA IYER and LAURA SALEM | November 19, 2021

Hopkins presents the unified aim of managing waste and reducing any harmful release of chemicals into the environment. The University encourages all members of the faculty and student body to participate in this goal in the name of sustainability. 

COURTESY OF MICHELLE LIMPE After dancing in the SLAM Showcase, Limpe reflects on her experiences with Eclectics Dance Group.

Dance like nobody’s watching

By MICHELLE LIMPE | November 15, 2021

5, 6, 7, 8... Step here... Spin... Wait, shoot, I missed a beat. It’s okay. As the choreo chairs like to tell us, the audience won’t know you messed up if you exude confidence in your movements. 

Reflecting on my indecisiveness

By SHELBY YORK | November 15, 2021

I’m an indecisive person. Deciding where to eat for lunch is as difficult a choice for me to make as deciding my majors was. I go over the options relentlessly until I feel (mostly) confident I’m making the right choice. I find it nearly impossible to act spontaneously.

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