Senior Blog: Class of 2009

Hopkins Cribs: Off Campus Housing

...posted by Stefanie B.

Personally, CRIBS entries are one of my favorite because I clearly remember frantically looking for pictures online as a high school senior.  But I cannot believe that I am composing my final CRIBS entry for SAAB as a college senior.  In the end, I have been extremely pleased with my housing experience at Hopkins.  Every year has been different in one way or another.  Here is a review of my experience at Hopkins, CRIBS style: 

My freshman year, I was placed in a double in McCoy with a sophomore.  This was mainly because I was out of the country the entire summer prior to Hopkins and I was unable to submit my papers on time.  Plus, as JHU_Esther mentioned, Hopkins over enrolled for the Class of 2009 (more love is all).  My roommate  and I never became close friends, but we worked well as roommates.  My major issue was learning to live neatly in a confined space.  Usually, I love to be organized and neat, but I brought way more than I should have my freshman year.   

My sophomore year, I stayed in McCoy in an essentially identical room but with my closer friends my age.  The entire year taught me that it truly doesn't matter necessarily where you live -- it really is about the company.  It was a great year overall -- in fact, it may rank as one of my favorite years in regards to living situation.  My roommate and I talked to each other a lot, and we bonded over our studies, meals, weekend festivities, and etc.  

 

My junior year, I moved off-campus with four of my girlfriends.  We moved to a popular apartment building about five blocks north of campus.  The amenities were fabulous, but the additional walk to get to school was an adjustment (even if it was five blocks).  I shared a room with my previous suitemate (from sophomore year) because my roommate decided to stay on-campus.  The extra space was fabulous -- along with a quickly accessible place to cook and bake -- but the furniture coordinating was a new challenge.  After this experience, I learned to appreciate dorms (and their pre-set furitnure) more!

My senior year, I moved back near campus (directly across from the Mattin Center, essentially where Charles Commons is).  After living in a double for three years, I thought it would be interesting to have a place of my own.  Plus, I knew this was going to be a full year preparing for post-graduation life.  However, I let my friend (a Hopkins alumna) come live with me for 1st semester.  But the photos below show my current space alone. In mid-May, I will be living with two other girls in a row house in Baltimore as Hopkins Nursing students!

But for now, welcome to my humble apartment.  As soon as you walk through the door, there is a little entry room with a shoe-rack, full-length mirror, and some boxes of clothes (where I usually put my jacket for the day).  There are four doors: two leading into walk-in closets, one into the bathroom, and one into the main room. 

 

The main room is large enough for my queen sized bed, a dining room table (which functions as my desk and eating area), my TV stand + television, a bookshelf, and my disk chair.  I think the size is great for one person or even a couple.  The furniture is all used.  The queen sized bed came from Craig's List for $30.  The dining room table was also added after my roommate found her own place because I needed a place to work at home.  It was purchased from Craig's List for $100 (the previous owner also delivered it).  

 

 

The only downside of living alone is being in charge of the cable/internet bill alone.  When you live with more people, the bill is split equally.  However, this independent living has been an experience.  Plus, I am not usually alone too often.  But as I wrote in my previous entries, I have been valuing my alone time so quietness is not unbearable.  The next series of pictures are of the food/kitchen area.  The main room is separated by this next area by a curtain.  The first little room has the fridge, microwave, and tupperware of food.  Then the kitchen is a small area with a mini-oven, stove top, and sink.

 

That's it!  It has been interesting tasting the different flavors of apartment buildings around Baltimore.  I am looking forward to sticking around this city but row-house style!  But before you leave, enjoy the final pictures of my bathroom and disk chair.  This disk chair has been with me since freshman year - never stopped loving it!

  

End of the Term, Still in the Family

...posted by Stefanie B.

The fact that Spring Break is next week is a major marker in the semester.  Term III is officially over (for me) at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.  I am currently debating on whether or not to take Term IV courses - take a look at my options.  Although there are fascinating courses listed, I am trying to most properly allocate my time and energy.  As I mentioned in my previous entry, I am using this semester as a transition period (mentally, physically, and financially).  Anyway, my Term III courses are absolutely fascinating.

1. Health & Homelessness: This course met over four Saturdays (two sessions ran from 9:00am-4:30pm and two sessions ran from 9:00am-12:30pm).  The greatest aspect of this course was the practicum.  In groups, we were required to volunteer at our shelter of choice in Baltimore City.  I chose Sarah's Hope @ Mount Street which is a women's shelter under the umbrella of St. Vincent de Paul.  At the shelter, I engaged in a variety of activities such as serving dinner, doing craft activities with the children, and teaching a parenting course.  The parenting course was my major focus.  With a fellow student in the course (she was a third year medical school student in the MPH program), we developed relationships with 3 to 4 women at the shelter.  The course consisted of three two-hour sessions.  It was such an eye-opening experience!  In the end, the women received official certificates and I walked out with a plethora of ideas for Sarah's Hope.  For example, it would be awesome to see the CSC Margaret Brent Ballet program or the Johns Hopkins Tutorial Project connected to Sarah's Hope!  With 70 women and 30 children in an abandoned school building, the facility could use a lot of community collaboration.

2. Clinical Aspects of Reproductive Health: I absolutely loved this course because it was taught by an OBGYN.  She was obvious that she was an amazing physician.  But her personality is what made the class absolutely interesting and actually boosted the reputation of medical doctors (in my humble opinion).  The class focused primarily on women's reproductive health.  In the end, I was glad to have concentrated my final paper on the vulnerable population of homeless women (as they their health status has been on my mind all term). 

In other news, I have really been thinking about the next year.  As of right now, I am going to the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in June.  This has provoked a lot of thought on Baltimore City.  After the Accepted Students' Day (February 27th), I realized that living in Baltimore City can and will be a very different experience post-graduation.  Here are some thoughts:

Where to live?  After attending a Housing Fair two weeks ago, my cell phone has been constantly ringing with a (410) area code.  There are so many options!  Because I have a car, I am considering moving outside of the typical Charles Village, Mount Vernon, Federal Hill area.  The rent is much lower if I distance myself by a 10 minute car ride.  Plus, I miss the comfort of the "home feel" rather than the busy "student feel" (though I will be exactly that).  As I met my future roommate -- she's a sweet girl from Kansas State -- we ventured around the city in hopes of finding a good fit.  However, the search is continuing!

How to Finance? A major area of concern has been finances.  The Accelerated BSN costs a hefty $90K.  Although nurses are in dire need, the fact that higher education (particularly at well-known institutions) costs a good chunk of change does not change.  However, I have been talking with current SON students and other accepted students.  In the end, the consensus is that Hopkins is "worth it".  I do believe that a BSN degree from JHU will look good for prospective job opportunities.  But I have been weighing my options!  In the end, I guess I will have to re-visit the number of outside scholarship opportunities!

Although I will remain in the city, I think it'll be an entirely different experience.  The interactions amongst my peers will be on a different level.  While each of us bring a unique perspective (as we will all be different ages, from different backgrounds, and more), we will also be on the same page (nursing) and share the same focus and passion for the field.  But it will be ncie to be so close to the Bloomberg School of Public Health as those interactions are priceless.  As I tell all of the prospective students I interview as an Admissions Representative, when you come to Hopkins, you're coming to a huge family!  And there will be some amazingly brilliant people within that family - for example, Provost Kristina Johnson.  When the administration shared her resume when she first signed onto the Provost position, I was thoroughly impressed.  Now, President Obama nominates her to under secretary of Department of Energy?  As JHU President Daniels wrote, "If confirmed by the Senate as under secretary, Provost Johnson will be responsible for leading administration initiatives aimed at promoting energy efficiency and developing solar and wind power, geothermal energy, clean car technology, and other forms of renewable, green energy."  So this is the Hopkins family!  P.S. Also, Donna Vogel is a professor in the School of Medicine.  She was also a top contender in the championship round of Jeopardy! 

Unique Semester(s)

...posted by Stefanie B.

Every year of my undergraduate career has been different.  Because I have poured my energy into a wide variety of activities, I have formed relationships with people from a plethora of circles.  Sadly, it seems I only develop deeper friendships with only a few of them.  Because my closest friends during my first two years have been with older students, I have found myself re-grouping whenever they graduated.  Thus, this shuffle from year-to-year has made every year unique.  My senior year is no different in this regards; however, my "new" friends have been outside of the Hopkins community!  Yes, I have developed new relationships with the new TAs in Chemistry lab, and I have spent time with students at the School of Public Health (via classes) and the School of Medicine (via research in the DiPietro lab).  But my deeper friendships are people at my new church, First Bilingual Christian Church.  It is a very different dynamic as many of them are young, married couples or community college students (which I absolutely love).  It has been a nice balance with the couple of great Hopkins friendships I have (such as the one with JHU_Kate)!  I feel as if I have been dipping my toes into novel mindsets, and I am learning to look at my future outside of the "Hopkins' mindset".  It has challenged me in so many ways, and I am so glad to have been given the opportunity to invest in people very different from myself.     

Other than that, I have adopted the block schedule plan for my finals semester (which is different).  Every Monday and Wednesday, I go to my Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) course then travel to the School of Public Health for research/work/class.  On Tuesday and Thursday, I am usually at the Homewood Campus for classes. Friday is my miscellaneous day - class at the School of Public Health, work at the Homewood Campus (as a TA in Chemistry Lab), then class at BCCC.  Although there are minor overlapping details of each day, the skeleton of my schedule is very compartmentalized.  This semester, I am also spending more time working for pay in order to save up for post-graduation.  With graduation only 3 months away, I feel as if I am on the brink of "growing up".  Though I will remain in Baltimore post-graduation, I will most likely move away from the Homewood Campus (possibly Mount Vernon, Little Italy, Federal Hill, or the like).  Also, although it is unlikely, I would love to live in a house so I can enjoy the luxury of washer/dryer units as well!  It'll be exciting continuing my education with students who are not all my age and coming from similar backgrounds.  For example, one of my classmates is an ex-Marine and 30 years old!  

Lastly, I think I really am enjoying my final semester.  I have been detoxifying my schedule of sheer busyness in order to spend quality time with myself and with other people.  For the past three years, my involvement in different organizations has filled my schedule to the brim leaving no room for self-reflection.  But I think this recent indulgence is setting this semester to be a worthy transition phase.  Rather than allow the natural motions of gradation push me into a new relam, I am choosing to mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially prepare myself for the shift.  So cheers to yet another limitless semester!          

Q: What Classes Are You Taking?

posted by Stefanie B.

Disclaimer: Although this is a text-heavy entry detailing my courses for my final semester at JHU, I always feel like this type of post is necessary.  I think one's choice of classes reveals a lot about his or her interests.  If anything, maybe I will read it in the archived section some day in the future and see if these classes really did leave an impact on my life.  Regardless, please enjoy!

Community colleges deserve more credit.  Although I took Calculus II as a Dual-Enrollment student in high school, I forgot what the atmosphere was like in a community college.  As I shared in my previous post, I decided to take Human Anatomy & Physiology II at the Baltimore City Community College this semester (my last pre-requisite for the School of Nursing) instead of at the College of Notre Dame.  And honestly, my first lecture session on Friday evening was amazing!  The professor is so knowledgeable, and I thoroughly appreciated the students who came from all different backgrounds (many were working full-time and taking night classes).  It truly requires a lot of stamina!  My labs are every Monday and Wednesday from 8:00am-9:30am.  Now, this means I am required to get up around 6:30am which is probably a foreign concept for the majority of JHU students.  But I have realized that I feel better when I get up earlier and start my day at an approrpiate time (like, in the morning).  And the material is actually challenging.  More than any other class in my past, this one is truly presented in an applicable, real world manner.  I will definitely be putting in my share of study time!

Other than that, I have not yet settled in the routine for my Homewood classes.  Although I am taking three classes, I suppose the pressure of a new setting has preoccupied my mind.  But I am very excited for my classes at JHU which include Cultural Factors of Public Health, Introduction to Personality Theory, and Fundamentals of Epidemiology.  The first course, taught by Professor Thomas LaVeist (pronounced "love-east"), is very popular amongst the students.  Disclaimer: I did not realize he had a personal website - check it out!  Interestingly, he actually wrote the textbook we are required to use (a couple of other professors on campus do the same) which is called Minority Populations and Health.  The other two courses are also fascinating thus far.  I chose to take Introduction to Personality Theory as an elective, but Professor Rachel Piferi seems very knowledgeable and caring (and she reminds me of Molly Ringwald).  And lastly, Fundamentals of Epidemiolgy is a core Public Health Studies course and very useful for anyone interested in the health care field.

At the Bloomberg School of Public Health, I am taking two courses as well: Clinical Aspects of Reproductive Health and Health & Homelessness.  After two terms at JHSPH, I recognized my love for the Population, Family, & Reproductive Health department.  This class is taught by Dr. Wanda Nicholson who is an OBGYN by training.  First, I love the manner in which she presents the material as I was very interested in OBGYN back in the day.  Second, the clinical aspects are heavy as she brings in patients for students to question/learn.  Health & Homelessness is a course that draws in students from the medical school, nursing school, and undergraduate campus.  It is a course that has a huge practical component as every student is required to fulfill a 12-hour practicum in a shelter in Baltimore City.  In fact, this will be my main community service project of the semester.  Because Professor Lee Bone has been teaching this course for many, many years, she has a lot of contacts in various community health clinics and homeless shelters.

In the end, the academic aspect of my final undergraduate semester looks great!

It is my Turn to Say it: Time Flies!

....posted by Stefanie B.

First off, I would like to affirm that time quickly passes by!  It really boggles my mind that I am embarking on my last semester as an undergraduate at JHU.  Even today as I was quickly walking downstairs in Garland to grab an add/drop slip at the Registrar's Office, I identified the budding feeling of "having experience".  It was the bliss of comfort and home.

Although the past 3.5 years have swiftly passed by, I have gained so much insight on myself.  The university offered me so many opportunities over the years that I garnered a slew of battle wounds and a basketful of great memories.  I walked onto campus with the afterglow of a stellar high school record and was properly humbled (challenged) in regards to my academic strengths and interests.  Yet, because I am very stubborn, I refused to explore other interests until my third year when a lecture in Fundamentals of Health Policy & Management opened my eyes to the world of nursing.  Now, I am an accepted student to the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (into their accelerated bachelor of science in nursing, BSN and the masters in nursing, MSN programs).  Academically, I shuffled through a wide variety of departments such as Environmental Engineering, Cellular & Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, and Public Health Studies.  In the end, despite the large number of difficult science classes I did not (or will not) need for my future, I cannot deny that I learned a lot along the way.  For example, in Nervous Systems I, although I thoroughly learned about the auditory and visual systems, I am forever grateful that I made a couple of great friends and recognized the great benefits that are embedded in study groups!  

I participated in a collegiate sport (JHU Crew), became the Philanthropy Chair for my sorority (Delta Xi Phi), started a private tutoring business (mathematics, all ages), was a leader in a Christian Fellowship, wrote for the JHU Newsletter as a Staff Writer, interviewed prospective students as an Admissions Representative, became the president of the multicultural club (HAPA), was a TA for Chemistry Lab I & II, was accepted as an RA for AMR I (but sadly did not take up the blessed offer), and more.  Each experience has allowed me to grow in regards to managing different responsibilities and learning to enjoy the often tiresome aspect of good things.  My greatest advice to incoming students is this: allow yourself to explore different organizations, ideas, and even circles of friends in order to further discover who you are and who you want to be in the future.  I particularly have a wide spectrum of "close" friends from a handful of different organizations.  Although I personally prefer to have a single circle of close buddies, I now know that I am indebted to all of my peers because they have challenged me to look outside of my comfort zone.  They have provided me with opportunities to see certain situations from different perspectives.  And in the end, I will take all of their different perspectives with me in my unique collaboration.   

But honestly, although I do have the honor of being "experienced", I do not consider my journey of growth to be waning.  Not in the least!  I am very expectant of this final semester as an undergraduate.  In fact, I am continually placing myself in new surroundings in order to simply grow as an individual.  For example, instead of taking Human Anatomy & Physiology II at the College of Notre Dame this semester, I chose to venture off to Baltimore City Community College.  It is about a 12 minute drive from the Homewood Campus, and I absolutely love it because the environment is completely different than what I am accustomed to!  So I guess I really do feel like the end is not even near.  I will forever be one of those people who are eager to learn irregardless of my age. 

In the end, I do not have to bear the "senior uncertainty".  I can give inquirers a definite answer to my where abouts next year.  But I do feel the excitement of wondering what each and every day will hold for me!

The first picture was taken my freshman year - I am happy to note that the smile is still here!  The second picture is of the Hopkins Crew Team (Women's) - I had the honor of being the coxwain for both the men & women.  Lastly, this is a picture from of a good friend of mine from my freshman year - we still hang out even though she graduated 2 years ago! 

Some Change is Good for the Soul

Posted by Stefanie B.

This is my fourth winter trek back home as a college student.  Since I left home back in Fall 2005 to the university as a wide-eyed freshman, my family has moved a couple of times which implied that I would be returning to a different "home" nearly every winter break.  Although the first three years left me in my similar surroundings of Memphis, Tennessee, this year I am enjoying the novelty of northern Virginia.  A major perk is that I am granted a lot of quality time with my family and myself mainly because I do not have high school friends nearby to "catch up" with.  But surprisingly, as a fourth year undergraduate preparing to graduate college and venture off to the "real world", I think the timing of personal reflection along with deep family sessions is quite perfect. 

So that is what I have been up to this break: reading personal enrichment books, listening to encouraging music, and spending time with my family and myself.  Also, since our new home does not yet have internet or cable television, I am not distracted with Facebook or Gossip Girl or Sex in the City.  In order to keep up with SAAB -- like this journal entry -- I am sitting in a surprisingly crowded Panera Bread on New Year's Eve using the free wi-fi in exchange for a large cup of coffee.  It is amazing what good detaching oneself from the wonders of modern technology will do for one's soul!  It is a very needed mental rejuvenation in order to face my last academic semester as an undergraduate.  Although my courseload is not nearly as heavy, I am taking every measure to make sure I will enjoy myself (for real this time). 

It is pretty amazing that Insession 2009 starts in less than a week!  Although I will not be participating in any academic classes, I will be back in Baltimore for a portion of it to catch up with friends and possibly do research with Dr. DiPietro.  It is nice that I am no longer bound to strict airline schedules because I can be flexible with my return time (since it is only a little over an hour's drive back to Baltimore from my new home).  So this is a note to all high school juniors possibly composing their "potential universities" list right now: although the excitement of venturing far from home is extremely heavy in this season of your life, you may be surprised with a change of heart once the time actually comes.  When I was thinking about the countless options of universities that would be open to me back in the day, this is how I constructed my list: first, I picked out all of the Ivy League schools that interested me; second, I chose "safety" schools in the NE that were far from home.  Although I told myself the distance from home was mainly due to my love for cooler weather, I am pretty sure I craved the physical distance from my parents.  But now, as a fourth year undergraduate, I realize that I would have loved to be closer to my family.  In fact, it probably would have done me a lot more good!  I realized that physical distance is not a prerequisite for establishing independence and a secure self-identity.  These coveted qualities are truly inner-growth processes.

Anyway, that is all for my soap-box spiel.  As the classes at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health start a week earlier than Homewood classes, I will definitely be back in Baltimore by January 19th.  Now that I feel comfortable with myself as an individual, I am even more excited about what is to come in the looming semester.  Last semester was great in and of itself (of which I will share a photo-documentary in the next couple of weeks), but I am pleasantly optimistic for what is to come (good or bad)! 

Snaps for You and Me, Seniors.

...posted by Stefanie B.

CONGRATULATIONS ACCEPTED EARLY DECISION STUDENTS!

All of your hard work -- enhanced by your innately brilliant personalities -- has paid off!  I absolutely loved reading many of your reactions to the news (posted on the Class of '13 Facebook group) especially since they composed of screaming, crying hysterically, and picking people up out of sheer excitement.  In all honesty, it is this enthusiasm embodied in each student that makes JHU such an awesome place.  Luckily, I will be around for another year in the Hopkins community to witness your class change the campus with the heightened enthusasim.

Why, you might ask?  Well, like you, I received some great admissions news recently.  Let me quickly update those who have not had the opportunity to read my previous entries (shameless plug: check out my archived individualized Hopkins Interactive blog "My Life is My Personal Movie").  I initially came to Hopkins fully intending to go into medicine (to become a physician).  Lo and behold -- to make a long, typical story short and semi-sweet -- I realized that four years of medical school did not suit me.  On the other hand, the world of nursing was everything I envisioned my contributions to health and people to be.  It took me until my second semester junior year to appreciate this epiphany.  As I learned about the U.S. nursing shortage in my Fundamentals of Health Policy & Management, I realized that Public Health (my major) and nursing were very intertwined.  So, I finally garnered up the wits to align my strengths and interests and pursue nursing.  Which brings me to today.  I applied to the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in October (to their accelerated Bachelor of Nursing and combined Master of Science, Public Health Nursing).  Well, I got the blessed call on December 9th!  Thus, I will be embarking on my journey to another bachelor's degree in June 2009 (graduating with degree #2 from JHU on July 2010).  Then I will continue with the MSN or the combined MSN-MPH.

Many of you are now twiddling your thumbs and wondering what to do?  Aside from thoroughly celebrating, I have personally decided to continue giving 110% of my efforts in every department of my life while especially paying attention to the people who have thus far shaped my magnificent experience.  This phase of my life would not have been so grand without certain friends and/or mentors.  Anyway, I also have a very long winter vacation to decide how I will devote my time this looming semester.  Up on the platter now include: 12 credits worth of academics (I have yet to do this in my undergraduate career), planning a huge event for May, utilizing the fabulous Recreation Center a lot more (including their work out classes via the fitness pass), and doing research for Dr. Janet DiPietro (the professor I wrote about in this entry).  We will see what else comes up. 

I just cannot believe first semester is over.  Also, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2012!  You survived your first college semester with serious class.

Thanksgiving Lunch as Fuel for Finals

....posted by Stefanie B.

All semester, I have kind of been wishing time to "fly by" for a couple of reasons.  Taking a full course load at three different institutions has made this semester a tad bit rougher; applying to nursing schools has not been too utterly time consuming, but it has played on my emotions a bit (read: anticipation); thinking about graduation and other life changing events that are scheduled to happen at the end of May just calls for a countdown (which I am not a fan of).  Regardless, now that there are only three weeks of school left in the semester, I am pleasantly surprised.  Well, the majority of Hopkins students has only 6 days left of classes -- fourth year Public Health students still have three weeks of classes left.  But still, with less than a month left, time really has gone by quickly.

Thanksgiving break, arriving a little later than usual based on the calendar, was perfect.  It was a short, sweet break that will fuel the student body through finals.  As I mentioned before, reading period is one of my favorite times at Hopkins.  The fact that we are all slowing down (due to the lack of classes) and trudging through massive amounts of information together is kind of heart warming.  This Thanksgiving, I spent time with my family in our new home in Northern Virginia.  I love living in Virginia (as opposed to Tennessee) because of the "feel".  It was nice taking a long walk after eating a carbohydrate heavy Thanksgiving lunch -- we live near an inlet so looking at the boats at the dock was nice.  Plus, I was able to share the moment with a very special friend of mine and his family.  Now, I am back in Baltimore and ready to work (or so I am telling myself).

How to survive finals week?  Honestly, as I shared with the Admissions Counselor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, it really is about enjoying everyday despite the stress that naturally tags along with academics.  If anything, Hopkins has truly taught me this life lesson.  The mind is powerful not only to discover extraordinary things but also to simply help you survive in this fast pace world.  So throughout the next three weeks, I will be reminding myself that it is of utmost importance that I enjoy myself everyday.  Grades are only grades -- the journey is what want to bring up in conversations about the "good old days".  Yes, it will be rough finishing up (Nutritional Biochemistry, Child Health & Development, Developmental Psychology, Human Anatomy & Physiology, and Global Public Health), but life always goes on and (somehow) the work always gets done!

The Best Thing About Being a JHU Senior

...posted by Stefanie B. 

Every Monday and Wednesday, I have class until 8:30pm.  This is the first semester I have ever taken an evening course.  In fact, aside from various science labs and only a handful of random courses here and there, it seems that the Johns Hopkins University tends to stay away from evening classes.  My particular evening course  is Human Anatomy & Physiology which I take at the College of Notre Dame.  Sadly, the second half of this course is until 8:45pm next semester!  But I suppose cutting out the spinal cord in cat cadavers and the prospect of nursing school makes up for the peculiar timing.  I am dwelling so heavily on this topic right now because the end of day light savings has forced me to come home when it is super dark and this morning was my last date with ISIS.  As Esther mentioned, because we are seniors, it was our last time to select courses for next semester.  So this morning, I cuddled up in bed and browsed through the variety of undergraduate classes and registered away. 

But actually, I am in a slightly different situation.  This morning, I signed up for three different courses that had designated overlapping times.  This is not normal at all -- I have simply not made up my mind yet!  Plus, I will be primarily be taking classes at the Bloomberg School of Public Health next semester.  In fact, I only need to take Fundamentals of Epidemiology at the Homewood campus.  But there are so many interesting classes that are luring me in!  For example, I have been itching to take Professor Karl Alexander's Sociology of Education (I already even have the textbook)!  It is truly exciting to have finally discovered what I am interested in for the long haul.  The Public Health and Nursing combination has truly made its mark on my academic life.  And as I mentioned before, taking classes one is actually interested in really shows in one's grades!

One of my favorite things about being a senior is really sharing with the freshman the long road I took to settling on my "passions".  Looking back on my Hopkins experience now, I can see how going down the initially unwelcomed "long" road at Hopkins really enhanced my personal self.  This institution seriously holds the most amazing professors AND peers.  I love how my classmates are interested (and amazingly good) at a variety of things.  Even Liz, an blogger for the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, recently posted about the additional benefit of simply being in the same class with Hopkins students.  So I love reading the Class of 2012's blog entries.  For example, Lauren B wrote confessions of ditching science for writing and the hump she ahd to go over to do that; and Saznin is already learning the lesson of enjoying the journey academia at Hopkins offers.  It really is exciting for me to read because I was there, too.  Although they are light years ahead of me (it took me until my second semester junio year), I know that the little "struggles" they went through thus far will be surprisingly pleasant memories three years down the line. 

I apologize for that lengthy spiel.  It has just been a very enjoyable SAAB season of reading freshmen and sophomore blog entries (check out Lauren C's entry about enduring the sophomore slump and Jessica's new found strategy of staying happy through the rough academic weeks).  Because in the end, every student is marked by these very experiences.  We muddle through a variety of emotions and discover how to properly deal with those extremes.  This school has taught me to persevere even when I have wanted to give up (mainly because I personally pressured myself to carry an engineering courseload which I did not enjoy).  It has taught me to discover myself -- my interests, my strengths, my coping mechanisms, my weaknesses and limits, etc.  And seriously, it was all really needed to go on from here!  I am 100% confident that I will be prepared for nursing school (crossing fingers for JHU Nursing) because of my undergraduate experiences.

Anyway, I suppose I will say good-bye for now.  Seriously, I did not intend on making this entry to farewell-like.  I have to remind myself that I have 1.5 weeks until Thanksgiving and not graduation.  It just shows that this break will be very welcomed on my part.  Thank you, Hopkins family, for making me a stronger, happier person!

The Hopkins Family goes beyond Homewood

Posted by Stefanie B.

Along with fulfilling my nursing school requirements and engaging in nursing school applications, I am thoroughly relishing in another fantastic year with the people of this grand institution.  This year, it is doubly fabulous because I am interacting with members of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Naturally, the faculty are leaders in their field.  But I have found that my peers are also truly growing experts in their interests.  Because they are not innocent undergraduates, they have many stories to tell.  Living in India or working on an American Indian reserve, they have embraced the diverse field of Public Health.  I absolutely love Public Health because it seeps into almost every possible area of study -- it truly is a reality that deserves (and often demands) some attention. 

At the end of last week, we started our second quarter.  Although juggling quarter and semester courses is a balance that needs to be struck, it is well worth the initial discomfort.  First term, I had the great opportunity to take Prenatal & Infant Growth & Development along with Fundamentals of Reproductive Biology.  Both classes not only offered a lot of academic enrichment but also complemented my Homewood classes (like Developmental Psychology).  In fact, my professor for Prenatal & Infant Growth & Development was actually IN my Developmental Psychologytextbook (Dr. Janet DiPietro).  It was great getting two different perspectives on the wonders of fetal development.  In the end, I was able to shape my own perspective on certain issues which ultimately helped me decide which route of nursing I wanted to pursue (Public Health Nursing at JHU SON).  This quarter, I am taking Nutritional Biochemistry and Child Health & Development.  So far, the material is interesting, and the change of pace is welcomed. 

Aside from classes, I have been continuing my activities on the Homewood Campus.  As JHU_Rob mentioned, this past weekend was Greek Weekend and it was great collaborating with the other Greek organizations on campus.  Whether it was at Powderpuff Football or Greek Formal, it was fun meddling in mud and gowns!  After these festivities, I spent Sunday morning at the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.  As the Philanthropy Chair this year of Delta Xi Phi, I was in charge of rallying the girls to raise $1,000 and participate in the 4-mile walk around Baltimore.  Mingling with thousands of members of the community again this year was an exhilarating experience.  Participating in worthy causes is positively addicting!  I think Hopkins should invest in forming a triatholon team in the form of a class -- training together for a semester with the final being the actual event!  Yes, along with collaborating with Pre-Professional Advising to get a Public Health Nursing course for undergraduates, I will try to pitch this idea to someone with authority!