Class of 2013: Freshman Blog

This is Tyler D., and I approve this Message

Posted by: Tyler D. 

So before I decided to come to Hopkins, I was a little concerned about the campus's political energy. I come from a union lovin', social security backin', full out FDR'ed family and have a certain set of political opinions. Hopkins is technically below the Mason Dixon line and the whole Mid-Atlantic conundrum freaked me out a bit. College students are renowned for being more radical than their parents, and I did not want to miss out on the experience of youthful political disenchantment. 

So I thought that I could share my thoughts on Hopkins's political zeitgeist and offer some examples on the political events that pass through here (no bra burnings yet, though). Overall, I have found the campus to be pretty moderate in respect to the New England schools I also visited. However, this wide variety is great in guaranteeing that everyone is going to find their political soulmate on campus. Yes, that goes for you apathetic people out there as well. 

One great event that is starting in the spring is the Foreign Affairs Symposium speaker events. The Foreign Affairs Symposium (which I am not on, so this is a neutral endorsement) is a group of students that works to bring interesting speakers to campus. With Hopkins being so close to Washington, students are guaranteed to have access to the world's most interesting figures. However, who is going to deny the convenience of having a speaker show up right at Shriver Hall??

 

 This picture is trying to reflect how pretty Hopkins looked last night in the snow. It's not quite there.

Last night, I attended a speech by Nicholas Kristof who is an op-ed writer for the New York Times. No matter what your newspaper allegiance is (Wall Street Journal vs. NY Times vs. Baltimore's City Paper), no one can deny the popularity and fame of Kristof's column. A link here. His writings generally focus on the inequality issues in developing nations and last night his talk completely centered on gender inequality. His topic completely surprised me & while I disagreed with some of his topics, I couldn't deny how much I enjoyed supporting this event. 

 

 

As for the rest of the semester, the speaker list is included on FAS's website. The speakers do not have the same name recognition as the speakers Hopkins hosts for MSE Symposium. However, this leads to a more productive conversation and less celeb gushing. 

The speakers I definitely am going to see: 

FBI Director Robert Mueller III

First Sgt. (Ret.) Matthew Eversmann (the guy Josh Hartnett played in "Black Hawk Down")

 

Need I further explain why I'm going? 

Lisa Jackson (Administrator of the EPA)

I would also like to mention that there are political speakers from other universities about once a week courtesy of the Political Science Department. And I am plugging JHU's political magazine JHU Politik (which Jackie is really involved with and I am writing my second article for). 

Anyway, I hope this has given some insight into the political climate at Hopkins. 

In the name of my lover Obama, 

Tyler 

JHU Model U.N.

Posted by: Tyler D. 

Student Organization Name: JHU Model U.N.  

Category of Group: Special Interest

Your Name: Tyler Dougherty  

Your Year: 2013

Your Hometown: Ocean City, NJ

Your Position: Member/ Moderator

It all started while watching a Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen movie. The 2001 cinematic masterpiece, “Winning London,” showcases the two young women attending a Model U.N. conference in London, England. You know, just a weekend getaway.

While I forget the details, Mary Kate & Ashley are faced with some adversity and fabulously overcome it all the while staying cute in painfully coordinated outfits. So, obviously I wanted to attend one of these “conferences” where I met a group of multi-cultural students and was able to save the day, steal the show, and somehow find a cute boy with an English accent.

 

As I left my tween years, however, I learned that my high school did not offer a Model U.N. club! I could not handle the jealousy I had of the students from other schools who had the ability to travel to various cities and colleges and strut their stuff to the Security Council. But after attending the student activities fair during my first week here at JHU, I was happily surprised by the lovely Model U.N. club.

Actually, there are two Model U.N. clubs. One club is focused on attending other colleges’ events and competing in them while the other Model U.N. club at Hopkins hosts its own conference for high-schoolers. I am a member of the latter and loving it.

 There are mixed levels of experience among the members. Some are like me and have never uttered one syllable of Model U.N. speak while others are seasoned pros from their high school years. In September, the selection process begins with a written application.  Prospective Model U.N.-ers select their preferences for committee (standing vs. specialized) and answer a few short answer questions. Following the initial review of application, there is an interview so the chairmen and chairwomen of the committees can help you choose a committee most suited towards your interests. This year, I am on the UNDP (or United Nations Development Program).

There are three committee members assigned to each committee and you are generally given an assignment based on you experience. I, being a novice, am a moderator.  The next level up is a director, followed by a chair. Each person is responsible for providing the high school students with background guides involving their issue. Learning all of this information is actually incredibly interesting. I am now well versed about the worldwide food price crisis. Who would have thought?!

For the winter months, involvement in JHUMUN is pretty lax. Meetings have committee members practicing proper MUN language. You have to be prepared to deal with those formidable high school students!  But really!

But the big event of the year sees the actual Model UN conference. For a three days weekend, the entire MUN staff travels down to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and is able to stay at a hotel where the conference is being held. The staff does not leave Inner Harbor at all. But why would you? How else will one get the jollies of waking high school students up at midnight in order for an emergency security council meeting? Where else will you appropriately wear really fancy Western business wear?

Overall, MUN is a dream come true. At least for nerdy kids like me who grew up wanting to live the adventures of Mary Kate & Ashley. The hours are reasonable and the only mandatory affair happens for a luxurious weekend downtown. Okay, so the term luxurious is used loosely and a lot of the time must be spent chaperoning hormonal teenagers. Still, the conference gives all participants the opportunity to practice public speaking skills. That is something seriously invaluable!

Turning Guilt to Something More Productive

Posted by: Tyler D. 

I have always had problems with guilt. Maybe it's because I was raised Catholic and Sister Joelle would just not leave me alone. Maybe it is because I have been so privileged. Either way, every time I return to Baltimore I am greeted with a huge reminder of my good fortune. 

The train ride into Penn Station provides a window into abandoned houses and empty lots. They are painful showcases of the severe inequality in Baltimore (and really nationwide). The minute one steps off of the train and into the train station, they immediately see the picturesque Baltimore, with monuments and universities (University of Baltimore).  A cab ride to Hopkins will lead you past pretty town homes and you'll arrive on a thoroughly gorgeous campus. Here, it seems like there are people from every corner of the earth. From the campus's beauty to its promise of innovation and education, there really is an energetic feel on campus (except for Sunday mornings).  

 
 To drive further along North Charles Street, you'll see Loyola and Notre Dame College and Goucher. They are all beautiful schools removed from the ugliness of poverty. But for as much time as I feel like I've spent exploring Baltimore this past semester, in some respects, I haven't seen it at all. The swanky shopping in Federal Hill is a huge step from Canton. Tourist friendly Inner Harbor clashes with many parts of East Baltimore. 

 

Barack Obama has called for service. Many Hopkins students (myself included) participated in the President's Day of Service in September. But is that really enough? Sure, I donate canned goods during the holidays and add a dollar to my bill at CVS. But none of that offers any real insight into the problems our nation is facing. And I can watch the Wire and listen to Baltimore rapper Bossman, but I won't know anything until I make a real effort.  

Many students on campus are ahead of me in their volunteer work. Some are involved in the wonderful Tutorial Project and others are active in the various student groups dedicated to the community. So instead of a New Years resolution to lose the "holiday weight" I gained at home, I am determined to start seeing the real Baltimore by way of volunteering. If my background check is cleared (fingers crossed) I should be volunteering at the Baltimore Child Abuse Center. 

Don't get me wrong,I honestly feel 100% safe at Hopkins and in the surrounding areas. For a more in-depth blog post about security, see this one from Daniel.  I'm beginning to understand that Hopkins's location is a bonus. Instead of the idealized college on a hill in New England, Baltimore provides out of the classroom reality for students. 

Thanks for reading!

Tyler

P.S. I know that y'all love photos of me but since my official photographer is not coming back for intersession, you are out of luck. Try TMZ, though. They usually post photos of me daily. 

The Real World: Finals Week

Posted by Tyler D.

"This is the true story... of seven strangers... picked to live in a house...work together and have their lives taped... to find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real ... Finals Week."

So forget the filming part and change the "seven strangers" part to about 4,500 undergrads and you have exactly what finals week at Johns Hopkins feels like. Politeness is so far gone.  Now, walking around campus, you are lucky to get a kind glance from someone looking up from a textbook.

Now, I'm not saying that my workload is unreasonable. I was assigned a final paper for one class and traditional, cumulative, final exams for two others. They were spread out and the tests themselves were not ridiculous. However, there is an atmosphere around campus that fools better get their acts together. The library was incredibly packed and personal hygiene/ style was definitely compromised.

Study breaks were little drops of heaven all week. So, let me share the lyrical musings of my good friend Becca, who instead of actually studying in the MSE (Homewood's library), decided to write a song about the MSE's odd finals week dynamic. I would post a video of me singing it....... but Capital Records explicitly put in my contract that I was to do no singing before my album drops next year. So just sing the words to the tune of Miley Cyrus's "Party in The USA."  I'm not sure if anyone has heard it.... it is a pretty unpopular song! JK!

I hop out of bed it’s 2pm, cursing this physics test
Welcome to studying in excess, I hope there’ll be a curve
Run to the lib, reading week is the worst time
Can’t find a seat, and I know this is a bad sign

This is all so crazy, everybody seems so intense
My professor tried but my case was kinda helpless
Too much pressure and I’m nervous
That’s when I see the engineers are having fun

This school is full of nerds
This school is full of nerds
This school is full of nerds

So I put my book down, I say no more
I’ve got covered grades
Pumping my fist like Yeah
It’s freshman fall so yeah…

I’ve got a J card but I don’t belong
This is a house of scholars
Darn! There’s no party in the MSE
Darn! There’s no fun on D-level

So I hope you like the new tunes. Now that finals are over, I am getting reacquainted with my friends who have been in hibernation and I now smell much better after having found the time to shower. My friends and I even crawled out of the lib long enough to do a completely non- denominational holiday gift exchange (which is good because Tina Turner is my goddess). I even made it out shopping and have included some pictures of the wild/crazy Baltimore holiday decorations below. 

So let me stop complaining and congratulate all the ED acceptances! Wish good luck to all of those who didn't hear good news yet or are still finishing their college apps (I was there too!). Also, Billy Rae Cyrus please don't sue me. I had to restrain myself from making an "Achy Breaky" mullet reference, so please give me some credit!

TyTy

My Man...Billy

 

Hopwarts

Posted by Tyler D.

I love Sunday mornings. Okay, so my Sunday mornings here are probably called Sunday afternoons everywhere else. But, what I love most about Sunday mornings is the fact that I am a grandpa at heart. I lounge about in flannel pajamas, drink hot coffee, and read the NY Times.

The only difference between my grandfather and me is that he goes straight to the obituaries section and I skim to weddings/celebrations. But on this particular Sunday, I was able to see such an interesting op-ed from a high school senior. Hahahah! Don't get jealous of this obvious resume bump, all you perspectives out there! Instead read it here: Taking the Magic Out of College.

The article discusses how many universities are marketing themselves to perspective students using a Harry Potter angle, i.e. comparing their freshman hall to the Great Hall at HoggyWarts. Let me be straight with you. If I had been given the choice between Hogwarts and Hopkins, I would have chosen Hogwarts. Hopykins does not look like Hogwarts. At all. Instead, my little baby beauty looks more like the kind of crib George Washington would have liked.

Basically, I don't want anyone missing out on Hopkins because you do not have to leave from platform 9 3/4 to get here. Therefore, three reasons Hopkins is better than Hogwarts:

1. No Lord Voldemort. Holler! This is a he who shall not be named free zone! The only dark days that are looming is finals week!

2. Our lacrosse team is much better than the Quidditch teams at Hogwarts.

3. Instead of a creepy potions master, we have the glorious Cafe Q in the library, which makes delicious coffee/ smoothie delights without any gilliweed necessary.

Later, Luna Lovegoods!

Footnote: My friends are mocking the extreme dorkiness of this post. But I will own it!

All Computers Go To Heaven

Posted by Tyler D.

Hey Hey Hey! I've been getting numerous emails, calls, telegrams, urging me to update this blog. I am sorry boos! However, there has been an unfortunate event. A tragedy among technology. My dear, dear computer has died. No, not just died. My computer has gone out with a bang.

Imagine this. But worse. 

Darla, as I liked to call my majestic computer, is no more. I still remember the day I brought her home from the Apple Store, all new and clean. The potential hours wasted on her Photo Booth application still not yet evident. Darla and I were attatched at the power cord and we shared two good years together. But now, thanks to inappropriate placement on a dorm floor and a particularly spikey stiletto, our time together was cut short.

So please excuse my late post! I am in the mourning process and would have to relive the seven stages of grief/am computerless until a pretty little package comes! 

Now that I’ve updated you on my technological saga, I must talk some more about myself! I know, right? Just in case you haven’t heard enough.

The weekend before Thanksgiving break, I was lucky enough to go see the Peabody Conservatory (you MUST see Greco’s photos- here!) While I’m sure that I could have occupied myself marveling at the beautiful spread they got going on down there, I was in the process of completing my transition into a cultured collegiate.

That’s right, you heard me. Tyler Dougherty, the girl who lives her life by the rules of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, went to see an opera.  Cosi. That’s short for Cosi fan tutte for all you non-intellectuals out there. 

 

Okay, so yeah right, I know nothing about any opera except for Madame Butterfly because it was referenced in a movie I’ve seen. But let me have my fun. The night was so Classy with a capital “C.” We took a taxi, wore clothing that did not include denim, and were all cultured. I even saw my professor there!

The opera was very high quality and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the special price of tickets for students ($10!?!).  When I think about all of the worthless things I have purchased for $10 in the past (a hamburger at a Phillies game), the value of my opera night is that much more amazing. So thank you, Johns Hopkins. Here’s to you for making me look like a classy lady. At least for one night. 

You better work (covergirl)

Posted by Tyler D.

During my modeling days, I learned quite a few things. For one, I am much better looking than Gisele Bundchen. For two, being beautiful is really difficult. And for three, it's all about attitude, girl! 

This .... vs. .... This

I think it is obvious who is better looking!

Okay, so maybe I was never a model in the conventional sense. Maybe I consider the profile pictures I made my friends take of me in my backyard as my professional shots. But whatever! What I said about attitude is right.

This past weekend, I went to visit my best friend from home, Steph. She goes to a small liberal arts school in New York (I won't mention its name in case they are one of the four readers of my blog). Anyway, I had fun. Really, I did. But the entire time, I could not get over the supreme differences between our two schools. Where the Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong song compared "Toe-mate-os" and "To-maaat-ooos", Johns Hopkins is a papaya to her school's barley plant. Architecture: different. Student population: different. Size: different. The list is endless. But we are both supremely happy at our respective schools, so what gives? As I spent time there and got to know Steph's friends, I realized that if I had gone her route and trekked up north to a small school, I probably would have been happy. I also probably would have been happy on the West Coast. In Boston. I probably would have adjusted okay in Texas (sorry, but let's stress the probably in this sentence).

So, during my senior year when there was so much pressure to compile a list of schools to apply to, I'm thinking that I should have instead been focusing on how to be happy with myself. Believe me! This isn't some new age nonsense that I'm spitting now that I've gotten into a school. If you have the right attitude, get involved, work hard in your classes and satisfy yourself with your efforts, silly things like the size of the cafeteria and how many trees are planted around campus do not matter in the long run. As much as admissions officers really try to look at you as a real person, they are bound to make some mistakes. But please, don't let this defeat you. Instead, let it invigorate you to do amazingly well at the place where you do end up. 

When I go home for winter break, I am bound to hear stories about my former classmates transfering/ dropping out of schools. I firmly believe that the majority of these cases are the result of one or more components of the following list:

How to be a super fly college student

1. Don't build up the cliche of the college experience. Yes, "Animal House" is a great movie. No, it will not be your life. Even if you think your life is like "Animal House", it is not. It is much lamer. But also much more hygienic (I hope). 

2. Friends do not just magically appear, so please leave your respective rooms! If I have friends, believe me when I say it isn't impossible.

3. Do not expect to get an "A" on everything right away. Okay, I know there are exceptions to this rule, but seriously there have to people like me to anchor the curve. I'm actually doing a service to Hopkins students. 

4. Forget the phrase "too late!' It's never too late to get involved- freshman are given tons of leeway just because we are so dang cute. So work it! 

5. Give the skype a rest! Be it your long distance lover from Spain, that kid you were friends with at home because he got his license first, or your momma, hang that junk up for a bit. At least at first, you need to meet new people! So say "Ciao!" to Rafael. 

Also, try to stay on campus during the first few months of freshman year, it is an important developmental stage surpassed in its awkwardness only by puberty. 

So in the wise words of a  Hallmark card: 

"The key to every door lies within you."

Love to all you good looking people! 

xoxoxo

TyTy "the supermodel" Dougherty 

P.S. As an end note, let me just tell you that I wrote and uploaded this entire blog on a bus back from NY. Sometimes technology impresses me mucho! Actually, thank goodness I had the blog as a distraction, otherwise this wild west bus driver would have given me a panic attack!

Just so you know, I am a celebrity

Posted by Tyler D.

I'm that girl. You know, the girl who will publicly shun people who read "People" magazine, but can't wait to go on an airplane just so the trash-mag reading is excused. Celebrity news/gossip is one of the only subjects I can answer in Jeopardy, I have gossip blogs favorited on my web browser, and I can rock a movie quiz on Sporcle (if you don't know it, you have never really procrastinated). 

If you are secretly a person like me, then you will pleased to know this little tidbit: A REAL MOVIE IS SHOOTING ON JHU CAMPUS AS I BLOG! Now, I know my friends who go to school in New York are all immune to such excitement about celebrities, but really...come on! Aren't you all a little excited?  Just wait, the story gets juicier. The movie, as of now called "The Social Network," is definitely legit: it's produced by Columbia pictures. It documents the founding of Facebook, who, for those of you who live on the planet of Venus, is a social networking site. Back when the cool, hip thing was "Friendster," (a little history lesson), an undergrad at Harvard created the monster we now know as Facebook. "The Social Network" is based on this thrilling story.

So, what is Hopkins's role? Our lovely Hopkins is standing in for the big crimson campus as a more beautiful alternative. The city of Baltimore is supposedly offering some incentives for the movie to be filmed here in order to support the film workers of Maryland.

Whatever the reason, I am just excited to get a whiff of celebrity. Do you think I could major in pop culture? There are a few names in the movie...Brenda Song from Disney Channel fame, Jesse Eisenberg, that kid from "Zombieland", oh and this no-name aka JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE! It's not like I have been spending time reading all about my JT and his lady drama, planning our wedding where we dance down the aisle, and dreaming of him singing to me. Like, no. I am not that lame. Yeah right! (Photo: JT LOOKING REAL GOOD.)

 

Anyway, JT will not be on campus. But, I have rectified this by realizing that  when we do meet, I can talk to him about how he saw my dorm room in a quick one second shot in his movie. Soulmates!

The crew is filming near the freshman AMR dormitories and Wyman Quad (where I have Chinese & I may or may not have been wishing for class to be canceled...). JHU's campus, like its students, are just really good looking and will make Harvard look good. There is all sorts of movie-making equipment littered around campus like a "weather balloon" and lots of lights. I sort of pretended I was walking back to my trailer as I trudged across campus this afternoon.

AMR II/MY CRIB

Wyman Quad

So, when the 2025 edition of Trivial Pursuit asks you, "What campus was filmed in place of Harvard for the 2010 film "The Social Network"?- you will all know the answer. And I will be laughing about it to my husband Justin. 

Have an awesome day!

xoxoxox Tyler Timberlake

P.S. Here are some pics of Halloween in Fells Point just to give you an idea about how wild it is! Such great people watching! 

  

There are some crazy people out there. And I am one of them. 

Balwmore

Posted by Tyler D.

Okay, so before I got to B’more, I was all about the city. I googled the heck out of it, bought a Lonely Planet guide, did some youtube research on Baltimore club muzik. I was all ready to explore and integrate myself all up in Baltimore life. Well, one weekend turned into two, and two turned into three, and by a month into my time here I had hardly been anywhere in the city.   

Sure, I saw Inner Harbor and bought myself an Orioles tee (I still love ‘ya Phils!), but my exploration of the city was pretty much limited to a six block radius of Hopkins. Honestly, campus life can get you so caught up like that Madonna song. But you've got to break free!                                                                                                                   

This past weekend I made sure that this break happened. The NY Times travel section has an awesome article here on the cool things you can do in Baltimore in just a little bit of time (perfect for a long weekend college visit!). When I read the article and realized that I had not been to any of these attractions, I decided to change it. Like pronto. So, on Saturday, I left my homework in a heap on my unmade bed and went off with a friend to explore.First, we made it to the extremely close neighborhood of Hampden (thanks Mandy for the scoop). Hampden is a really short walk from Hopkins, and the walk there includes a really nifty (yeah I said nifty) combination of older homes and cute/artsy yards. The first thing I saw there was a cute bakery where I bought birthday cupcakes for a close friend (Happy Birthday Jenny)! Inside the bakery, I had trouble understanding a lot of the accents- everyone seemed like a regular there!

 

 

Here's Jenny Celebrating on Her Birthday    
                                                                                        Me at the Paper Moon Diner

Then, we went to a whole row of vintage and antique shops. You  know, the kind of places that take days to truly explore. One, Earth Alley, was especially interesting. There were also cool bath shops, an amazing used book store, and best of all more dessert shops!

For my friend’s birthday dinner, we went to the Paper Moon Diner, which is absoloutely amazing. The designs are funky and original and it is really hard to describe, so just click the link to their website.

     Paper Moon Diner                                                                                                Lupe

Today, despite the massive amounts of homework I have, I am headed off to a Lupe Fiasco concert at Towson center which is just a short cab ride away (public transportation is a viable option, but I am running super late trying to finish this blog! Ack!). So, this weekend has been the weekend of B’more. Next, I am going to try to put on my granola Jane personality and try out the Jones Fall Trails bike paths (very, very close and also mentioned in the NY times article).

Now that I started my exploration, I can’t wait to discover other neighborhoods like Fells Point and Little Italy. More is definitely to come! Just know that "Balwmore" has such an interesting array of old and new, hipster and hip surgery recipients.

So, until next time! And if you never hear from me again...... it is because Lupe spotted me from afar and whisked me away. I hope you understand.

An Ode to the Futon

Posted by Tyler D.

Hey my darlings! My name is Tyler Elizabeth Dougherty/Ty Doc/ Ty Ty/ the most beautiful person you will ever see in the world. I hail from Ocean City, New Jersey: land of sandy beaches, a beautiful boardwalk, and infinite guidos.

Honestly, I have loved Hopkins so far and could not have been more surprised. I came in expecting the worst and have found challenges, friends, and a really cute TA. Despite all of Hopkins's pluses, I also want to be honest with my readers (all ten of you + grandmom). There is an underground conflict at Hopkins that is not shared throughout the countless Hopkins brochures littered throughout guidance offices across the nation. There is a deep rooted problem at Hopkins that no one is willing to talk about. There is separation. There is tension. But I am going to bring it to light...Now! There are turf wars at Hopkins, likened only to the east/west coast rap wars of the '90s. And it all depends on where you live.

Freshmen live in a variety of housing options: the AMRs (traditional dorm living), Wolman Hall (the most updated option), and Buildings A&B (a mixture of the two). I may be biased, but AMRs are the place to be.  You are forced to make friends, considering how you live on top of one another and basically have fifty roommates.  I eat with my dorm-mates, make corny jokes with my dorm-mates, and even let my dorm-mates see my absolutely crazy clothes that are reserved for dire laundry days only.  Now, people here can get a bit crazy about their dorm and what it represents. To quote the Real Housewives of New Jersey, "Me and my family, we're as thick as thieves."

So when I realize that I haven't even been here for a month, I'm like "Say What?!?" Making friends has been the easiest/most rewarding part of Hopkins so far. Thinking back to move-in day, besides the heat stroke and awkward parent conversations, the only thing I can really remember is watching a sofa/couch/futon combo being lugged up three flights of stairs in Griffin House, AMR II. I followed that sofa right into the room of the girls who were soon to become great friends and now our "baby" the Futon has become a communal symbol similar to the big comfy couch on PBS, Homer Simpson's sofa, and the seating at Central Perk on "Friends." The futon has housed therapy sessions, giggle sessions, and sleeping sessions when I'm too lazy to make the twenty steps to my room. Still, the Futon has caused some conflict, as evidenced by this pic of my friend Freezie (names have been changed for privacy) trying to jack it.

Basically, my friends all think that this blog will be their gateway to super-stardom. So, throughout the year I will reference some of their situations and problems- that way all of my readers (and grandmom) won't get bored just hearing about me.

But as a closing note, let's talk about my fabulous self for a quick minute. I am an International Studies Major, but I am still undecided to an extent. I am taking:

1. Macroeconomics (which I will refer to as Home Ec)

2. Issues in International Development (with the most diesel professor ever)

3. Chinese (Let's just say it is beginner's beginner level)

4. Great Books (A lot of reading with a lot of professor drama because it is taught by four different people)

I am just starting a Work Study job at JHU Press and am getting involved in clubs (but I will save that list for a later update because I'm worried about what I will stick with). But what I am loving is Baltimore and the fact that I am just a short train ride away from my favorite people on earth: the Obamas!!!