Something for Everyone

Name: Natalie Berkman

Year: Class of 2011

Hometown: Buffalo, NY

Major: Writing Seminars and Mathematics, minor in French Literature

************************************************************************************************ 
 Since I always say, “I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not so sure…”, when I was looking for a college, I tried to pick one that was a reasonable size. I had no idea what my major would be, or what I’d eventually want to do when I graduated, so it seemed like it would be a good idea to have lots of options. However, I’m from a little town outside Buffalo and I was used to that sort of life. That’s why I also wanted a college that wasn’t too big. As paradoxical as this seemed, this line of reasoning eventually led me to Hopkins, which is a city school with lots of options, but still has a reasonably secluded campus. 

There are more majors than anyone could ever want, but if nothing appeals, you can always make your own. Still, I couldn’t decide (being indecisive and all…), so I’m a Writing Seminars and math double major who will hopefully get a French literature minor too. And honestly, it doesn’t seem like you can go wrong in choosing a major – every department at Hopkins seems to be one of the top in the country. For me, the math program is highly respected, the Writing Seminars   department is generally considered one of the top in the country, and the French classes are all run by the French!

Aside from schoolwork, being at Hopkins has other benefits that make it a dream college for the indecisive people like me. For example, I play flute and I didn’t want to stop just because I was going to a different school in a different state. So, I take lessons at Peabody, a world class conservatory which is actually part of Hopkins! Even without lessons, though, it’s definitely worth a trip: there are millions of concerts, Peabody has the most gorgeous library, and the area is really nice. My roommate has an internship at the Johns Hopkins hospital, which is also an advantage of going to Hopkins – if you get sick, the number one hospital in the country is right there! The proximity to Washington D.C. is also useful. When I had to get a visa to study abroad in Paris this semester, being only 40 minutes away by train made the whole process much easier than if I had been in Buffalo (about seven hours from New York City, which is where the consulate is in New York). And the Baltimore Museum of Art is right next store to Hopkins, if that appeals. 

There are also plenty of clubs to join, adding more options. I write for the Newsletter every week. They sometimes get me free tickets to concerts or musicals to see and review, so I get to learn a little more about Baltimore. I’m also in the band and the orchestra, so I can play for fun outside of my lessons. There are two clubs for tutoring little kids as far as I know – I’m in Refugee Action Project and we tutor Turkish refugees. And there are plenty more – I learned to twirl fire in Entertainer’s Club, I learned about Caribbean Culture with CCS, and I even saw the belly dancers club, Egyptian Sun! 

Right now, I’m taking advantage of another great option that Hopkins offers: I’m studying abroad. I’ve been in Paris for a few days now, and the ability to be completely immersed in French culture   is hard, but certainly worth doing (as I’m sure it would be for any culture). I feel as though my French has already improved a lot, and I’m living with a host family, which means I get to see how a French family lives up close. Soon, I’ll start taking classes at French universities, but right now, it’s orientation. Right now, what I’m most excited for is the l’OuLiPo meeting on Thursday. L’OuLiPo is an organization of French writers/mathematicians who write while imposing constraints on themselves (more   troubled individuals who can’t make up their minds…). For example, Georges Perec wrote a book called “La disparition” (“A Void” is the English title) entirely without the letter E. Every month, they have an open meeting at La Bibliothèque Nationale de France, and luckily, my host family is practically next door! 

Basically, I’m a completely different person now than I was when I applied to colleges. Back then, I was looking for a university with a lot of options so I could learn the most, and I definitely found one! The reason I’m so different now is because of all that I’ve learned. I never thought I would ever feel comfortable writing about math in French, not that I ever knew that I’d want to do that. Through taking all of these different classes and participating in a variety of activities, I was able to learn that none of them are really separate. There’s a way to combine everything, and the creativity to do so is really encouraged at Hopkins from what I can see. L’OuLiPo combines math and writing in French; there are so many French mathematicians who developed new theorems in all branches of the subject; French literature is some of the best writing in the world. I think the education I’m receiving at Hopkins is incredible, even if the only thing I’ll be able to do when I graduate is write math textbooks in French.