Blue Jay Buffet

Tales from a Freshman Dad

Name: Glen Carney

Parent of: Lauren Carney - JHU Class of 2011

Hometown: Westmont, NJ

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Hello friends! My name is Glen and my wife and I are thrilled to take part in the Hopkins Parents Forum! (JHU Glen  and JHU Diane) We are the proud parents of Lauren who is a freshman at Hopkins. She works closely with the wonderful folks at the undergraduate admissions department and has her own Hopkins Interactive blog “Wish You Were Here” with insights into her life at JHU.

It was Lauren’s suggestion that it might be helpful for current “Hopkins Parents” to put together a few thoughts directed toward the question: “What is the one thing that you wish someone had told you to expect?”  Since my answer is a little lengthy, I thought writing a blog about this would be best.

There are a million little things that I might have selected to bring to you today, but I have chosen to limit myself  to one that is somewhat an emotional topic that certainly effects both your new Hopkins student and you the parent(s).  This is just one particular “Dad’s Eye View” regarding those first few days or weeks that you and your student will face as he/she is a newly minted freshman at JHU.

Now, I understand that if you are currently the parent of multiple college-aged students (bless you!) or have already sent a student to school, this is “old hat” to you, and you can (as I consider myself to a limited extent) consider yourself a “veteran!”  No … my message is directed to those sending their FIRST child … sorry, “young adult” … off to school.  It might even be more pointed if you too have a daughter going off to school.  This was me just one short semester ago!

First let us realize that you have entered a period in your life just prior to your student’s college enrollment, that is chock full of excitement and certain stress. There are many important details that have to be attended to prior to that all important acceptance letter arriving at your mailbox.  Economic concerns most likely may top the list but added to that are the time and energies invested in the college search including lots of research, on-site school visits, the always dreaded FAFSA form, CSS profile, etc., etc., etc.  (All of which you must constantly remind yourself is part of the “fun!”)

That said, you turn your sites on a particular school (hopefully Hopkins!) and  you wait … then wait some more.  The anticipation and excitement grows … and then … the big day is upon you!  The acceptance letter arrives, the entire family  jumps up and down for a while in wild celebration, then you collectively turn your sites on the fact that it has become a reality …your student is going to leave you and your home to embark on a new life as an undergraduate!

Time progresses and you have found that you have talked to nearly everyone … asking advice on how to prepare for your student’s life in a dorm. What is campus life really like?  What should they take with them?  What should be left behind?  What are the absolute “necessities?”  Believe me, you want to provide all the support that you can at this time and questions like these are, or will be, very important to you.  As one gets answered another ten or fifteen will pop up in your head, and so it goes. (I urge you to check out  the JHU message boards.) 

Then, the REALLY “big day” arrives!  All the work your student has done (note to parents: it’s o.k. to pat yourself on the back just a bit!) has come to fruition.  You have asked all the questions (or so you think!), packed all the bags (or so you think!), exchanged hugs and kisses with family and friends, and presto … it is time to make the drive to Baltimore for move-in day on campus.

HERE … is where the emotion comes in.

The drive went well, albeit a bit more quiet than expected.  Except for polite banter back and forth that was more just to fill the silent voids, little was said.   I now know that this was because of that little “lump in the throat” thing that ALL of us were experiencing but not willing to admit … yet.

The actual move-in went extremely well, as it is expertly orchestrated by upperclassmen and the wonderful admissions department people at JHU.    See September 2007 Hopkins Insider blog “It’s New To Us (And You Too). There are a variety of functions to attend throughout the weekend, which helps to acclimate the student and I think keep “the parents” busy and somewhat preoccupied! (Remember the “lump in the throat” thing?)

And then the time comes. My daughter was as settled in as she was going to get at this time (not very) … everything was crammed into her dorm room … and it was time to go. My mind went directly into a mini flashback. On more than one occasion, people good naturedly asked me the question “How do you think you’re going to handle it?” (Meaning the big “leave your only child at school and drive away scene”.)  I always choose to push that thought away.  Of course I would be fine! 

( Warning: mildly sexist comments to follow.)
I had every intention of pulling off the time worn, kind of John Wayne manly way of the “stiff upper lip” … a quick hug … maybe a smart-alecky comment or two … then saunter off down the hall without even looking back!  Not to worry I tell myself!  Who … ME? (I tell myself that I can handle anything … after all … I am definitely not a little guy ... all six foot-one of me and maybe just a few more pounds than I care to admit!)  I was in control!  I was doing just fine!

Here it comes … (remember the “lump in the throat” thing?)

After saying my good-byes and after what I thought  would pass as “pulling off the old John Wayne” … I walked down the hall. It was THEN that I was reduced (at least on the inside) to something you would see in a touchingly sad portion of an old Shirley Temple movie!

Oh no!
Oh yes!

Here it goes … I will say it. My eyes welled up … and … there were tears.
It hurt.  I’m old enough to certainly have felt some lousy feelings in my time, and for serious reasons, but this one really ranked up there.  It may sound silly, but true.

The ride home seemed unusually long, and there were more than enough tears to go around. My wife and I comforted ourselves by reiterating the benefits of such a school … after all this was HOPKINS!   The chance of a lifetime!  And, it really wasn’t THAT far away.    

Arriving home things didn’t get too much better. The reality hit once again when I stepped into my daughter’s room and she wasn’t there. The lump in the throat returned, and stayed for quite some time. Of course, I worked through those feelings and was able to turn to more realistic feelings of being happy, if not totally elated, that my daughter had reached such a turning point in her life.

It stands to reason that if “the old man” was having to deal with certain emotions, his daughter was dealing with a fist full of her own at the same time. Time to turn to what your student might be going through at this time.

Helpful to me was a conversation I had with a high school principal who I had the privilege to work with for a short time a year or so ago.  He related his own experiences as an exuberant young student with pre-med aspirations as he headed off to Notre Dame.  He was excited and proud and ready to meet the world, and being a fairly bright young man with an outgoing demeanor, thought he had the world by the tail.  And then “IT” struck with a mighty fury … homesickness.  He was hit hard and he felt  miserable in a way that he had never experienced before.  He warned me …BE PREPARED.  It can happen to anyone … it is real … and it would be something to think about.  I listened intently to his advice and tucked it away for the future.  Boy, am I glad he spoke to me that day.

Being away from home for virtually the first time was no small feat for Lauren. (Check out her blog, particularly the early entries, to read about her feelings in her own words … I guarantee you … there is no substitution!) There were some pretty low days.  Please  prepare yourself and clue in your future Hopkins student too. 

This is a huge step and one that brings with it some heavy duty emotions!  Your student may feel completely disoriented and begin doubting his or her self.  Could the whole decision (being at Hopkins) be a mistake?  Should she be closer to home? Will she ever fit in?  Is there anyone at all feeling the same way that she feels? Or, is it just her?  She might feel lonely, confused and sad in a way that you might not think possible.  These are the type of  questions that might dog your son or daughter over and over … and all at the same time.  There might be tears and even talk about coming home (Oh great! Just the thing a parent dreams of!)  These feelings can be totally overwhelming and last a week or two … or even a month or two. Your student feels horrible and I can assure you, Mom and Dad aren’t feeling so great either!

But hark! There IS a silver lining! I promise!

Give it time.  Speak to your son or daughter … often. Keep the lines of communication open!  (Thank goodness for the internet … emails and instant messaging can save the day!)  Morning, noon or night … be there!  (Seriously, now is NOT the time to worry about the good old phone bill … within reason of course!)  Appreciate that these feelings are real, and share them freely!  (It goes BOTH ways … so share YOUR feelings too!)  Supply support and constant encouragement.  And remember above all that the feelings I have outlined here are NORMAL, NORMAL, NORMAL!

Slowly but surely things DO change. With some work and lots of understanding you and your student will find that Hopkins is the place to be!  Again, I urge you to visit Lauren’s blog and notice how her early concerns have evolved into a true love of everything and anything that is JOHNS HOPKINS!  (I am soooo proud!) Take advantage of all the message boards that are brimming with information for parents … and even more so for students.  Urge your student to take advantage of all that the school has to offer … and the rest will take care of itself!

Breaking News: President Brody to Retire

It was just announced today that on December 31, 2008 President William R. Brody will retire as 13th President of the Johns Hopkins University. A web site has been created (click here) that recognizes President Brody's accomplishments and includes to video messages to Hopkins faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends.

The Office of New and Information has issued the following news release:

BILL BRODY TO RETIRE DEC. 31 AS JOHNS HOPKINS PRESIDENT

William R. Brody, who has led The Johns Hopkins University to a deepened commitment to undergraduate education, diversity, the community, and research that advances human society, and who has directed a transformative renewal of its facilities, will retire as president on Dec. 31, he informed the board of trustees today.

Brody, 64, will have led the university for more than 12 years, the fifth-longest tenure among Johns Hopkins' 13 presidents. His retirement will coincide with the conclusion of the $3.2 billion Johns Hopkins: Knowledge for the World campaign.

"I simply love this job," Brody said in a message to students, faculty, staff and alumni. "But leaving is inevitable. And I feel, moreover, that there comes a point when leaving is most natural, least disruptive and, in a way, most constructive. I feel we are about to reach such a point."

"Twelve years is a great run," he said, "and stepping down at the completion of my second campaign will allow the trustees to recruit a highly talented and able leader who will take Johns Hopkins to the next level."

Pamela P. Flaherty, chair of the board of trustees, said that Brody has the university in "excellent shape" and well-prepared for a presidential transition.

"Bill Brody has been an extremely successful leader at Johns Hopkins University," Flaherty said. "We're fortunate to have had him for more than a dozen years."

Morris W. Offit, a trustee emeritus who was chairman of the board when Brody was elected president in 1996, agreed.

"When the search committee identified Bill as its candidate for the presidency, we obviously thought he would rank among the finest Johns Hopkins presidents," Offit said. "Our expectations were exceeded beyond our fondest dreams."

In his message today to the campus community, Brody expressed his gratitude to the university's students, faculty and staff and to the trustees, alumni and friends of the university from the public and private sectors who support its work.

"When I started as president in 1996," he wrote, "Wendy and I made building a better sense of community among all of us at Johns Hopkins a top priority. I wanted to focus on the undergraduate experience. I wanted to make real and significant progress on ensuring that our campuses are diverse and inclusive. I wanted to reposition Johns Hopkins Medicine with a new governance structure so that it could continue to provide excellent, compassionate service to the sick in an era of managed care.

"I hope and believe that we have made great strides in all these areas," he wrote. "I hope and believe that, together, we have enhanced Johns Hopkins' ability to teach and to mentor, to discover and to heal, and to share the gift of knowledge with the world."

During Brody's presidency, the university has:
* established the Carey Business School, the School of Education and numerous interdisciplinary centers such as the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, the Center for Africana Studies, the Center for Global Health, the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response, the Information Security Institute, the Institute for Cell Engineering and the Malaria Research Institute.

* focused attention on the undergraduate experience both in and outside the classroom, by building new residential, art and recreational facilities; enhancing programs aimed at building a sense of campus community; inaugurating popular academic programs such as museum studies, theater, and entrepreneurship and management; strengthening security measures on campus and in adjacent neighborhoods; and creating new opportunities for undergraduates to take part in original research.

* created and largely built out a master plan for its Homewood campus in northern Baltimore that emphasized a serene outdoor environment; modern, interdisciplinary research facilities; and a welcoming new entrance and visitor center.

* expanded and modernized the research and education facilities of the health professions schools on the East Baltimore campus as part of a master plan that also has led to the construction, now under way, of two new clinical towers at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

* revitalized the aging Mount Vernon campus of the Peabody Institute, creating one of the finest music conservatory facilities in the world.

* expanded its presence in locations from Rockville, Md., to Washington, D.C., to Nanjing, China.

* celebrated Nobel Prizes to two full-time faculty members and three graduates; also celebrated NCAA Division I men's lacrosse championships in 2005 and 2007.

* made significant progress in the diversification of its student body, faculty and administration; committed to aggressive continued improvement in the recruitment of women and underrepresented minorities.

* completed a $1.52 billion campaign (original goal: $900 million) in 2000 and raised more than $3.1 billion to date in the Knowledge for the World campaign (original goal $2 billion; current goal $3.2 billion; closing date Dec. 31).

"The accomplishments of my time as president have truly been a team effort," Brody said, "involving scores of thousands of faculty, staff and students. And they could not have occurred without the generous support of alumni and friends and the wonderful partnerships Johns Hopkins has forged with the city of Baltimore, the state of Maryland, a number of foundations and many agencies of the federal government."

Under Brody's direction, the university, often working in close partnership with its sister institution the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, also has focused financial support, time and talent on solutions to problems in the neighborhoods surrounding its campuses and in the Baltimore region in general.

Johns Hopkins has contributed significantly to the New EastSide project, an urban revitalization effort initiated by a team of institutional, philanthropic and governmental partners and now under way north of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions campus in East Baltimore. Brody established the Urban Health Institute to focus Johns Hopkins resources on community health problems in East Baltimore. To support the Baltimore public schools, he created the Baltimore Scholars Program, which now invests more than $2 million a year in tuition waivers for graduates of city schools. The university supports community and civic organizations, provides community health services and in numerous programs provides mentoring and other support for Baltimore youth.

"Bill Brody has not only given Johns Hopkins a better future, he's given Baltimore a better future," said Martin O'Malley, governor of Maryland and former Baltimore mayor. "All of us who love the city are very fortunate that at a critical time in Baltimore's comeback, a man of such vision, integrity, and courage was leading Johns Hopkins."

Brody became president of The Johns Hopkins University on Sept. 1, 1996, returning to Baltimore from the University of Minnesota, where he had served for two years as provost of the Academic Health Center. From 1987 to 1994, he had been the Martin Donner Professor and director of the Department of Radiology, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins, and radiologist-in-chief of The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Brody was professor of radiology and electrical engineering at Stanford University from 1977 to 1986. He has been a co-founder of three medical device companies, and was president and chief executive officer of Resonex Inc. from 1984 to 1987. He has more than 100 publications and two U.S. patents in the field of medical imaging and has made research contributions in medical acoustics, computed tomography, digital radiography and magnetic resonance imaging.

A native of Stockton, Calif., Brody received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1965 and 1966. He earned his M.D. in 1970 and Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1972, both from Stanford University.

Brody was the first Johns Hopkins president to live in Nichols House on the Homewood campus since 1971. He and his wife, Wendy, are often seen on campus, notably at basketball and lacrosse games and other student events. They also have made it a point each year to greet incoming freshmen and their parents during move-in days, variously using in-line skates, scooters and -- one year -- Segway Human Transporters to move quickly from one residence hall to another.

Wendy Brody has been a force for change within the university and in the Baltimore community. She has spearheaded the work of the Johns Hopkins Women's Club to renew the library at the Barclay School and helped to spread the Experience Corps model in the public schools. She is deeply interested in the arts, serving on the advisory council of Homewood Museum and founding the Friends of the Peabody to better connect the Baltimore community with the talented student musicians of the Peabody Institute. She has also worked to strengthen the bonds between Johns Hopkins and the Walters Art Museum.

"She has been my true partner at Johns Hopkins," Brody said in his message to the campus community. "She has done so much in so many ways to better unite the university with those it serves. … I cannot say how grateful I am to her."

February at Hopkins

February here at Hopkins meant the kick-off of all Spring semester activities and lots of excitement -- from the start of Lacrosse season to student-curated museum exhibits to a great new lineup for the Foreign Affairs Symposium. The weather cleared up toward the end of the month, and dozens of students could be seen sprawled out on the lawns in between classes, studying or just soaking up the rays. It's understandable that these students need a little rest ... so much has happened in the past month!

Hopkins in Egypt & Egypt on the Web

During the Intersession period in January, Egyptologist Betsy Bryan took a group of undergraduates on an archaeological expedition to Egypt. Now, the team is sharing their work with the world through an online diary, a digital window into the day-to-day life of their expedition. The Web site, Hopkins in Egypt Today, features photos of the Johns Hopkins group working for their 13th year in Luxor.  The goal of the Hopkins in Egypt Today Web site is to educate visitors by exposing them to the elements of an archaeological work in progress. University photographer Jay VanRensselaer will capture images of the team as they work. The Web site's daily photos and detailed captions emphasize not only discoveries but also the teamwork among Bryan, her colleagues and their "gufti," the local crew members who are trained in archaeology. The Web site typically garners more than 50,000 hits every winter when the dig is taking place.

Black History Month

February was National Black History Month, and Hopkins hosted a myriad of events to highlight Black achievement in the arts, science and literature. A weekly film screening, every Tuesday evening in Charles Commons, showed Spike Lee's documentary on Hurricane Katrina and its cultural impacts on the Africa-American community in Louisiana. Each year there is a different theme for Hopkins' Black History Month, and this year, it was VISAGE: Visualizing Independence While Studying African Greatness Everywhere. In the Arts sector, there was a step show, a choir concert, a talent show and a poetry slam. For the lecture lovers, there were discussions on black identity, presentations on homophobia in hip-hop and a speech by Baltimore City State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy. All events were free and widely attended by students and faculty alike. Follow these links for more information: February 4, 2008 JHU Gazette Article & Announcement for the Black History Month film series.

Foreign Affairs Symposium

A talk by Paul Rusesabagina, the inspiration behind the film Hotel Rwanda, opened the 2008 Foreign Affairs Symposium, a student-run series that for the past 10 years has brought to the Homewood campus a celebrated group of high-powered speakers to address matters of global importance.  This year's panel discussions and lecturers centers around the theme A Decade of Discussion, an examination of the major changes and continuities in politics, economics, human rights, war and technology over the past 10 years. Specific topics include Islam, global health, climate change, Iran, Iraq, the world economy and U.S. national security. The 2008 symposium features Mike McConnell, U.S. director of National Intelligence and former Navy admiral (March 12); Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize winner and former chief economist of the World Bank (April 8); Kimberly Dozier, a CBS news correspondent who was wounded in Iraq (April 14); and Robert Baer, a former CIA operative and the inspiration for the film Syriana (date TBA). All events are free and open to the public. Read the February 4, 2008 JHU Gazette Article for further information.

Hubble Images at the Walters Museum

One of 10 interstellar wonders on display in a Walters Art Museum exhibit is an image from the Hubble Telescope, called Mapping the Cosmos: Images from the Hubble Space Telescope. The exhibit has been co-curated by undergraduates from Johns Hopkins' Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. The show serves to illustrate the inherent beauty of the cosmos by using images that have been instrumental in tracking its evolutionary history. Mapping the Cosmos, which opened this past month, will be seen in conjunction with a larger exhibition called Maps: Finding Our Place in the World, which arrives in Baltimore in March from Chicago's Field Museum. This show has been made possible largely by the efforts of Elizabeth Rodini, associate director of the Program in Museums and Society. Rodini brainstormed with the Walter's Museum to come up with a course called Behind the Scenes at the Walters Art Museum course. The course was held during the fall semester and was dedicated to putting together this Hubble exhibit. Learn more about the course, and the exhibit, by clicking here.

B'More Aware!

The Center For Social Concern hosted three B'More Aware Days throughout the course of the month. This volunteer extravaganza featured a day of drop-in service projects - where volunteers could assemble hygiene kits, make beaded key chains and write letters to soldiers in Iraq - a day of food and gaming services, and an open service day at various service sites in Baltimore. The Center for Social Concern emphasizes the necessity of a connection between the Homewood campus and the surrounding communities, and these service days present great opportunities for students to get out into the city and get involved with service.

Hollywood Hits Hopkins

With Oscar season fever and the much-celebrated end of the Writers' Strike, Hopkins decided to celebrate Hollywood as well. Members of the Hopkins community were proud to view the film Charlie Wilson's War when it hit theaters this past month, because "Doc Long" - a star character in the film and an important congressman in U.S. History - portrays none other than Professor Clarence D. Long, a member of the Johns Hopkins Political Economy Department from 1946 to 1963. In the 1950s, students in Long's Economics classes never would have guessed that their professor would become a well-known U.S. congressman, or that he would be portrayed by actor Ned Beatty in this 2008 hit movie. Following this fever, the Homewood campus saw another celebrity. On February 8, actor Kal Penn - star of Harold and Kumar and The Namesake came to speak at Hopkins on behalf of Barack Obama. He garnered quite the large crowd - both fans of Penn and fans of Obama came to see the star speak out. The speech was sponsored by JHU Students for Barack Obama and JHU Votes. Click here to read more about about "Doc" and here for Kal Penn.

Engineers Week

The Whiting School of Engineering was proud to celebrate National Engineers Week, a week to recognize and appreciate the achievements made by engineers throughout history and around the world. Throughout the week of February 18-22, the Whiting School of Engineering hosted fun and entertaining events to help raise public awareness and show appreciation for the many engineers who have contributed to society. To read about all the events that took place during this week, click here.