A Baltimore-Hopkins Summer.
For some reason, I am realizing that "summer vacation" has a different meeting in college. In high school, I spent my time abroad (Costa Rica, Europe, Philippines) and at various universities to study in academic programs. All in all, the busyness was an adventure because I was experiencing life else where. My summers at Hopkins are quite different. I suppose I could have traveled abroad, but I opted to be more frugal. Every summer thus far, I have committed to work. I thoroughly enjoy being productive, but I also have realized over the past couple of years that life is very different outside of academia. It's a very different strain of adventure!
Since my fabulous rendezvous (Royal Caribbean cruise to Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico) during the allotted study time for finals this past May, I haven't basked in the rays of the summertime sun. As soon as I arrived in Baltimore, I took two finals and sealed off my sixth semester at Hopkins. Because Gilberto is a proud member of the Class of 2008, I attended a string of celebratory Commencement events (like the Black & Latino Commencement Night, the official Johns Hopkins 132nd Commencement, and a couple of graduation parties). May was such a hectic month, but I had such a wonderful time. Read more about it here.
At the end of May, I went home for a week (to Memphis, Tennessee). It was
so relaxing and refreshing to catch up with my family. Plus, I traded in my gas-guzzler for a more fuel-smart car -- and it's a scandalous red, too! I bought tons of food and apartment-friendly things. My favorite item was the large jug of olive oil because it's such an incentive to cook. My mom
also loaded me up with marinated meats and frozen shrimp! In the beginning of June, I had to head back to Baltimore to: a)
move into my new apartment; b) start my job; and c) be an overall Hopkins student again. After bearing the responsibility of arranging a move seven blocks down North Charles Street, I set up my new apartment. The best thing about my new place is my queen-size bed. My luckily stumbled upon a $30 sale on Craig's List.
This summer (like the previous two summers), I have committed to being a student teacher in Number Playground. This math enrichment program finds
its roots in the JHU Tutorial Project. Ann Forno, the previous Director of Tutorial Project, still manages this program at the Village Learning Place (VLP). Along with a handful of Hopkins alumna and other talented teachers, I tutor elementary school children in mathematics to prevent summer learning loss. So from 8:30am-12:30pm, I hang out with rambunctious six year olds who challenge me to stretch my limits in a positive way.
* *I also conduct private tutoring sessions on the weekend for a 3rd grader and a 7th grader to make some extra money and as a way to continue my academic year commitment to this family.**
After work at the VLP, I jump on the JHMI Shuttle from the 27th Street bus stop to head over to research. A couple of weeks ago, I joined the Ryugo Lab which is in the Department of Otolaryngology (and affiliated with Department of Neuroscience). As you can read in JHU_Kate's Hopkins Interactive journal, this lab is amazing! Who knew I would be drawn into the wonders of the auditory system -- material I gobbled up in The Nervous System I course in Fall 2008? But I absolutely love the Neuroscience major at JHU; I only opted for Public Health because it gave me the option of taking so many different classes at the Bloomberg School of Public Health during one's fourth year as an undergraduate. With Public Health as my primary major, I can also indulge in Neuroscience courses, upper-level Biology courses, and other subjects. Plus, being an undergraduate researcher in this lab allows me to indulge hands-on in Neuroscience. My PI, Dr. David Ryugo, is wonderful, and he encourages me to apply classroom knowledge to the "real" stuff. He definitely invests in his lab members, and I am utterly grateful. Whether it's discussing a paper or talking about Euro 2008, I have learned a ton already. All in all, I love spending five hours every afternoon in the lab with people from all different backgrounds.
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After my first week in this routine, I realized how much of my days were devoted to work and research. I was genuinely caught by surprise! Coming back to my apartment at 6:20pm every evening made me think about ways to manage my time better. For example, I had to think about all of the "other" things I wanted to do this summer in the context of my schedule. Because I reunited with my competitive Chopin pieces a couple of weeks ago -- I haven't really conversed with them since high school -- I go to the Mattin Center after work for an hour or two to spend time with the piano Monday through Friday. Afterwards, Gilberto and I make dinner together or we go out to eat with our friends (PJs, Chipotle, Tamber's Restaurant, Bert's Restaurant, etc.). I have been trying to review "science material" through the MCAT books or read various lab articles/books in the evenings as well. But there have been many nights where I have just talked with hours with my friends outside or watched movies.
Speaking of friends, this is a very special summer because my best friend
(who I met at Hopkins my freshman year) returned to Homewood! Although she graduated as an International Studies major in 2006, she'll be at Hopkins next year taking Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry because she decided that she wanted to go to medical school. So it's been nice just talking for hours on end with her and a couple of my other girlfriends who graduated from Hopkins. They definitely balance the work and research components of my Baltimore-Hopkins summer. So does playing board games and going on light morning jogs with Gilberto!
All in all, although my summers have changed a bit from high school (I now have to pay the bills and worry about money), I am really enjoying myself. Pushing myself outside of the academic year is nice because I am shedding light on very different parts of myself intellectually, socially, and what not. It's hard to explain, but I think I'm warming up to the working world outside of being a student a bit. In the final end though, I really miss being a student during the academic year with pockets of free time and varied days!

































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