Dig your toes in deeper for your own sanity, love.

First, I am snatching the honor from whomever and taking the liberty to draw your attention to the new freshmen blogs: Lauren & her beautifully raw "Wish You Were Here" and Mandy & her Southern hospitality drenched "Simply Serendipitous".  They are both amazing additions to our team!

Which makes me think about "My Life is My Personal Movie" and its role in the overall picture -- I feel as if I have been unfair and completely pulling the paying-injustice-of-the-Hopkins-experience card.  Thus, I have been challenged to provide a new spin this year: be (gracfully or not) candid.  My entries have provided glimpses of my life as a Hopkins student, but honestly, my normal week at this university is absolutely ridiculous in such a great way and I want this journal to better embrace that truth.  Here we go:

On this warm Sunday night, I am plagued with a small cold and a less than thrilling midterm to study for (for tomorrow).  BUT I am absolultely content.  One of my main hopes of junior year was this: to open up & make more friends.  I had a nice "community" of friends, but I wanted to dig deeper in everything I did -- in every activity, in every act of service, in every lecture.  Although it has only been a month, this perspective shift has allowed me to truly cultivate more than surface level relationships with those around me.  I'll give one example:

JHU Crew: I am with this crowd from 4:45am until 8:20am Monday-Friday AND 7:20am until 11am every  Saturday.  And this is NOT including race days (which are typically all day Saturday or Sunday).  Being a varsity athelete immediately thrusts you into a community, but it doesn't mean you have to cap yourself there.  We do have weekly lunch dates and sporadic Chipotle runs, but we're a diverse bunch.  But honestly, I have been utterly exhausted on a day to day basis this past month.  I have learned the essence of time management and self-discipline.  Bottomline: you have to love the sport.  As soon as you hit the water & experience the transition from night to day, you'll understand.  Oh, and it's always a plus winning medals!  It's a love-hate relationshipy you actually want to maintain at whatever costs.

In addition to this varsity sport, I've committed to a couple of other organizations this Fall.  Specifically, more information will be disclosed later about Delta Xi Phi, my amazing research position with Dr. Charlotte Sumner, and AR (Admissions Representative).  I've been stretching myself to maintain my previous activities: Agape Christian Fellowship, JHU Newsletter, HAPA, and SAAB.  Everyday, I am learning the importance of NOT over-extending myself (i.e. do NOT write for Newsletter every week and be a writer for the sports section so I can enjoy the Hopkins games AND write an exciting report).  I also generously give myself time to relax; I cannot go more than a week without R&R.  This weekend, my boyfriend and I  went to the Latino Festival downtown.  I also frequently bake and cook.  Or go get excellent yogurt+granola+fruit at Carma's Cafe with Kate.  There are days when I feel overwhelemd -- like tonight when I have a midterm tomorrow, Tuesday, and TWO on Wednesday.  Plus an article for Newsletter.  BUT I finally feel thrilled about everything because I chose to get involved for worthy reasons.  I am NOT doing it for medical school applications, my parents, my social standing.  Really, I am simply striving to embrace every single day for what its worth!              

Comments

[Admissions_Daniel]

I love the new candid approach ... and your positive outlook is contagious.

[JHU_Lauren]

Thanks for the shoutout!! :] I'm so happy to be a part of the team .. even though this week is totally crazy for me too {and I should be studying right now instead of reading your blog, lol, but oh well}, I can't wait to post again and to start my SAAB work on the message board. It's exciting! :]

I looove this entry, and I agree with Daniel - you make me want to go out and be productive! I don't think there is a motto out there that's better than "Live each day to the fullest," to do what YOU want to do with the time that you have and do it as completely and as whole-heartedly as possible. It sounds like you've definitely got the right idea ... your junior year is going to be a great one!! :D

[JHU_Lauren]

P.S. I love that picture of the Harbor from Fell's Point. It looks gorgeous at sunset ... that's definitely one of my favorite places here!

[Wen]

your blog is a joy to read. what can i say...i'm a loyal reader - i still come back now and then to read even though i've left hopkins. :)
and i'm glad things are going so well for you.

[JHU_Jessica]

I decided to read your blog this morning because Daniel said it would be inspirational and I was hoping it would get me out of bed. Well it definitely did and now I'm definitely inspired to go out there and do something!

I hope your midterms went well...and great blog!

[JHU_Mandy]

This was such a great blog! It's so happy and promising :)