Jessica K.
Class of 2011
Read my blog: Caught In-Between—Jessica K.
Hometown: Tenafly, NJ
Major/Minor: Public Health Studies / Environmental Studies minor
Current residence: Off-campus
Past residences: Building A—Check out my Cribs video, Charles Commons—Check out my Cribs video, Homewood, Geneva, Switzerland—Check out my Cribs video
Campus involvement: Public Health Student Forum, Center for a Livable Future at JHSPH Research Assistant, Admissions Representative
Why I chose Johns Hopkins: I chose Hopkins because of the vibe I got when I visited. I could tell that Hopkins not only had a beautiful, mid-sized campus, but one filled with a unique student body and tons of opportunities.
Favorite class: Basic Black & White Photography: Wet Darkroom—I love having the opportunity in college to explore Baltimore, take pictures, learn the art of developing my own film, and put together a final project.
Why I'm glad I chose Johns Hopkins: I originally chose Johns Hopkins because of the Homewood campus. Although I still love the campus, attending Johns Hopkins has meant much more to me. Baltimore's surrounding neighborhoods continue to entertain me. Watching my friends go on to work in politics, develop software, and teach abroad inspires and challenges me to succeed. Also, the opportunities I have had while attending Johns Hopkins, away from the Homewood campus, make me glad that I chose this school.
Favorite place on the Homewood campus: With Gilman Hall having just undergone renovation, how can my favorite place not be in the epicenter of the Homewood campus? I love studying in one of the chairs by the stained glass in the Hut. The atrium of Gilman, with its massive sunroof, has become a close second favorite place, especially during a thunderstorm when you can watch the storm without getting wet.
What I want to do with my major: The problem is that there is so much that I can do with a public health major that deciding on what I want to do is challenging. I would love to gain international experience abroad in Southeast Asia. Later, I would like to attend graduate school, work for an intergovernmental organization, and eventually become a professor.
Coolest (spring/summer/winter) break experience: I spent the summer of 2009 in Vitória, Brazil, on a research grant. Spending two months on an island city without any Americans, making friends with natives, tasting new fruits, taking overnight bus trips between cities on the weekends, and studying the epidemiological profile of TB/AIDS cases in the area was definitely one of my "coolest" break experiences.
Three unusual things about myself:
- I once broke a car's ignition with a bottle opener.
- I faint from blood, hospitals, and needles.
- I avoid cooked vegetables, but I have been a vegetarian for over 10 years.
