Dear Families and Loved Ones,
As your student prepares to leave home, I’d like to share some thoughts from my experience of maintaining a close and meaningful relationship with my family throughout the past four years. I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri. While I wasn’t as far away as my international classmates, I also didn’t have the convenience of weekend trips home like many of my east coast peers. During my first semester, I FaceTimed and called home almost every day. At first, college feels a bit like summer camp—meeting new people from all over, participating in lots of activities, and embracing a newfound sense of independence. I’m sure your student will be excited to share these experiences with you, just as I was with my family.
The frequency of contact will likely change, especially during busy periods like midterms or finals. But don’t worry—while it may be hard to find time for full conversations, I always appreciated simple good morning and good night texts from my parents. Those small gestures made me feel connected and cared for, even when I was busy. Around my birthday, my family would send me care packages with candy and cards signed by younger siblings (aged only four and eight- years-old at the time), which often made my whole month.
Of course, you are more than welcome—though your student would probably appreciate some notice—to visit Hopkins anytime. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the families of my university friends during their campus visits. It can feel a bit surreal, with the blending of different parts of our lives, but I always enjoyed seeing a different side of my peers through their interactions with their families. When my family visited during the spring of my third year, my younger siblings absolutely loved getting to see the places they had only heard about through FaceTtime over the past few years. They even got to attend a student tailgate and a lacrosse game, which made the visit extra special.
Remember, it’s everyone’s first time going through this, and there may be some growing pains. However, it’s all part of the process as you figure out the best ways to stay in touch and show support throughout your student’s journey. Even now, I still text my parents each night, wishing them a good night (and I expect a response!), until we’re reunited.
