Early spring semester, I was able to get a job with the pop-up ice rink that Hopkins hosts on campus each year. This temporary rink is open seven days a week, generally from noon to 8 p.m. and is free for everyone. As someone who grew up skating, it was so nice to be able to reconnect with an old childhood hobby while earning some money.
For me, skating is one of those things that brings me so much joy and freedom. I absolutely adore the feeling of the wind in my hair as I glide across a rink. When I was younger, I decided to take a break from skating but was able to get a few hours on the ice each month throughout middle and high school. Once in college, I joined the Figure Skating Club to try to get weekly ice time, but I am unable to attend practices due to a timing conflict. The pop-up rink in the winter has given me the opportunity to engage with the ice on a more regular basis. Especially with the rink being my job, I was able to spend multiple hours on the ice every week.
For the past few years, the ice rink has been built on the parking lot of the Imagine Center. Located on the northern edge of campus, this building houses really nice study spaces, the study abroad office, Life Design Lab, and other campus resources. The rink stays there for approximately two months, from the beginning of January to the end of February. During this time, students, faculty, staff, and the general public are able to book tickets for 90-minute sessions. We have free rental skates on site, and a ticket comes with two concessions, including nachos, hot chocolate, and other snacks. One of my favorite parts about the rink is that it’s a super fun way to get some free merch as well! We have a few sessions each year where Hopkins merch like scarves, keychains, and tumblers are handed out to all skaters. Arguably the biggest plus, everything is free!
Not only are people able to come to open skate sessions, but also the Figure Skating Club offers biweekly lessons on Saturday mornings and Wednesday nights. These are group sessions geared towards beginners and those hoping to learn basic tricks (lunges, swizzles, etc.). Members of the club teach on Saturday mornings and stay after answering questions. As someone who has taught with the club before, it is so much fun to work with my peers and neighbors to learn a new skill and share my love for skating. And guess what? These lessons are also free!
Switching gears a bit to my employment at the rink, I might be a bit biased, but I think it was the best job I could have held. The hours were flexible, and I was able to come in when it best fit my schedule. Skating is one of my favorite activities and it’s made even better when I get to it with friends. As an employee, I got to be a skate guard, someone who is on the ice during the session and makes sure skaters are being safe and was always paired with a coworker friend. Sometimes my other friends would book tickets for sessions when I was skate guarding, and we’d have the chance to skate together too.
This job gave me the opportunity to meet so many people. From my bosses Gina and Forrest who work for the rink company, to fellow peers, to members of the Baltimore community, I was able to form numerous new connections that have lasted after the rink’s closure. It was a blessing to be able to enjoy some time on the ice each week (and get paid for it) as well as spending time with my friends and enjoying each other’s presence.
