It felt bittersweet walking around campus on the first day of the new semester knowing this is my last year at Hopkins. The start of the semester was ostensibly the last time I promised myself I would suddenly become the Type A person who goes for a run at 6 a.m. before class. Like all the semesters before, I have not kept up with this goal, but as a senior, I am still committed to my other goal: making the most out of my remaining time at Hopkins.
To me, a successful end to my time at Hopkins means exploring subjects I haven’t yet had the chance to while remembering to have fun and enjoy my time on campus, with my friends, and in Baltimore.
In terms of exploring all the possibilities at Hopkins, I had the somewhat ambitious idea to declare a second major in film and media studies as a senior—though I wouldn’t say it’s all that crazy, given the flexibility of the curriculum here.
My primary major is economics, and this semester I am taking “Tools for Writing an Economic Research Paper,” where we’re guided through the process of conducting economic research and developing a research paper of our own. My research focuses on labor force participation rates under different political party leaderships. Although time-consuming, it’s been a rewarding experience to begin a large-scale project, which I seem to be doing quite a bit this semester.
I’ve recently begun my Senior Capstone for Film and Media Studies—a feature-length screenplay. Under the advisement of a faculty member, all film and media studies seniors complete an individual project. There is a lot of freedom in what you can create; I have friends working on documentaries and animated films, but I love to write and have been having the time of my life developing my screenplay. It’s quite fulfilling to know this project is something I’m going to be proud of after many hours of thought, and to be supported throughout the process.
I am also taking a few film analysis courses, including “Writing About Film” where we focus on developing our expository skills, as well as “Introduction to Cinema, 1892-1960,” where we learn about film history.
This semester, I’m also studying Arabic, which is the first language course I’ve enrolled in at Hopkins. I decided to take Arabic because it is the primary language of most of my relatives; I’ve always wanted to better communicate with my extended family, but lacked an environment where I could learn. When I was in high school the options of languages I could study were limited, but at Hopkins, that is not the case. Taking a course outside both my majors has allowed me to meet new students from all disciplines. I didn’t expect to make so many new friends this year and I’m so happy that I have!
My primary goal for the semester is to remember to enjoy my time here. It’s not only my last year at Hopkins but probably my last few months in Baltimore for a while, so my friends and I are making it a point to try out all the restaurants we’ve been meaning to visit. Some highlights have been Tapas Teatro, Bunny’s Buckets & Bubbles, and Grano Pasta Bar.
I’m also focusing on becoming more involved on campus. I was recently elected as one of the co-chairs of the Hopkins Lecture Series, a new organization that brings high-profile guest speakers to campus. It’s very exciting to be part of a wonderful team that organizes events bringing together students, faculty, staff, and community members to engage in thoughtful conversations on political and social issues.
Me and the rest of the Hopkins Lecture Series board meeting Andrew Yang before our event
Even though I’m super busy, it’s in a good way! From learning a new language to planning events I’m looking forward to, this semester for me is about making the most out of all the opportunities I have at my fingertips at Hopkins.
