Spring break in college is an interesting phenomenon. It’s known as a sort of cultural institution across America, a weeklong romp for hard-working college students to enjoy themselves and let off some steam. The saying “work hard, play hard” comes to mind, and most definitely applies to students at Hopkins.
Everyone engages with spring break in their own unique way. I’ve taken it as an opportunity to discover NYC. I’ve visited the city three times now, and for good reason. Growing up in Oakland, CA, I’d travelled on the east coast a bit, but finding my home in Baltimore gave me a new way of engaging with the region. Taking advantage of different transit options like Amtrak and the many bus operators has been a great way of getting to the places I want to most. It helps that accessing Penn Station from campus is super easy. I usually catch the JHMI, a free Hopkins bus that runs between Homewood and the medical campuses and stops right at the station. From there, I’ll sit back and enjoy the scenery while listening to music or reading, my excitement building at the prospect of popping up in the heart of Manhattan.
Arriving at Penn station in Manhattan is quite an experience. Midtown is a pretty hectic area, and I’ll usually opt to head on over to Astoria Queens to unwind at my sister’s apartment. She moved to the city around four years ago and managed to score an awesome apartment with great views of Manhattan.
My sister works as an urban planner designing greenways, which are dedicated paths for cycling, throughout the northeast. I think for this reason, cycling has become a huge part of my experience when I’m visiting NYC. From checking out restaurants and cafes, to going on field work trips to monitor the status of routes, almost everything we do in the city is by bike. I see it as such an explorative, genuine way of interacting with the urban landscape. In combination with the subway system, discovering all the city has to offer is so fun and easy.
My partner-in-crime for these trips is my best friend at Hopkins, Jerome. His sister also lives in the city, and being there together has been so much fun. We’re big fans of checking out cafes around the city, and while I know spring break is supposedly a time away from work, there’s something satisfying and cinematic about taking the time to recenter and set goals for last chunk of the semester. On nights out, we’ll usually pop by different bars or live shows. I love the jazz scene; there’s always a speakeasy or bar to visit and enjoy some drinks and experience the music. I’ve been lucky to get to see my favorite artist, a neo-soul singer named Bilal, in concert several times now.
NYC has got to be my favorite city in the world. There is always something to do, and getting the opportunity during spring break to experience them with family and friends has been life- changing. For my senior year spring break trip, we’ll be continuing the tradition of visiting NYC, except with a small twist. After a stop in New York, me and Jerome will be catching the Adirondack train up to Montreal! I’ve heard so many things about this route, and I look forward to experiencing it. Jerome is considering McGill University for grad school, and we’re taking the trip as an opportunity for him to assess the vibes of living there.
Spring break is such an exciting time at Hopkins. Students here enjoy the break in so many ways, from relaxing on the beach in Puerto Rico to exploring cities in the northeast. Visiting new places can be fun and exciting, but if you’re anything like me, maybe you’ll fall in love with a particular destination, and it’ll become a staple of your experience during your time at Hopkins.
