Five Small Joys Brightening My September at Hopkins

It’s only been a couple of weeks since I stepped onto the Homewood campus, and already September feels both frantic and exhilarating. Between lecture halls, club fairs, and endless to‑do lists, I keep reminding myself to carve out little pockets of happiness. Here are the five modest things that have been lighting up my days.

1. Getting my body moving first thing in the morning

I love to sleep—seriously, I’ve had summer days where I slept eleven straight hours and still wanted more. College, however, doesn’t really grant that luxury, so I’ve started each day with a bit of motion. Most mornings I head down to the Wolman Hall gym for a quick routine: a few stretches, ten minutes of cardio, then some light weight‑lifting. I’m far from a gym guru, but that elevated heart rate jolts me awake, no matter how tired or stressed I feel. When the gym feels like too much, I just wander the campus hills, climbing stairs and taking brisk walks. An unexpected perk? Saying a simple “Good morning” to the security guard at the desk each time I pass by. It feels a little awkward at first, but that brief greeting sets a warm tone for everything that follows.

2. Planning a tiny weekend treat

Nothing fuels productivity like a modest reward waiting at week’s end. This past Friday, my friends Connie, Zia, and I plotted a quick trip to Trader Joe’s because our snack stash—and more importantly, our mint gum—was running dangerously low. Between reading assignments and club applications, the prospect of a grocery run turned into a morale boost. By the time Friday rolled around we had knocked out the week’s work, packed up a massive haul of microwave‑friendly meals, and enjoyed a “Trader Joe’s‑sponsored” dinner in the common room. It was silly, inexpensive, and exactly the kind of low‑key celebration that kept us sane.

3. Calling home to hear familiar voices

I grew up in Singapore, a place that feels worlds away from Baltimore in climate, culture, and cadence. The excitement of starting college was quickly tinged with occasional homesickness. A quick call to my parents, grandparents, or high‑school friends—whether from a quiet corner of the library or the bustling common room—helps stitch that distance back together. Even a five‑minute chat, hearing their laughter or a familiar phrase, grounds me and reminds me why I’m here.

4. Hunting down free goodies around campus

Free stuff is the universal language of joy, and Hopkins seems fluent in it. Thanks to the @jhufreestuff Instagram account, I’ve learned about pop‑up events that hand out pens, stickers, bears, and even sweatpants. During orientation I collected a tote, a foldable grocery bag, and a handful of stickers—all perfect souvenirs for my family back home. The Student Involvement Fair turned into a treasure hunt, and while the free‑bie frenzy may taper later, the memories of those first‑week scavenger hunts still bring a smile.

5. Finding quiet moments to breathe

Amid the hustle, I’ve started carving out micro‑breaks: a minute of mindful breathing on the balcony, a quick sketch in my notebook, or simply watching the sunrise over the Charles River. Those fleeting pauses don’t solve big problems, but they remind me that I’m still present, still capable of feeling content.

So that’s my September checklist: move, treat, call, collect, and breathe. They’re small, yes, but together they make the whirlwind of freshman year feel a little more like home.