Family Weekend Recap
Johns Hopkins welcomed hundreds of Blue Jay parents and families from around the world to Homewood campus for Family Weekend on October 15–17. After last year's virtual experience, the 2021 celebration received a record number of registrations, with over 1,600 Blue Jay families signing up to attend. This year, students and families had the opportunity to connect with each other and the university through events that included historical campus walking tours, musical performances, painting classes, an address by President Ron Daniels, a mixer, and more. We also partnered with Recharge Charles Village for a two-day event that featured giveaways, dining specials, shopping experiences, live music, and entertainment to encourage families to support businesses in the Charles Village Retail District.
To ensure that all families had the opportunity to attend the event virtually, the President’s Address and the acapella concert were made available via live stream on our website. Families were also invited to submit their photos to the Blue Jay Family Photo Tribute Contest for a prize. Congratulations to the Parkers for being this year’s winner, and to the Aguedos and the Bernsteins for winning first and second honorable mentions respectively.
Visit the Hub to read more coverage and see more photos from Family Weekend!
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Distance is No Obstacle to Love: Carol Lu’s FLI Family Story
The experience of moving away from home to attend college can be intimidating for many first-year students. And when home is a twelve-hour flight from Baltimore, it’s not exactly easy to schedule a quick weekend visit with family.
But when Carol Lu arrived at Johns Hopkins, she felt prepared for the challenge. “I was used to being independent, so it wasn’t much of a struggle,” she says, reflecting on her first year as a Blue Jay.
Carol was born in New York but spent most of her childhood in Hawaii with her mother, stepfather, and half-brother. Her mother Katie immigrated to the United States from China and isn’t fluent in English, so unlike many of her peers, Carol didn’t grow up with a parent who could easily provide help with schoolwork or academic planning.
“Coming from that background, you learn how to do everything on your own. I remember hearing about other children getting homework help, or having their parents review their homework before they submitted it. I remember thinking, is that a thing?” she says.
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How Families Can Support Student Success and Well-Being
In November, as we settle into our rhythms and routines for the fall academic semester, it is a perfect time to stop and take stock of our well-being. Life in general gives us joys and challenges, but with the added stressors of 2020 and 2021, it is even more important to pause and reflect on our mental, emotional, and physical health.
The past year and a half has been full of uncertainty, anxiety, and threats to our health and safety. Many of us rushed to come back to campus, restart jobs, and/or re-engage in our “normal” lives. However, we may not have had the opportunity to reflect on what our normal life should look like. As you contemplate ways to support your student’s health and well-being, keep in mind these tips.
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Things to Consider for Fall Break
It is almost time for Fall Break, which is scheduled for November 22–26. Here are some things to consider:
If your student plans on staying on campus:
- Residence Halls will be open;
- Dining will be open but limited;
- It is recommended that your student notify their RA that they will be staying during Fall Break.
If your student plans on coming home:
- Have your student only bring home what is essential for the week;
- Travel will be different this year, so be sure to check the airline/train/transportation website for the latest public health protocols;
- Be sure your Blue Jay lets the Housing Office and their RA know of their plans to travel.
Regardless of your student’s plans:
It’s exciting that your student has some time off from class and might be traveling home this Fall Break! This is also a great time to connect with your Blue Jay about upcoming finals, Intersession, and their plans for how to remain balanced through the end of the semester. Here are some topics we encourage you to discuss with your student:
Intersession classes – Discuss if your student is interested in taking an Intersession course. Each January, academic departments representing the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and the Whiting School of Engineering sponsor a diverse set of one, two, or three-week courses that are not typically offered during the academic year. Students may take one or two intersession courses, which are graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory.
Midterms – Ask your student how their midterms went and how they would gauge their efforts to prepare. It’s always a great opportunity to share resources from the Office of Academic Support, such as the Learning Den and Study Consultants.
Balancing Finals and Health – While finals can be a very stressful time for students (and for families!), it’s always a great idea to encourage your Blue Jay to have a plan for how they will balance studying, exams, writing papers, meals, sleep and everything else. Planting some seeds early for them about how to balance it all and take care of their physical and mental health can really make a difference.
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November 8 — National First-Generation College Student Day
November 12 — Last day for course withdrawal via Student Information System; Last day to change enrollment grading system ("S/U")
November 22–26 — Thanksgiving Break, no classes
December 3 — Lighting of the Quads
December 6 — Last day of classes
December 7–10 — Reading period
December 13–21 — Final examination period
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Upcoming Blue Jay Family Webinars
The Blue Jay Family Webinar Series continues this month! The next online seminar is titled "Bouncing Back: Understanding What Your Jay Needs" and is scheduled for Wednesday, November 17 at 7 p.m. ET. The webinar will share tips and strategies for how to help students and families refocus, reconnect, and put more time into their well-being. You can register online to attend.
On Wednesday, December 8 at 7 p.m. ET we will hold another webinar titled "Pre-Med Planning for your JHU Student." Please join the Pre-Professional Advising team as they discuss pre-med services, review traits of a successful medical school, and more. Register here.
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Fall Fun at Homewood
Our annual fall tradition of Hoptoberfest, a weeklong celebration designed to foster community and offer students a well-deserved break from their studies, kicked off during the first week of October. This year’s activities and events included a pumpkin patch on the Beach, a spooky haunted house, a petting zoo, an evening glow yoga event, a fun-filled field day, a student talent showcase, a movie night, and a grand finale performance by singer Zella Day. A spooktacular thanks to the Hopkins Parents Fund for their continued support of this great tradition! View the Hub's coverage for photos from the week's events.
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Health and Well-Being Updates
One of Johns Hopkins' priorities is the well-being of our students—we understand the importance of Blue Jays being mentally, spiritually, and academically fulfilled. The well-being website offers resources, news, and other content dedicated to educating and informing students about how to better care for themselves.
Additionally, in response to concern for the safety and well-being of our community and the desire to complement Campus Safety and Security's response to behavioral health crises, JHU is developing a Behavioral Health Crisis Support team. More information on this initiative will be available soon.
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Visit the Hub for the latest university news and events.
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