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One Thing in Common

All of these students are starting their first semester at Johns Hopkins...

Other than that, they're quite a mixed bunch. They come from around here. They come from all over the world. They're so young. They're a little older. They're starting fresh. They're starting over. They like pop music. They're devoted to classical. They want to save time. They want to save the world. You get the picture.

By Catherine Pierre
Photos by Will Kirk


Awori Hayanga, MPH student, Bloomberg School of Public Health
Age: 33
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Studying: Health policy. (He holds a medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and is a Sommer-World Health Organization Scholar at Hopkins.)

What's at the top of your playlist? Classics for a New Century. Web site you visit most often: Google, but I check CNN every day. The most recent cause you volunteered for: A clean-up project in Pig Town. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: Disparities in economic standing, not just in terms of poverty, but access. For example, you may be able to afford food, clothing, and housing, but if you don't have access to a certain amount of care, or access to the Internet, that limits your ability to compete in a global market. My favorite sound is: A cello. What are you passionate about? Music, industriousness, excellence. When did you figure out what you wanted to do with your life? I still haven't. I have a certainty about the direction, but I don't know exactly what the coordinates of the best destination are. Why Hopkins? Reputation. No one ever is skeptical about the quality of Hopkins. What's next? Complete my surgical training, then look for a job. I also have a foundation, the RJW Foundation, that allows exchange between surgeons in the United States, here at Hopkins, and in Nairobi.



Anne Cavett, BSN student, School of Nursing
Age: 30
Hometown: Grew up in Tucson, but has lived in Seattle for the last four years
Studying: Nursing. (She will continue with the MSN/MPH program to become a family nurse practitioner.)

What's at the top of your playlist? NPR's "Wait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me" podcast. The most recent cause you volunteered for: As a birth dula (a labor support provider) at the University of Washington Medical Center. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: Violence. An adjective you wish described you: Energy-filled. My favorite sound is: A sigh of contentment. What are you passionate about? Childbirth, choice in childbirth, women's health. What's in your book bag? Pens, a hi-liter, my iPod, Werther's Originals, a granola bar, lotion, a long-sleeve shirt because it's really cold in class, 30 pounds of books, a water bottle. Why Hopkins? It was the right fit with the combined MSN/MPH program, and the faculty are impressive and approachable. Also, Mary O'Rourke [director of admissions at Nursing] gave me a hug the first time I met her. That really sealed the deal. What's next? Saving the world! I'll be here for a while. But then, I hope to work as a primary care provider for the underserved.



Thuy Dao, PhD student, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
Age: 22
Hometown: Grew up in Vietnam; moved to Seattle in 1999
Studying: Biophysics. (Holds a bachelor's in biochemistry, biophsyics, and molecular biology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.)

Web site you visit most often: Facebook. The most recent cause you volunteered for: Translating for the Red Cross. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: More children going to school. An adjective you wish described you: Outgoing. What are you passionate about? Science, doing lots and lots of science — not the curing cancer kind of science, but basic science that improves our knowledge about life. What's in your book bag? Now? A lot of science articles. I wish there were more hours in the day to: Do science. I'm quite a nerd. When did you figure out what you wanted to do with your life? At the end of my junior year of college, I took biophysics, and I realized that it tied everything together. What's next? Hopefully, graduate. Then I want to teach college students, to make people realize how fascinating the subject of biophysics is. Why Hopkins? Really friendly people, exciting research. What's next? Teaching at a small college.



Emily Koh, junior exchange student, Peabody Conservatory
Age: 21
Hometown: Singapore
Studying: Composition; plays double bass in the Peabody Orchestra

Web site you visit most often: My blog, emilykoh.blogspot.com. The most recent cause you volunteered for: The Junior Bach program, where I teach children at St. Ignacious Loyola Academy. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: Sexual discrimination, not so much here, but in other parts of the world, especially Asian countries. An adjective you wish described you: Funny. I try to be funny, but it doesn't work most of the time. My favorite sound is: Silence. What are you passionate about? Art museums, flea markets, food. What's in your book bag? Homework, and also The World of Psychology — something I read when I'm doing nothing. I just got it at the Baltimore Book Festival. You wish there were more hours in the day to: Work . . . Oh, that's not cool . . . Why Hopkins? I wanted to get out of Singapore. What's next? I have to go back, but I'd like to come back to the States and back to Hopkins.



Patton Holliday, MBA student, Carey Business School
Age: 28
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Studying: International business. (A full-time naval officer who works at the Pentagon, he received his undergraduate degree from the Naval Academy and went to flight school.)

What's at the top of your playlist? "Avalon," by Brian Ferry. I couldn't start my day without: Water, waffles, and wordless music. Web site you visit most often: Drudge Report. The most recent cause you volunteered for: I spoke to a class of new government employees about my childhood in the Middle East and the importance of admiring different cultures. An adjective you wish described you: Focused. My favorite sound is: White noise. It's 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Where are you? Reading next to my wife. What are you passionate about? Family, being community-oriented, work ethic. What's in your book bag? Four books on ethics, my Navy flight-hours logbook, a Moleskine planner, and lots of loose change. I wish there were more hours in the day to: Exercise. Why Hopkins? I'm attached to Maryland, where I got my undergraduate degree, and Hopkins' reputation is balanced between academic prestige and practical application. What's next? A larger family.



Sarah Durica, freshman, Krieger School
Age: 18
Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma
Studying: International studies

What's at the top of your playlist? "Bubbly," by Colbie Caillat. I couldn't start my day without: Hot chocolate. The most recent cause you volunteered for: Oklahoma State Senate Democrats' political action committee, doing opposition research on Jim Inhofe; we dug up dirt on him. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: The gap between Third World or developing countries and the First World, in terms of health care, money, responsible government. An adjective you wish described you: Carefree. It's 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Where are you? Sitting on my bed studying or video conferencing with my boyfriend. What are you passionate about? I am very passionate about the lives of people in foreign countries and people being understanding of others; politics, especially international politics; biology, in the sense of the human body. I wish there were more hours in the day to: Read the news — I never get to read the news anymore. Why Hopkins? Because they gave me money. I'm a Hodson Scholar. What's next? Med school. I might take a couple of years off and do some Peace Corps work. I don't have my plans ironed out fully.



Mohammad Modarres, freshman, Krieger School Age: 19
Hometown: Paramus, New Jersey
Studying : Public health

What's at the top of your playlist? "In My Life," by the Beatles. I couldn't start my day without: Meditation. Web site you visit most often: TED.com. The most recent cause you volunteered for: Johns Hopkins Tutorial Project and the Peace Project, a charity group I created that brings awareness to humanitarian efforts around the world through art and design. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: Clean water in all of Africa. An adjective you wish described you: Genius. My favorite sound is: A child laughing — that's why I love Tutorial Project. My least favorite sound is a child crying. What are you passionate about? Art. What's in your book bag? My bioethics book, Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine; my Project Health binder — I volunteer at La Carolina clinic downtown; a clipboard because I'm left-handed so I can't write on the desks. Why Hopkins? Great professors, Baltimore, public health, amazing interesting people, the weather. What's next? I wanted to go to Ghana for Intersession, but it's not going to happen. So maybe I'll do some clinical research in California, or maybe I'll stay here and do some research.



Luke Stough (Dwight's stepson), MAT student, School of Education
Age: 24
Hometown: Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Studying: Teaching, with a focus on elementary education. (He earned his bachelor's in psychology from Penn State.)

What's at the top of your playlist? Queens of the Stone Age. Web site you visit most often: ESPN.com. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: Organized religion (well, the misuse of it). An adjective you wish described you: Omnipotent. What are you passionate about? Sports, and learning things. I'm just a curious person. What's in your book bag? My teacher's manual for reading, textbooks, ibuprofen. When did you figure out what you wanted to do with your life? A year and a half ago. I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but it just kind of hit me that I'd much rather deal with little kids. Why Hopkins? One-year master's degree. My stepdad told me about the program. What's next? I really hope to move back to Pennsylvania to teach.

Dwight Lakner (Luke's stepfather), MAT student, School of Education
Age: 53
Hometown: Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Studying: Teaching, with a focus on elementary education. (He earned a degree in musical education from Penn State.)

What's at the top of your playlist? Beethoven piano sonatas. I couldn't start my day without: My granola. Web site you visit most often: Weather Channel — we sail a lot. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: Global warming. An adjective you wish described you: Calm. My favorite sound is: Ocean surf. What are you passionate about? Music, the environment, my family. When did you figure out what you wanted to do with your life? I spent 28 years working in the food service distribution industry in finance and accounting. About three years ago, I started to think I wanted to do something more fulfilling, something that would let me come home and feel like I did something important. I started to think about teaching. Why Hopkins? Reputation. I didn't even look into any other programs. What's next? Teaching, hopefully fourth or fifth grade.



Chelsea Gonzales, freshman, Whiting School of Engineering
Age: 18
Hometown: Clovis, California
Studying: Environmental engineering

I couldn't start my day without: Water. Web site you visit most often: Definitely MySpace. The most recent cause you volunteered for: A homeless shelter in Fresno a couple times a month. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: Global warming. An adjective you wish described you: Organized. I always plan to keep papers and binders organized, and something always goes wrong. My favorite sound is: Zap. It's 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Where are you? Doing my calculus homework in my room. What are you passionate about? The environment. Coming from California, I think the pollution issue is a major problem and something I want to focus on in my line of work. I wish there were more hours in the day to: Sleep. Why Hopkins? Great research, wonderful community, and a variety of resources. What's next? I'm planning on doing the five-year environmental engineering program, so I'll get a bachelor's and master's, then hopefully go back to California and work in some area of pollution research.



Brandon Metcalf, MD student, School of Medicine
Age: 23
Hometown: Baltimore
Studying: Medicine. (He holds a bachelor's in biology from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.)

What's at the top of your playlist? Rolling Stones, any album. I couldn't start my day without: Coffee. Most recent cause you volunteered for: Painted a community center; I also started tutoring a fifth-grade boy from the community. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: Lack of health care. An adjective you wish described you: Spunky. My favorite sound is: The telephone ringing. What are you passionate about? Other than medicine? I would say global health, traveling. When did you figure out what you wanted to do with your life? I've actually known since fifth grade. I was assigned a book report, and I chose [Hopkins neurosurgeon] Ben Carson's Gifted Hands, and I knew from then on that I wanted to be a physician who was as compassionate as he is and also as skilled. Why Hopkins? For me it just fit. What's next? I like to think in the short term, so next is a quiz tomorrow.



Chantelle Boudreaux, dual-degree master's student, Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Age: 27
Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana
Studying: International relations, with a focus on international health policy. (She received her undergraduate degree in biology from New College of Florida and a MHS from the Bloomberg School.)

What's at the top of your playlist? Probably something by the Shins. The most recent cause you volunteered for: I just signed up with Habitat for Humanity. The one world problem you'd most like to see solved: Inequities in health care. It's 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Where are you? Quiz night at the bar. What are you passionate about? My main interest is in societies that are in economic transition. When did you figure out what you wanted to do with your life? I guess when I was working in Ireland [in 2002] at a shelter for people who were facing addictions, mostly heroin addiction. I'd already planned on going into the medical field, but it was at that point that I realized the importance of public health. Why Hopkins? I'm doing a dual degree at SAIS and the Bloomberg School, and Hopkins is very strong in both fields. What's next? Ultimately I hope to work on building health systems, in either transitional or post-conflict countries.


Return to November 2007 Table of Contents

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