Josh Ford is a senior studying International Politics in the School of Foreign Service. He is also minoring in Chinese and Art History. Originally from the United Kingdom, Georgetown’s emphasis on internationalism both inside and outside the classroom made the Hilltop feel like a home away from home!
“Honk if you love your Hoya!”
Standing at the front gates of campus, cheering loudly as new students arrive for the first time has been a highlight of every year I’ve spent at Georgetown University. As a senior, this year was all the more bittersweet. Being a part of New Student Orientation reminds me of my first day on the Hilltop, when my parents and I drove up to campus and were greeted by hordes of students cheering us on and welcoming me with open arms. At the time, I was scared of what a new life away from home would bring. Now, I stand where they did, coordinating chants and cheers for the incoming Hoyas.
The first month of senior year has been filled with the first of many lasts. After New Student Orientation concluded, I was thrown into the busyness of academics and catching up with friends, some of whom spent the spring studying abroad. As we exchanged the stories of our summers, I was once again reminded of how unique it is to study somewhere that encourages students to pursue their interests, whether that may be around the corner or around the globe.
The first week of classes was surreal. Leaving my house, coffee in hand, I passed by my first-year dorm, smiling to myself as I saw students emerging from the doors for their first day of college. It feels like just yesterday I was in their shoes, approaching my first week of college with trepidation and excitement. Now, seeing new students fall into the rhythm of life on campus is a comforting reminder of how much the Hilltop has become my home over the last three years.
During September, weeknights became filled with late-night ice cream runs to Thomas Sweets, presidential debate watch parties and monument walks. I went to Georgetown University Day at Nationals Stadium, watching the baseball game with my friends from Blue & Gray, Georgetown’s group of student tour guides.
I also had the honor of participating in Mr. Georgetown, an annual male pageant that’s become a cornerstone of campus tradition for over thirty years. Dance rehearsals for the pageant introduced me to a new group of fellow Hoyas, many of whom I now call friends. The experience reminded me that, even as a senior, Georgetown never fails to push me out of my comfort zone. Performing on the stage of Gaston Hall was a magical, albeit terrifying, experience. All that said, the Georgetown Program Board put on an amazing show, and I know I will look back on the experience with pride and gratitude for a supportive, close-knit campus community that it brought together.
Homecoming weekend brought reunions, fun and excitement to the Hilltop. The tailgate overlooking Cooper Field gave me a chance to catch up with alumni. I even got a picture with Jack the Bulldog! As a senior, homecoming was bittersweet, but I can’t wait to come back as an alum in the future.
Now that autumn is truly here, it’s time to make the most of the Georgetown Farmers Market Wednesdays, sitting under the big tree on Copley Lawn as the leaves change from green to red. I look forward to giving tours around campus (which I personally think looks its prettiest in the fall), and spending time with my parents as they visit campus for the last time before graduation. Overall, the first month of senior year has been a whirlwind, a reminder of everything I love about my life here on the Hilltop. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
