Icebreaker

My first toolbox, from my now husband when we were both juniors and we moved off campus. He was helping me assemble Ikea furniture, and he was appalled I didn't own a screwdriver. Lulis Navarro, A&S '15

My JHU lacrosse teammates, who have become my brothers for life. Patrick Russell, A&S '89

Time with a family member or loved one has always been a gift I would not exchange for any monetary or physical gift. Having just lost my mother this year, and my brother to ALS [Lou Gehrig's disease] a few years ago, has only reinforced those thoughts. Tim Dixon, Ed '00 (MS)

The greatest gift I ever received (outside of the gift of marriage) was being accepted into the 2/5 program (BA/MD). It completely changed my life for the better in almost every way, including leading me to meet my wife. Harold Goll, A&S '78, Med '81 (MD), Bus '00 (Cert), '03 (MBA)

My graduation gift of a trip to Africa—Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa—developed my love for travel and discovery, showed me inequity, and gave me an unyielding passion for health policy. Further, seeing animals in the wild reaffirmed my commitment to freedom. Ana Rita Gonzalez, BSPH '94 (ScD)

As a vocalist, being able to communicate effectively and receiving unabashed feedback is the best gift. Tessa Wegenke, Peab '12 (MM)

I started at Hopkins barely even knowing that lacrosse existed. Well, that changed quickly. My freshman dormmates and I all went out and bought sticks and learned how to throw and catch. We were treated to exciting, championship-level seasons for four years in the early-to-mid-1980s. We played a little intramural lacrosse. Then, when I went "across the pond" for graduate school, I ended up on the Cambridge University lacrosse team as a walk-on for the goalkeeper position. I continued to play club ball when I returned to the U.S. for medical school. Fast-forward four decades, and I'm still playing as a goalkeeper, in an "old guys" league. I am still an avid college lacrosse fan, and I have coached some youth lacrosse. I could have received a top-notch education and research experiences at other universities—though I feel Hopkins was the perfect fit for me—but nowhere else would've given me the gift of lacrosse. Colin Phoon, A&S '85, HS '93

Next up: In first-year seminars and Writing Center events, Johns Hopkins students and faculty are discussing a common question: What is human? Readers, we want to know how you would answer. Write to jdb@jhu.edu with ICEBREAKER in the subject line.