About Me

To whoever might be reading this, hello! Welcome to my first blog post! 

My name is Kacy Sekunda and I am a senior majoring in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. I’ve lived on campus at Loyola University Maryland for the entirety of my college experience, making this my fourth year in Baltimore. To be honest, I didn’t anticipate myself living here when I was little. I visited Baltimore for the first time when I was in second grade for a cruise out of the Inner Harbor, and didn’t give the city much thought. Growing up, I would hear people say that Baltimore wasn’t the nicest place. Therefore, I mentally ruled out the area before I even gave it a fair chance. My first few interactions with the city were all very brief. As I mentioned, I visited for a cruise and another time for my brother's basketball game at UMBC. That was the extent of my exposure until high school. My junior year, I was recruited to play volleyball at Loyola. This was the first time I truly gave this city a chance and considered what it would be like to live here. 

On a 2019 summer day in mid-August, I made my initial visit to Loyola. I was beyond nervous to come meet all the girls on the team and talk to the coaches, but my parents came along with me for the day. I remember driving up the winding road of North Charles Street, my heart thudding and echoing through my chest, as I soaked in my last few moments before we arrived. The campus was empty, but it was peacefully perfect. The grey stones that lined and connected the buildings across the quad, the trees that shuddered in the wind with a dance of life, and the homey feeling it gave to me stuck. Although there were no students in sight, I could picture the quad coming to life on a warm spring day. At this moment, I got excited picturing my future self here. In short, I knew Loyola was for me.

After four years, my impression of the area is that Baltimore is full of hidden gems, but it’s up to you to venture out and find them. I struggle with this at times. I am sometimes more of a homebody and because of my hectic schedule with volleyball, I would find it easy to stay in. Especially during my first couple of years here when I didn’t have a car. Without one, my experiences off campus were pretty limited. I would occasionally Uber to restaurants in Fells Point, or go down to Federal Hill too, but I didn’t leave too much other than that. I would walk around the local neighborhoods and when it got nicer, I loved visiting Sherwood Gardens for the pretty flowers. My freedom changed during the spring of my sophomore year when I finally got my car on campus. Having this freedom to drive made a huge difference, allowing me to explore outside of my typical spots around Loyola.

In my head, I categorize places into different “buckets.” The nature bucket includes some of my favorite outdoor spots like Loch Raven Reservoir and Roland Park. On a nice day, I love going for a walk or just sitting outside with a nice book and getting some fresh air. Another bucket would be food, which is one of my favorite things about Baltimore! There are tons of good options in the area, and my friends and I love to try new restaurants. Some of our go-to spots include Papi’s Tacos for amazing Mexican Food, Little Havana for their salsa/queso/guac stop light, and R. House, which is like a market of restaurants that has something for everyone. We also love Barcocina in Fells Point for tacos and margaritas, Mi & Yu Noodle Bar for ramen, and many restaurants in Little Italy for pasta. Each of these places has a unique atmosphere, making them a fun option for a casual dinner or a night out with friends! 

Of course, as much as I’ve grown to appreciate certain aspects of Baltimore, there are still things I don’t love. Safety is always at the back of my mind, and I’m always mindful of my surroundings. There are also some areas that feel a little run-down, and getting around with public transportation isn’t the most convenient. Loyola specifically isn’t ideal walking distance to many things, so having a car (or a friend with a car) makes the world of a difference! 

However, despite these drawbacks, I think Baltimore has a lot to offer if you take the time to explore. I’ve learned that Baltimore is what you make of it, which holds true for any place you live/visit. There are great spots to eat, fun places to go, and plenty of opportunities to step outside your comfort zone. I still feel like I have more to see, but I’m glad I gave this city a chance!