Meet Our Instructors: Sam Rapuri

Sam Rapuri

Major: Biomedical Engineering & Computer Science

Year: Class of 2026

What is something you’ve leaned from your students?

Despite middle school not being too long ago for me as a third-year undergraduate at Hopkins, I’m constantly impressed by the resilience and adaptability of my students. It’s easy to forget that middle and high school are periods of rapid social and academic change, and navigating them is truly challenging. Even with the many obstacles they face my students come to class ready to learn without being bogged down by all that’s going on around them. I’m always amazed by how much they manage to juggle, and I deeply admire their strength and determination.

What is your favorite lesson you’ve taught? Why?

My favorite lesson was when we close-read “The Ingredients” by Jason Reynolds as a class. That day, my students and I had coincidentally skipped lunch, and the plot centered on kids from Brooklyn heading home from a pool party to build the ultimate sandwich. As we read, I highlighted the author’s use of descriptive language and figurative language in describing the sandwich creation process. In the midst of our discussion, one student's stomach grumbled unexpectedly, sparking laughter from everyone in the class and giving a real world example of the power of effective storytelling!

What would a perfect morning look like for you?

My perfect morning starts with waking up to a bright and sunny day. Afterwards, I would savor a big, hot cup of coffee while settling into my favorite corner in a quiet coffee shop near me.