Find/try to find your passion(s) and go after it (them)!

While this is a very cliche statement, I think that it is especially true at a place like Dartmouth which has so many opportunities. I think I spent too much of my time at Dartmouth doing things I thought I "should" be doing instead of things I really wanted to be doing. By "should" I mean things that I did in high school or that I already felt comfortable doing. My junior year, I was in my first theater production--something I have always wanted to do. The theater department at Dartmouth is full of an incredible staff of directors and production workers. The students that were in the production with me (and the production I did the following term) were some of the nicest and most talented individuals that I have ever met. Theater was not a "passion" of mine per se, but it showed me how many more things there were to do at Dartmouth that I had never considered before. I suggest that incoming students (CONGRATS 2014s!) do their best to explore new opportunities at Dartmouth. There are so many activities, off campus opportunities, internships, service trips, sports, music ensembles, performances, trails, etc. to explore! Go for it!

Image Courtesy of http://www.artevo.com/mmPPA/Images/012963_actual.jpg from "Oh, The Places You Can Go" by Dr. Seuss '25

*TAKE ** THE ** TIME*

As a graduating senior, there are quite a few things I would tell myself... but since I can only choose one, I would have to say learn how to manage your time EARLY ON. It definitely took me over a year to figure out how to effectively manage my time to fit classes, homework, extracurricular activities, work-study, concerts, breakfast/lunch/dinner, dance parties, traveling off-campus, etc. into my schedule. I took most of these activities for granted all through high school because those decisions were already made for me. Everything was planned out so all I ever had to do was show up.

In college, it's a completely different story because YOU make the decisions about where you want to be and what you want to do. Of course, having this kind of freedom is one of the greatest benefits of being a college student because you finally get to make your own rules and explore the things that you're really interested in. It's a double-edged sword however.

I can't tell you how many fantastic lectures and performances I've missed simply because I didn't put them on my calendar. If I could go back in time, I would tell my freshmen self to stay away from the high school mentality of getting involved in everything that sounds remotely interesting; instead focus on your passions. There are over 300 clubs and activities at Dartmouth and they don't need to see my face at every single meeting. Plan more dinners with close friends, sleepovers, and just plain chill time. College is supposed to be one of the most fun experiences of your life ---> make sure to put FUN on your calendar!

Photo courtesy of http://users.wfu.edu/faulcd7/g711.gif

NEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

This is the first new question of the week for the Spring term. Check back over the next few days to read all our contributor's responses.

Question: If you could go back in time to the day you received your acceptance to Dartmouth and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

Picture credit: http://www.uvu.edu/ist/ExcitedStudent.jpg

SPRING TERM IS HERE!

Spring term classes have finally started here on the hill. We will resume our regular postings this week! Please keep checking back for new posts and as always, feel free to read older posts and leave comments!

If you haven't seen it yet, the Dartmouth Admissions Office just launched it's new website, which you can find here.

Senior Spring Break Road Trip!

Three friends of mine and I decided to go on a road trip down the east coast. We left Hanover on the 17th and went to New York City and Washington DC for a few days. We are currently in Savannah, GA (if you come here, you MUST go to Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding House for lunch; it is the best "southern" meal that I have had outside of the ones my family cooks) and are leaving for New Orleans tomorrow where we will end our trip and head back to Hanover for spring classes. It has been very nice to have easy access to the east coast from Hanover. I think that it is in large part what made this trip possible (well, that and the generosity of my friends' parents/Dartmouth alums for letting us stay with them)!

What we're doing for spring break...

So a few of us interns are doing Alternative Spring Break service trips. That's why we haven't been posting. I'm in Kentucky on a rural healthcare trip, Uthman is in San Franciso on a "Faith in Action Trip," and Nichole is in the Dominican Republic working with Haitian refugees. Check out what we're up to on our ASBs!! Will be back soon!

http://ourdartmouth.com

Spring has sprung!

Students are away on spring break right now. We'll be posting periodically about spring break adventures, and then we'll be back in full swing once classes resume in April.

NEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is your most memorable moment at Dartmouth

The posts below respond to last week's question: What has been the highlight of your winter 2010 term?

Dartmouth Hockey -- Tennis Balls on the Rink

Here is video from a Dartmouth-Princeton game!

Dartmouth + Princeton + Hockey = Tennis Balls???

Like Harmony, the highlight of my winter term was going to my first Dartmouth hockey game. However, this wasn't just any hockey game...this was THE Princeton game. Here at Dartmouth we have a lot of traditions, and the Dartmouth-Princeton hockey game is one of them. When Dartmouth scores its first goal against Princeton we pelt the Princeton goalie with tennis balls! It may be sort of mean spirited, but its tradition--so it's okay!. Every year we get a delay of game charge because a crew has to clear off the ice. This year was even funnier than most because the first goal we scored didn't wind up counting so people threw all the tennis balls and then realized that the ref had taken away our point. When we did score again, another wave of tennis balls flooded the ice! We got two delay of game charges that game! It was amazing to see so many lime green tennis balls on the ice and to see the crews scrambling to get them up.

Now I can check this off of my list of traditions I've taken part in at Dartmouth. Check out picture and video from Princeton games!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN-zE3uGxUU

H*O*C*K*E*Y G*A*M*E

I'm ashamed to say that this term is the first time I've gone to a hockey game. What a big mistake! The game was absolutely SENSATIONAL. It was the Men's last home game and the seniors' last chance to skate for Dartmouth so they definitely came through and represented the Big Green. We came from behind to beat Cornell 5-4 in one of the most epic battles ever. Every time a hockey player got too close to the boards, I saw another player appear out of nowhere and basically make him eat glass...it was great! During the first two quarters, the Cornell goalie seemed invincible, almost like a brick wall that no one could break. However, the Dartmouth team pulled through with incredible skating, passing and scoring. My favorite part was feeling the energy and excitement in the stadium when we scored our last goal with a minute to go on the clock. For a breathtaking 60 seconds, we played some of the best defense I've ever seen. I also enjoyed eating hot dogs and cotton candy from the concession stand all evening - so wonderful.

Picture credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21827442@N07/4102365770/

Tumbling!

The highlight of my winter term was my tumbling gym class. I have always wanted to learn how to do flips and this gym class, offered only in the winter, was the perfect opportunity to learn to do so. The class is taught by the coach of the Dartmouth Gymnastics team, which no longer exists. While I was one of the only people that took the class that had no previous experience, by the end of the term I was able to do a front handspring, walk on my hands, one-handed cartwheels, and do forward and back extension rolls. It was so much fun getting credit for rolling around in the middle of the day!

Dartmouth undergrads have a gym requirement. Students must take 3 gym classes to graduate. These classes are mostly seasonal, but include average sports like tennis to things like ice fishing, meditations, and skeet shooting. There is something for everyone!

Getting the Internship of my Dreams

So I know its a little early to start thinking about summer, but I already am because I was able to accept an offer of a lifetime. Through Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), I am able to work with Teach for America (TFA) this summer which was the highlight of my winter term. Even though I will not be in the classroom, I will have the opportunity to see how TFA operates behind the scenes. I honestly believe that the combination of being able to take Education classes and participating in volunteer opportunities that work with middle school students allowed me to receive the internship. I was able to show SEO that I truly wanted to make a difference in and outside of the classroom.

Dartmouth offers a lot of opportunities to those who care about education. From its teacher certification program, to its work with bringing middle school students from inner city schools to Dartmouth for the summer, to its program for high school students in the local area to help prepare them to take their SATs, to its classes that focus on education policy. If you have the slightest inkling that you would like to do something in education, Dartmouth definitely has the opportunities for you to get hands on training.

To find out more about SEO, please visit this website: http://www.seo-usa.org/Home
To find out more about TFA, please visit this website: http://www.teachforamerica.org/
To find out more about a few of the volunteer opportunities geared towards education that Dartmouth has to offer, please visit this website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~tucker/dcs/school/

SKIING THE NORTHEAST

So I know I am from the Northeast, but the highlight of my winter term has been skiing as much as possible, both at the Dartmouth Skiway and traveling up north with friends to Stowe, VT. It's great to have the Skiway so close for those quick doses of skiing, but also nice to go on a bit of a road trip with friends up to one of the best ski mountains in New England. Whether or not you know how to ski before coming to Dartmouth, you will almost certainly get out on the slopes at least a few times, and chances are, end up loving it. Oh and it helps that all of the local ski areas have student discounts...use them while you can!

Picture credit: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4272949472_1de1b6d1e4_o.jpg

Just a normal plane ride right?

So here is one tip I always jokingly tell prospective students whenever I discuss the alumni network at Dartmouth: never wear Dartmouth gear at the airport if you don't feel like talking to anyone about Dartmouth or if you know you will be running late for your plane flight.

Any time I wear Dartmouth gear at the airport, I am very likely to bump into someone who has attended Dartmouth before and wants to know all about how my experience is at their alma mater. I was actually almost late for my flight because an alumnus wanted to stop and talk to me about how Dartmouth was going.

The most recent experience I have had with alumni in airports was actually on my trip back to Dartmouth after my winter break. I meet a young alumnus, an '02, who is working in Washington, DC. We were actually sitting across from each other and she noticed my Dartmouth gear. We ended up chatting for a long while about how things were different, what were the same, how she loved her experience, what I should do with the rest of my time at Dartmouth and much more.

Even though this is just one experience with one alumnus, I really believe that all Dartmouth alumni act a like, the moment they see you, they want to talk, share expierences, exchange their card with you and keep in contact.The alumnus I met on the plan is now my Facebook friend for instance. I believe that Dartmouth alumni definitely want to make sure that they keep up a connection between them and current Dartmouth students. Which is what makes Dartmouth alumni amazing people who you want to get to meet!