A picture of the Dartmouth Green in the Fall with beautiful fall foliage.
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Richardson first year matriculation

Wow, it's actually crazy how fast time flies. Gone are the freshman days of trekking up Tuck Drive from the river cluster dorms; now I'm a sophomore with a single room in Richardson Hall serving as a UGA (Undergraduate Advisor) for the freshman girls living on my floor. I'm really loving how well located Richardson is on campus as it's just steps away from the library, my classes, dining halls, and gym. I arrived back on campus two weeks earlier than other upperclassmen, and just two days before the big freshman move-in day. Throughout this time, I attended several UGA trainings and helped with the new student orientation schedule. 

A picture of Richardson residential hall.
My new bragging rights are that I have the room with the balcony!

As a UGA, I am responsible for facilitating the development of communities that support and enhance the intellectual, cultural, and social development of residents. The Richardson floor I am a part of is a smaller part of the West House community. By being a team member of West House, I get to organize cool events that enable relationship building and new experiences. I also get to support residents as they grow academically, personally, and socially. For residents who fill the same shoes I was in last year, I can be a source of comfort, joy, and information about resources. Now that I have become an integral part of the Dartmouth residential experience, I will not only gain a better connection with the Dartmouth community, but I also hope to be able to share and strengthen this community with other students. Already, during the orientation training period,  I was able to meet so many new people such as fellow UGAs; we did so many fun things together like daily river dips, Gile Mountain Sunsike (sunset hike), Norwich Farmers Market visit, and going out to the TukTuk Thai restaurant in town.  


A picture of UGAs on a Gile Mountain sunset hike.
The trusty 0.5x was able to capture all the lovely faces of some of my fellow UGAs at Gile!

Move-in day felt like a rewind in time. I remembered the excitement (& sweatiness) of meeting roommates and hauling everything from home to a new home. This time around, I watched as parents pulled into the parking lot in cars filled to the brim, and the new class of 27s excitedly materializing their dorm Pinterest boards. I had funny little convos with dads who were taking little breaks in the hallway or building shelves in the common room. At one point, I sat with a mom as she went down memory lane and shared her own Dartmouth freshman move-in experience over 20 years ago. After all the families had said their goodbyes, I led my first floor meeting that went even better than I expected! The following weekend, Matriculation Day felt like a full-circle moment as I peered back at my dressed-up self in the mirror a few minutes before leading my residents to their first official meeting with President Sian Leah Beilock. 

I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the term unravels with my floor and all the things we'll get to do together. Just last week, I was so touched and happy that many of my residents came to watch me perform with my Soyeya dance group at the week 1 dance showcase. Many have joined a cappella groups and clubs like the water polo club — I can't wait to show up and support them at their events too!

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