My favorite things about Fall term!
Every year, when I'm back for fall term, I feel a sense of renewal that I struggle to find anywhere else. I don't know what it is, but there is definitely something different in the air. You can tell people are excited to wake up early, stop by Novack (one of our campus' cafés) for a snack, and head to class. Even though it was part of your routine just a few months ago, every small thing is a pleasing surprise. Maybe it's the excitement of having a thousand new faces in the crowds of Foco (or 53 Commons, our main dining court), or the possibility of seeing your friends again after a long (but well-deserved) summer break. I am unsure what it is about the fall term, but here are my top four reasons for loving it.
Overall, I'm glad that I've been able to enjoy a different sort of course this term! As the term wraps up, it's time for me to start constructing my final research paper for the class—it'll definitely be a busy end to the fall quarter
- No. 1
Sweater weather!
The sky is blue, often cloudy, but sunny for most of the quarter. And, oh boy! When the weather begins to chill down, there's nothing more comfortable than pulling out my sweater collection from the bottom drawer and bringing it back to my daily fits. It might be a me thing, but fall looks are my best looks…
- No. 2
Meeting first-year students!
A thousand new people for you to familiarize yourself with—a thousand new potential friends, teammates, coworkers, etc. I've been loving getting to know the '27s, and I enjoy seeing them find ways of making Dartmouth feel like their new home. The adaptation process is not always easy, especially if you come from a completely different reality—as in the case of Francisco, my "little" in the Dartmouth Brazilian Society. It's interesting how the big-little dynamics play an important role at this moment. I felt like I could truly offer my experiences as a resource to Francisco as he learned to navigate the college by himself.
- No. 3
New profs, old profs
During my first term here at Dartmouth (the fall of 2021), I found myself taking some unexpected classes. I wanted to get a real taste of the liberal arts education, and so I did by enrolling in classes I would have never considered taking before. "SPAN20: Writing & Reading," for example, was a game changer for me. It was there and then that I decided to take more Spanish classes, which now are building up towards a double major. I had hoped to take more of Prof. Pastor's classes as I progressed in the department offerings, but for most of my time at Dartmouth, she has been away on a sabbatical. Now, she is back! Just like the student body, Dartmouth's faculty is ever-changing. While you might not see your favorite professor every year, there'll always be a strong bond between you, your classmates, and the instructor—something I truly celebrate.
- No. 4
Rush season!
It's also an exciting time to be affiliated with Greek life. It's in the fall that these spaces welcome the majority of their rush class (or new members), and watching the process happen is always entertaining and refreshing both for those who are in the house already and those just joining.