Ben Casanova
Greetings from a newly turned sophomore!
Hello from the woods! I already have one full year at Dartmouth under my belt, but the fall is always a time for new adventures on this constantly evolving campus. I'm a rising sophomore from the chaotic Spanish metropolis of Barcelona, so Hanover feels like a peaceful getaway from all the honking and yelling that I'm used to hearing in my city. For the longest time, I pictured myself spending my college years on a large, overcrowded urban campus. I could have never predicted that now I'd be doing my undergrad in the thick of New Hampshire's woods – 3,568 miles away from home or, in other words, split up from my parents and my 14-year-old sister by one massive ocean.
The first time I laid eyes on this tight-knit campus was the episode that cleared up my worries about making the big transatlantic move. On top of the jetlag that comes with a whopping 20-hour journey and a 6-hour time difference, I was confused about my whereabouts as I left Boston Logan Airport. However, I calmed down once the Dartmouth Coach dropped me off in Hanover and I could spot the building you see in all admissions brochures – Baker Berry Tower! I stepped outside the bus and was instantly greeted by international upperclassmen who kindly offered to carry my huge suitcases all the way to Richardson Hall, my freshman year dorm. When I successfully got to my room, I found the most amazing welcome letter and a bunch of helpful leaflets sealed in a colorful envelope under the door slip. I'm sure you can already sense that settling down in this foreign environment was surprisingly easy!
As a people person, I loved meeting dozens of my cool peers during international pre-orientation (often dubbed ISPOP!), a 3-day program that helps students from abroad adjust to Dartmouth. I met peers of many nationalities in ISPOP sessions, ranging from a Brazilian environmental activist to a nationally ranked debater born and raised in Hong Kong! But hey, trust me when I say this–everyone here is very down-to-earth. Sometimes I forget how cool and talented my friends are. At the end of the day, no one wants to be that annoying pretentious kid.
Let me tell you a little bit more about myself. When I'm older, I hope I can combine public health research on obscure viruses with advocacy work against bad environmental policies. In the next three years, I've set myself a goal to become semi-fluent in two more languages. I currently speak Spanish, Catalan, and English, but I'd also love to speak Arabic and Chinese. To be honest, I'm into a lot of things. That's where Dartmouth can help me out. Here it's possible to try out paddleboarding along the Connecticut River, read International Relations theory, and land a research position at the Energy Justice Clinic. I don't have to limit myself to one pathway because Dartmouth can accommodate all my interests. Right now, I'm pretty set on double majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies, but I'll still have tons of flexibility in the future to bounce back and forth between other departments, like Government and Computer Science (to name just a few!).
In my free time, I love to dance to Spanish music, sing with my friends during study breaks, and stargaze on the Green – Dartmouth's most central location! I also regularly go on morning hikes with the Dartmouth Outing Club, participate in leadership programs and health fellowships, and I just recently started getting involved in Class Council. I've had a blast these past 12 months, so I can't wait to see what else college has in store for me. Thanks for sticking around!
Posts You Might Like
In this post, I write about some advice I have for prospective college applicants.
I applied through Questbridge's National College Match, but did not match. To others who also did not match, this is not the end of your application process! Here's what I did following match decision day.
A recount of the wonderful experience of returning to campus to find my Greek brotherhood still thriving.
Learn about the different programs Dartmouth offers prospective students to explore campus life, learn about Dartmouth, and enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Hanover!
Here's how I reconnected with Alumni Gym and found a routine that actually works.
Unlike some other universities, many of the STEM lecture classes at Dartmouth require concurrent enrollment in a laboratory section. What is it like navigating that time as a student?
Reflecting on faith at Dartmouth as someone who grew up agnostic yet spiritual!
I spent this summer working on campus in a Biology Lab. From conferences to field work, here's everything I got up to!
"What's it like working for admissions?" "Are you being truthful with your answers?" "Are you being scripted?" Let's dive right into all these questions.