Hey y'all! I'm Caroline York, and I'm a '25 from Georgia! My hope is to share my Dartmouth experience with potential '29s, '30s, '31s and beyond! On campus, I write sports for The Dartmouth, am a Center for Social Impact SIBS mentor, am in Christian life, a Tour Guide, a Dartmouth Emergency Medical Services (EMS) member, and do medical research! Otherwise, you'll find me at the Norwich Farmers' Market, studying in the Tower Room, and running along the Appalachian Trail. Welcome to my world!
We're at Week 5 of fall term, which means I am halfway through my first term at Dartmouth! Before arriving on campus, I was really excited about this new life experience, but I was also nervous. I was wary of homesickness and missing all the things I love about my hometown. I kept asking myself what I would do without my two crazy dogs, the Atlanta heat, and my dad's special spaghetti.
I'll admit the first week at Dartmouth was challenging because I missed my family and felt lost in a new place. However, after making friends and establishing my place on campus, I feel like I have a new home.
When I ask my friends what they miss most about home, it's of course family but their dogs are always close seconds. I have learned that any walk on Dartmouth's green will ultimately end in an adorable dog encounter. I have met a Corgi, Husky, Golden Lab, and my personal favorite: a beagle that reminds me of my beagle mixes. Hanover residents love sharing their dogs with students, and no one can resist a smiling puppy!
Coming to Dartmouth, I accumulated all the cold weather gear I could find (which shockingly is in short supply in Atlanta!). I feared a cold place that would make the Arctic look inviting. Hanover so far, though, has been lovely. I have been doing all my homework on the green and have embarked on many hikes, soaking up the heat in the wonderful 70 degree weather.
Studying on the Green with a friend.
As for missing home cooked meals, Foco (our dining hall) has been a great source of comfort. My favorite dishes so far have been made-to-order stir fry, zucchini pasta, chicken nuggets, and of course the warm cookies. The best part of every meal is gathering with friends and meeting unfamiliar faces. We talk about our days and upcoming events just as my family does. The only difference is that I'm eating with 4,400 people, just a little more than my family of four!
I positioned my bulletin board above my desk. Half of the board is filled with images of my friends and family from Georgia; the other half is empty, ready for the next chapter of my life and my Dartmouth experience developing around me. In four years, I hope to leave with a board bursting with photos documenting my new home.
Someone recently reframed my thinking about "surviving" in the winter to thriving, and I have really taken that to heart. Read to find out how I (try to) thrive in a winter climate!
Reflecting on how this school has changed my life for the better during the past year – reconnecting to my reasons behind choosing to call this place home each and every day.
This winter break, I went on tour with the Dartmouth Decibelles to Charleston and Atlanta, performing throughout local communities and making lasting memories together!
