Hi! My name is Chelsea Mills and I'm a '26 from Maryland. I'm quite indecisive, but currently pursuing a Psychology major/Classics minor on the Pre-Med track. On campus, I plan to join POCO (People of Color Outdoors). I also love playing tennis, exploring campus with friends, and curling up with a good book. You might see me walking along The River from my dorm or grabbing a FOCO cookie. If not, I can't wait to share my freshman experience with you all virtually :)
The Annual Snowball Fight: Dartmouth's 23W Tradition
Nearly 4 weeks into the winter term, Dartmouth has already celebrated one of its most wholesome seasonal traditions: the annual campus-wide snowball fight. The fight is prompted by the first "big" snowfall. This year, it was marked by around 7 inches. The excitement that followed after, however, was boundless.
Snow started to pile up Thursday night. By the time we woke up, campus was covered in a stunning blanket of pure white. Virtually everyone (myself included) pulled out their phone cameras to capture it. Despite being a great photo op, what we were really excited about was the snowball fight.
Finally, at 4:20 p.m., we got the email. Dartmouth Alumnus Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss!) sends a cute poem to the community, officially announcing the start of the snowball fight that night. Before then, people just talk, speculating when the fight will actually happen.
I had heard so much about the tradition that I didn't take any chances to miss it. Midnight rolled around, and everyone made their way to the Green. I met up with my friends and we started to look for potential victims. There were literally snowballs being thrown in every direction; I tried my best to gather decently sized snowballs before getting hit myself.
I think everyone had a lot of fun—I definitely did. I like how casual and carefree the snowball fight was. Something about throwing a snowball just makes you feel like a little kid again. My hands were practically numb, but I made great memories. I know I'm barely halfway through my first year here, but this tradition is by far one of my favorites.
Winter in Hanover feels like more than just the weather to me. Dartmouth embraces the cold, snow, and all the fun that comes with it. If you're nervous about your first winter here, at least you have Dr. Seuss's email to look forward to. Don't forget your gloves! :)
The 2023 winter term was a whirlwind of new experiences and a slow but steady integration with the Dartmouth groove. Here's what I thought about the previous term and what I want to do/change looking ahead!
Anyone who knew me before coming to Dartmouth might be surprised to hear that, as from this Winter term, I have been taking part in the Greek system. As I recently found out, it can be lots of fun!
