Greetings from the woods! My name is Gavin Fry, and I'm a student blogger with the People, Places, and Pines team. I'm a proud first-generation college student, carrying with me the full support of my crazy family. I plan to be involved with undergraduate research, outdoor activities, and club golf here at Dartmouth! You can find me geeking out about the weather, reading novels, and always drinking coffee (at any time of the day). So nice to meet you!
Academic Program
Prospective Environmental Earth Science Major with a Minor in Public Policy
Favorite Thing Right Now
My idea of starting a chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) here at Dartmouth!
It's Time to Get Physical, Physical! (Better Decision-Making)
I've touched upon some crucial aspects of mental health at Dartmouth, and I strongly recommend you head over to my past blog titled, "An Introvert's Take on Mental Health at Dartmouth," as it goes hand in hand with what I want to convey here!
Now, if there's anything that might be taken away from the various blogs you read about Dartmouth, it is that you will have incredible amounts of freedom and responsibility when you begin college. What comes with these freedoms are choices that you must make in everyday life that either directly benefit you or benefit you in the long run (sometimes both and sometimes neither unfortunately.) Let's take a hypothetical scenario for example: You are asked by some close friends to go out on the weekend when you happen to have an open schedule. "Perfect." You think. The alternative to going out is not only catching up on some work that you got behind on, but also taking the time to shower, brush your teeth, and maybe even get a little workout in before bedtime. It's easy to choose the first option of going out with your buddies, but, as it turns out, the indirect benefit that I mentioned earlier lies within the second option. It is never really the option you want to choose, but it is almost always the most beneficial!
You could apply this hypothetical scenario in many contexts: Looking at a fresh chocolate chip cookie at '53 Commons (FOCO) or sleeping in versus waking up and going to the gym. The easier choice is almost always the one that will benefit you in the "here and now" – eating the cookie, sleeping in, going out on the weekends, etc. What I've learned across these types of situations is that they can take a huge toll, not only on your mental health, but especially your physical health! Making an active decision to "invest" in your physical health isn't an easy choice. It requires discipline, determination, and several other qualities that you could discern on your own. My point is, paying attention to your physical health is something a lot of college students struggle with because of these new levels of responsibility. Fortunately, I have noticed that, like mental health, Dartmouth does a great job of promoting physical health as well. For instance, the sheer location of Dartmouth allows you to stroll outside and take a walk among the beautiful campus and, if you're up for it, a light jog amongst the forest and along the beautiful Connecticut river. Similarly, I have realized that the people you surround yourself with can make it or break it for you in college! For instance, enveloping yourself around others who make their physical health a priority can have huge impacts on your mindset! Having someone to go to the gym or take jogs with is an excellent way to enhance your physical health!
Club golf is an excellent way to get some exercise and stay fit while having some fun!
What I really want to get across here is that there are going to be countless decisions you have to make that could either directly or indirectly benefit you. With the obvious example of enhanced physical health (through exercising, maintaining personal hygiene, etc.) residing in the second option, it is easy to forget those small things that keep your body happy and healthy. So, know that you will have opportunities to do almost anything here at Dartmouth, but keep that direct vs indirect benefit choice in the back of your mind (hint: the indirect benefit is almost always the right decision!)
50% of Dartmouth students are unaffiliated and find community through non-Greek social spaces. One such space is an undergraduate society. In this post, I interviewed Marion Caldwell '25, who has been a member of Amarna since her junior fall
I went on an awesome winterim (winter break) trip to Sedona, Arizona with the mountain biking club (DMBC) of the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC). Read on to hear about this break trip and also a bit about becoming a sub-club leader in the DOC.
The sorority rush process is a flexible, three-round experience each fall and winter where potential new members gradually narrow down their choices and receive an invitation to join their matched sorority.
Exploring the Southern Part of Sri Lanka during our six weeks of winter break! A much-needed exposure to the sun and sand before I return for the Winter Term at Dartmouth.
Join me as we attend a Brovertones concert during Winterim! The Brovertones are just one of Dartmouth's many amazing acapella groups. I saw them perform during their East Coast tour.
