Riverside sunset
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View of the Connecticut River on a study break of mine.

If you've followed my blog posts up until this point, you'll quickly find that I adore many aspects of Dartmouth – the rural scenery, the small community, and, of course, the academics. There's no doubt that I love this place. With that being said, I want to journey back almost two years ago today. I was in high school fixing to graduate knowing I would be attending my dream college in just a few, short months. Everything about my life became oriented around my future college life and ways that I could prepare for it. I would encourage those who are in that weird limbo-like position in the summer before you start college to appreciate the small things in life before you embark on your college journey. Trust me, you will have plenty of time to ponder what your major is going to be and where the best study spots are on campus when you actually get here. I encourage you to stop, slow down, and smell the roses. Talk with family members that you haven't caught up with in a while and maybe grab a meal with those high school friends. Take a walk to that park that you frequented as a child, drive down the backroads, walk down the city streets, etc. The point is, don't live too far into the future that you're neglecting the present.


Picture of me and my little brother overlooking a beautiful rolling hill range in Missouri.
For me, this meant a lot of hikes with my little bro!

That's true for when you get here on campus, too! You'll start thinking about study abroad programs that will happen a year from now or what your plans are for the Greek-life scene months before you could take any action. The summer before your first year is a crucial time to investigate your mind. What things fill up your "battery," and what activities drain it? What does a comfort night look like to you? In my view, the best way you could prepare for college during that summer is to just live in the moment. Don't get too caught up in the intricate details of the impending future that you forget the small things in front of you. Spend time with family and your close friends back at home, sleep in, and take time to delve into the little activities that bring you joy that you maybe haven't indulged in during busy high school times. For me, this was Minecraft with the buds!


Picture of me and my two best friends in front of my blue pickup truck.
Minecraft with these two buds in particular. Be sure to spend a bunch of time with your high school pals!

Now, it may seem like I'm saying this to emphasize that all of these things will be gone or that you can't do them after you start college. That's not the case. What I do think, however, is that your life fundamentally changes once you get to college. You've heard it all before: "You'll be making your own decisions… there will be no grown ups there to tell y…" yada yada. You get it. What I want to emphasize is that your day-to-day activities will looks so drastically different than before – especially at a place like Dartmouth! I mean, from your first Homecoming bonfire to the Winter Carnival and Green Key, you've got a bunch of things to look forward to. Beyond those bigger events, you will certainly find your niche at this wonderful place, and I'm so excited for you! You will be a part of Dartmouth and Dartmouth will be a part of you. That's why I want you to embrace the seemingly monotonous lifestyle you've got during this summer. Don't feel pressured to get everything done or strain yourself too much; just live a little bit… you've got quite the four-year journey ahead of you!

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