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!
Oh. My. Goodness. What a fun class this was! As a certified weather and climate geek, I was totally entrenched in everything we done in this course. From the labs and weather presentations to the "flipped" classroom experience, I thoroughly enjoyed this class. Dr. Osterberg's excitement for the course material made it that much more enjoyable! It was truly an extraordinary first-year course to take.
I’ve loved this class from beginning to end. For one, I enjoyed it because of the people in it, but I also loved it because of the content. Through frequent class discussion, I learned about the health of our democracy and the ways it is compromised. Very enlightening class!
Religion 5 was a quintessential liberal arts course that deepened my knowledge in a subject I thought I had all figured out. As a STEM-oriented student, this class offered the perfect balance to my spring term schedule. As a result of this class, I became more introspective of how I was raised, and I'm more grateful in my ability to be a free-thinker.
SummerOff Campus Internship - Princeton, New Jersey
This summer, I explored my future career plans by participating in a research internship with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory at Princeton University. I learned a lot about what I want (and what I don't want) in a future career, and I made so many awesome lifelong connections!
A course rooted in both philosophical theory and real, practical methods of becoming a better public speaker was the highlight of the term. Our class of 16 students grew to be a sort of "mini-family," and I'm so grateful for the connections I made. I completely changed the way I view public speaking and homed in on my own skills as a public speaker!
Once again, a course outside my major found its way into my favorite class list. This sociology course helped me better understand how children are viewed in society, the way sociologists study youth, and the major differences in norms around childhood around the world. Who knew there was so much to learn about youth culture!
Well, as I type this, a week has already passed since I've been home, and it's gone by lickity split. Of course, I figured my time back with family would go by quickly. Nevertheless, I've been taking advantage of every second, and I plan to do the same in the upcoming week.
The flight back home was relaxing (except for the part where I nearly missed my connecting flight). I got to take a few hours to simply be in my thoughts for the first time in months. I love Dartmouth with all my heart, but its structure makes it seem like life is happening to you, not the other way around. It's easy to get caught up in everything that's going on in your life, and you may forget to focus on yourself. That's just what I've been doing the past seven days. However, the troubles that I left behind when I started winter term were beaming to greet me with open arms. Family conflicts and personal dilemmas will always be a part of my life, and I'm just now beginning to realize my happiness will stem from understanding that I can't control everything that goes on in my life, so I'll focus on the things that I can:
My view over Washington D.C. on my flight home!
No doubt, the first thing that I was looking forward to was seeing my brother and sister Logan and Emma. I missed them terribly and them me. I tried my best to stay in contact with them through the term via phone calls, and I did a pretty decent job at that; but it's just not the same. I'm so happy that I get to spend time with them. Seeing my mother and father brought me mixed emotions as I've got a complicated history with them. Regardless of the status of our relationship, I'm always happy to see them… they're my mother and father. The good memories always tend to outweigh the bad.
Fishing on the river with my brother and sister!
I couldn't take a more picturesque photo if I tried.
Now, I have to admit that I've indulged in the things that make me happy on a personal level. First, I made a simple plan to go fishing on the riverbank that I grew up on. It's so simple to watch the sunset, hear the life around you, and allow nature to comfort you. At least, that's what it does for me, and it always has. It's a hobby of mine that's much more than a hobby, it's my therapy in addition to my favorite pastime. It means a lot to me.
Took a boat out on the local lake!
A rainbow trout! He tasted great.
Something just as important to me is golf. Although I stink at the game (most of the time), I absolutely cherish the time I get to spend out on the golf course. I do have to say, golf courses back at home in northeast Arkansas aren't as picturesque as back in the Upper Valley, but I'll sure take what I can get. I mean, playing with my lifelong friends and cutting up out on the course outweighs the scenery I suppose. I'm so grateful to have homed in on my golf skills enough to where it brings me so much satisfaction to play it. I absolutely love the sport.
Me and my best friend Jeff out on the golf course!
And that's about where I am a week into "springterim" '22. It's been chaotic as I knew it would. Sometimes the problems I run into down here make my "college life" problems seem insignificant. However, I'm then reminded that I'm becoming an adult and developing problems, memories, and stories of my own. I think that's what maturity and life is all about, and I'm slowly realizing I'm reaching that point in life.
P.S. Let me introduce to you my favorite food items from back at home:
You can't beat a grilled chicken club from Chick-fil-a! I missed it terribly.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a phenomenal total solar eclipse occurred — and we happened to be within the path of totality. As a result, Dartmouth hosted a variety of eclipse-related events on- and off-campus. Find out how I spent the eclipse!
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
Planning on visiting Dartmouth as a prospective student or an interested person wanting to see our beautiful campus? In this post, I share insider tips to ensure your visit is fulfilled!
Witnessing an eclipse was one of the most exciting days in my life to date, and a solid reminder of our place in this universe. Read on to hear about it!
