Hi folks! I am Griselda Chavez, an on-campus '24 from Los Angeles County who gets cold way too easily! I'm currently trying to navigate numerous Zoom calls while taking advantage of Dartmouth's beauty (and desserts!) until next term. While remote learning at Dartmouth, I've enjoyed taking indie-music-inspired-walks around the college (main character?) and meeting amazing professors. Make sure to stick around and read all about how you can make Dartmouth your own—even during a pandemic! :)
Academic Program
Major in Environmental Studies & Minors in Public Policy and Latin American, Latino, & Caribbean Studies
Hey folks! I am currently in week three of the fall term, and classes are picking up speed! Before the term started, I made it a goal of mine to utilize the many resources I had to learn how to become a better student and person. Therefore, now that the pace is picking up, I decided to take the first steps in achieving my goal and wanted to share how I have been working towards achieving it.
Changing from a high school to college education is difficult, but The Academic Skills Center has made this transition a bit less stressful and is very supportive to all students. Their website has so numerous resources such as printable planners, note-taking advice, learning strategies, remote services, etc. I have utilized their planners and also focused on reading about the strategies they share to become more engaging in my classes. Something I have also found very helpful is making an appointment with staff members from the center and working with them to solve any issues that may pose a threat to my studies. For instance, I was able to talk about how I could create a better sleeping pattern and focus on Zoom classes and combat Zoom fatigue. It feels comforting knowing that despite having professors, classmates, and tutors to rely on, I can count on another group of people who are willing to help.
Despite the academic challenges that students face, many also face the challenge of having to adapt to a new culture and environment. A lot of students have more issues to worry about than just their academic journey, which is why it is important to allow ourselves time to breathe and reflect on how we are doing. As I previously mentioned, I wanted to focus on taking care of myself when times were stressful but also being more in tune with my life rather than just feeling as if I'm breezing through everything. Oftentimes, it is easy to lose yourself to all of your responsibilities and forget to give yourself some time to reflect on what you have experienced. The Student Wellness Center is the perfect resource whenever you want to vent or talk to someone, which is what I did. I had realized that there were so many emotions I was going through while transitioning to Dartmouth that I scheduled an appointment for a "Wellness Check-In." This time allowed me to meet with a trained, non-judgmental listener, and share both good and bad things! It was exactly what I needed! The session allowed me to reflect on what I am excited for, stressed about, and just be more in tune with my emotions. It's helped me have a sense of balance, and for that, I am thankful.
I know there are lots of steps I still have to take to become my best version of a student and person, but it feels very fulfilling to know that I am trying to improve. It can be strange asking for help and setting time aside for these activities; however, they can be helpful and benefit you in the long run.
I have officially settled into my new dorm! Come take a peek at what residential life is like, and some opportunities that might come after the quarantine!
I was especially excited to learn that I would have a lot of control over my academic schedule this term, and I'm here to walk you through what that looks like for me!
After a six week break, I'm back. My winterim was a fun mix of staying at home, binge-watching Survivor, celebrating the holidays, and enjoying the Southern Californian landscape, so I'm feeling refreshed to dive back into blogging!
I'm starting my second year at Dartmouth, and I'm still really quite lost. But in a good way. And even then, I'm lucky that there are people here to help me along the way.
Winterim has zoomed by and I'm so ready to begin a new term, probably filled to the brim with classes, extracurriculars, and lots and lots of skiing, but—first—I'll give a little bit of info what I did over winter break.
One of my favorite things to do as a Dartmouth student is going to all the various talks, lecture series, and events that the school holds throughout the year. Here's why!
A school had to meet three criteria for me to consider it a "good fit": academics, location, and community. After researching about Dartmouth and visiting the campus, I realized that this school was not a good fit for me-- it was a perfect fit.
