Griselda Chavez

Being so disconnected from nature back home, it feels so strange now being surrounded by nothing but nature. I had not predicted to be as thankful as I am now to be in such a remote location, but the environment has definitely been able to calm me down whenever I get too stressed. Because of the pandemic, I had imagined students would be limited to the outdoor activities; however, the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) has done the most to assure that students are able to participate in numerous outdoor activities, such as kayaking, hiking, stargazing, etc. while being safe. During the weekend, I was able to sign-up for a canoeing session and canoe with one of my floormates down the Connecticut River. This experience highlighted how easy it is to be one with nature at no cost!  Not only did I get to learn something new, but it was also a great way for me to take a break from my studies. 

Amidst all of the euphoria with transitioning to college, I forgot how many informational meetings I would have to attend to learn more about clubs on campus. As classes started, organizations on campus also hosted various sessions and applications for interested students. Therefore, most evenings I could be found glued to my computer hopping in and out of Zoom calls to find the clubs that would best fit me. There are also more opportunities to be involved on campus beside joining clubs! I was able to hear about Dartmouth's Center for Social Impact and their first-year program, Foundations, which focuses on helping first-year students become leaders and offers them the opportunity to learn about non-profits while working closely with them. For some activities, I had to complete surveys and forms; however, there were also other opportunities that required me to do some more research and complete applications. 

Although a lot has changed in Dartmouth's community, at the same time, it feels like not much has changed. My college research last year had always described Dartmouth as displaying a "tight-knit community," and although it looks a bit different this year, I can still see the resemblance. The college has planned and hosted several forms of engagement to offer students the ability to socialize with classmates and get to meet people. This week, the UGAs (undergraduate advisors, similar to RAs) hosted a movie night with free popcorn (!!) to enjoy the end of the week and regain energy for the third week of school. Some other events hosted by the Programming Board and the college have been Bingo Night with amazing prizes (TV's, AirPods, lamps, etc.), yoga sessions, and scavenger hunts! These simple events have really made me feel included in the student body and have demonstrated to me that the college and upperclassmen are still doing what they can to make our transition to college fun and exciting.