Hey everyone! My name's Kaj (pronounced "ky"). I'm from Minneapolis and attended a diverse inner-city public school. I'm a lifelong distance runner and also love writing and singing. I’m considering majors in Music, English, or Philosophy. I chose to attend Dartmouth because of its emphasis on a well-rounded education — and being from Minnesota, the cold winters weren't a deterrent! I'm excited to share with you all my candid ups and downs as I venture through college life.
It’s been two months since the beginning of my First-Year Trip, the very first time I met my fellow 22s. I hopped off the Dartmouth Coach in late August not knowing a soul in my class. While other kids had friends, teammates, and people in their city they knew beforehand, I was going in completely blind – and I won’t pretend that it didn’t absolutely terrify me. After arriving late and frantically running around campus in 90-degree weather to get my room key and school ID, I felt a sense of tranquility the minute I grouped up with my fellow Trippees. Six students, all slightly scared like me, excited to hike the state’s toughest and prettiest peaks. The minute we reached our first destination in upstate New Hampshire, I knew it would be a week to remember.
Look at that view!
Remember, yes… but would it really last? On Sunday, our last day together, we said our goodbyes, promising to reunite soon after the bustle of New Student Orientation and the blur of week one. But Dartmouth’s quarter system and the plethora of extracurricular offerings make a free moment a rare one. By Week 4, I was missing my trip big-time, and worried that our reunion might never see the light of day.
Reuniting with a fellow trippee during our walk around the Bonfire!
Enter homecoming. While every college has a homecoming celebration of some sort, Dartmouth likes to go all-out: parades, music, sports, and the iconic bonfire. A swarm of Dartmouth alumni make the trek to Hanover, visiting old friends and relishing in the New England autumn. But what do freshmen do? With not even a single term under their belt, who do we come home to?
Our official family photo.
Almost by magic, I got an invitation from my Trip Leaders for breakfast at Pine, celebrating Homecoming weekend by bringing the old group together. For the first time in two months, I was able to catch up with my very first Hanover friends. We all shared our experiences thus far, giving a glimpse into how we’re shaping our path at Dartmouth to be uniquely ours.
Yes, these pancakes were as good as they look.
While I loved every waking minute of my First-Year Trip, it wasn’t until now, with three weeks before the end of Fall term, that I fully appreciated Trips for all it was: a guarantee that even when times are stressful, you’re never alone.
Trips may be long-completed, but the memories I made at Moosilauke Lodge and on the trails will stick with me for the rest of my years here. Looking back at the beginning, I feel silly for how nervous I was. If you’re like me, and worry about how you’ll survive those first stressful weeks of college, First-Year Trips is the ultimate remedy.
I thought I'd use this blog post to share a bit more about Dartmouth's profound sense of place my first in-person (non-Zoom) term— particularly, the people, the place, and the pines.
This Indigenous Peoples' Month, Native organizations at Dartmouth are spearheading events that honor and celebrate Indigeneity in all of its shapes and forms.
A question I've gotten a few times while I'm here is "So what do you do all day?" I figured I would walk you through the things taking up the most time in my life right now, starting with my classes!
Dartmouth has an extremely large pool of extracurricular activities you can choose from. From football to anime watching — all interests are met, no matter how niched they are. Here's a bit about my favourite club on campus!
When adapting to a unique college environment, it is important to open yourself up to new perspectives and meet all kinds of wonderful people! Yet, it is even more important to remember your values and what makes you happy.
Look at that view!
Our official family photo.
Yes, these pancakes were as good as they look.
