Hello, and welcome to my corner of the woods! I'm Lauren, a '27 from Munger, Michigan. On campus, I enjoy writing sports for The Dartmouth, going on as many DOC trips as I can, and hanging out with my friends. I also love Woccoming, doing the daily NYT mini crossword, and paddling!
I took this class as part of Dartmouth's first year writing requirement. We read a pro cyclist's life narrative, discussed research papers on controversial topics in sports, and wrote our own papers on a contentious sports technology of our choice. I really enjoyed this course's emphasis on discussion, and the small class size!
This was my first class in the classics department, which was super exciting as a classical studies major! We learned about the ancient Olympics and the connections between athletics and other aspects of ancient Greek society. I loved the final project in this class, which involved creating an argument about how the ancient pentathlon was scored!
To conclude my language requirement, I took Latin 3! This class was super exciting because we began to read ancient texts and poetry. We also took a class trip to the Rauner Special Collections library so we could physically handle and read some manuscripts. And as an added bonus, Latin counts as a prerequisite for my classical studies major!
As a part of my language study abroad in Italy, I also took a class on Italian history and culture! We went on field trips to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, participated in walking tours of Rome, and watched a lot of great cinema in this class! I loved it so much that I decided to minor in Italian.
This class, in addition to being a pre-requisite for my major, was super interesting! I loved learning about archaeology through hands-on projects and lectures that felt like TED Talks.
My favorite course on my Italian LSA+ in Rome is focused on Italian literature, which we are studying in a reverse-chronological order! It has been incredibly fun to see different topics and styles evolve over time and to learn from the works of the best writers.
Each Dartmouth term offers a unique residential experience—whether it's living in a dorm on campus in Hanover, staying with a family while studying abroad in Rome, or spending an "off-term" at home in Michigan.
7:00 AM
Hanover: I make myself a coffee and spend some time organizing my notes and readings before heading to the library. I like to get most of my work done in the morning so I can spend time with my friends after class!
Rome: I say goodbye to my host family for the day and grab a cappuccino and cornetto from the cafe across the street before heading to the bus stop.
Michigan: At home, mornings are slower. On most days, I'm probably still sleeping!
The cafe also makes delicious desserts, like this tart!
9:00 AM
Hanover: It depends on the term, but I'm usually in class. If not, I'm still working at the library!
Rome: I get to the Dartmouth Center and say "buongiorno!" to everyone. Before class starts, I review my notes and print out my homework.
Michigan: I enjoy a quiet morning, reading on the couch and sipping a coffee. If my parents are home, we watch the news while eating breakfast.
11:00 AM
Hanover: I'm probably grabbing a snack and spending a few minutes talking to my friends between classes.
Rome: I head out of the Rome Center with some friends to grab another cappuccino and do some people-watching during our class break.
Michigan: I either work on a creative project, like writing or putting together a collage, or do some chores around the house.
I often walk up this sidewalk and past Rollins Chapel between classes
1:00 PM
Hanover: After classes, I grab lunch with friends. Our favorite spot is Collis Café, but sometimes we head into town to grab a coffee and study at Starbucks.
Rome: Lunch is usually a panino or pizza "al taglio" (by the slice), which I eat outside with my classmates.
Michigan: I usually head to town to run some errands and grab lunch on my way back. I live in a relatively rural area, so it's about an hour trip in total!
One of my favorite errands is a trip to this store in my hometown, which sells paper goods and knick-knacks
3:00 PM
Hanover: I like to spend some time outside in the afternoon, so I'll either go for a Woccom (walk around Occom Pond on campus) or head down to the Ledyard Clubhouse. If the weather's bad, I catch up on chores like laundry.
Rome: I wander back from school towards my apartment, sometimes stopping at a nearby park or wandering into little stores.
Michigan: I either do some more chores around the house or settle down with a book!
5:00 PM
Hanover: I go back to my room to get some work done before dinner, and then meet up with some of my friends to figure out where we want to eat.
Rome: After getting back to my apartment I spend some time with my host sister, who's 5 and full of energy. We like playing with her dolls and talking about our day!
Michigan: I start helping my parents make dinner and play outside with my dog.
7:00 PM
Hanover: I eat dinner, and then head to a club meeting.
Rome: I help my host parents get ready for dinner, eat, and start working on homework!
Michigan: After dinner, I spend some time with my parents—we watch Jeopardy! every night.
Lots of club meetings and events take place in the Collis Center for Student Involvement, including the Dartmouth Leadership Attitudes and Behaviors Program
9:00 PM
Hanover: I work on my homework with friends.
Rome: I work on my homework in my room.
Michigan: I read a book before winding down for bed.
11:00 PM
Hanover: I hang out with my friends. We like watching movies, playing video games, or just chatting after we finish our homework.
Rome: I'm probably reading on my apartment's balcony before heading inside to get ready for bed.
Michigan: I'm probably sleeping—early nights are my favorite when I'm home!
A statement I never thought I would make. Being completely honest, during my first term I was counting down the days to go back to Arizona. However, being away from Dartmouth made me realize how lucky I am to be here.
Dartmouth's Chinese New Year celebrations brought a sense of home through themed dining, student-led events, and cultural gatherings, fostering community and appreciation for the holiday.
