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!
Recently, I was incredibly fortunate to welcome my family to campus for Family Weekend. I remember helping my family make travel arrangements for this weekend months ago, when I was still living at home. At the time, I had only visited Hanover once. Now, I've been living here for over a month! I'm already so comfortable in my dorm and on campus, so showing my family around was really exciting.
My mom, dad, Nana, and Papa arrived on Thursday evening after completing their 13 hour drive from Michigan. My Nana and Papa have never been to New Hampshire before, so they enjoyed the drive through Canada, New York, and Vermont to get to Dartmouth. After they arrived in Hanover, I gave my family a quick dorm tour. Then, we headed to Tacos y Tequila, a restaurant in downtown Hanover. There, we enjoyed some delicious Mexican food and caught up with each other. We ended the night with a quick tour of Baker-Berry Library, including my favorite study spot, The Stacks. My Nana loved the Tower Room, and my family was surprised to see so many students studying (it is midterm season, after all!)
After my classes on Friday, I took my family on a personalized campus tour. I showed them where my classes and club meetings take place, took them to Collis (our student center) and Dartmouth Hall, and taught them how to swipe in at FoCo (Class of 1953 Commons, the dining hall). Before we ate dinner, we attended the Family Welcome Reception. There, we were able to enjoy some cookies and hot cider while mingling with other students and their families. We also stopped by the Dartmouth Co-Op for some college gear! On Friday evening, I spent the night with my family in their AirBNB and shared photos from my first few weeks at Dartmouth with them.
On Saturday, we started the day with a trip to Quechee Gorge, and then swung by the nearby Quechee Dam. The views were amazing, and we were able to see the beginnings of some fall foliage! After leaving Quechee, we visited America's longest covered bridge in Cornish, NH (and some smaller covered bridges, too). In the late afternoon, we headed to Mac's Maple in Plainfield, NH for Maple Creemees. This sweet treat is a local speciality, and my entire family enjoyed our cones! Next, we drove back to campus and spent some time exploring the Hanover Cemetery. I also showed my family The Irving Institute for Energy & Society, which is one of my favorite places to study on campus. In the evening, we cooked a meal together at our AirBNB and watched some college football before heading to bed.
On Sunday morning, we had to part ways once again. I am so thankful that my family was able to visit me and see what my new life is like! One major benefit of Dartmouth's quarter system is that I'll be home for Winterim (the break between Fall and Winter quarter) in just a few weeks. Then, I'll have the chance to tell my friends and extended family at home about Hanover. In the meantime, I'm excited to watch the leaves change, dive deeper into my classes, and spend more time with my new friends. Talk to you soon!
Entering a new environment miles away from home, knowing little to no people at first, can feel daunting. However, Dartmouth's support systems, particularly through the First Generation Office (FGO), have been nothing short of incredible.
A key part of my Dartmouth experience so far has been my time on Sheba, one of many dance groups on campus! Read on to learn more about dance on campus!
