Hi, and welcome to my corner of the woods! I'm Lauren, a '27 from Munger, Michigan. Outside of academics, I'm a member of the Ledyard Canoe Club, the Dartmouth Organization of Rural Students, and Dartmouth Sports Analytics. I can't wait to share stories from my final year at Dartmouth with all of you!
Last week, I celebrated my 18th birthday here at Dartmouth! My family has a lot of special birthday traditions, so I was a little nervous about celebrating this important milestone over 700 miles away from my hometown. Thankfully, I was able to make my birthday here in Hanover a great day and produce some of my favorite memories since the term started.
My Tuesday began with brunch at FoCo (Class of 1953 Commons, our dining hall), which consisted of a lovely omelet and some fresh fruit. I happened to see my friend Aidan, and we were able to chat about our classes, extracurriculars, and our plans for the rest of the week.
After we finished eating, Aidan and I decided to head to Rauner Special Collections Library to study. I prefer studying with friends, because it keeps me motivated while also reminding me to take breaks. Rauner is one of my favorite study locations on campus because of its beautiful windows and comfy chairs. Right now, the outside of the library is under construction, but the inside is still open!
Next, I headed to Hinman (our mail center) to pick up some birthday cards from my friends and family at home. I also received a text telling me to stop by the supervisor's desk at FoCo, which was confusing. When I stopped in, I was surprised to see a bag with my name written on it waiting for me. It turns out that my parents had ordered red velvet cupcakes for my birthday! The cupcakes were delicious, and a big hit among those I shared them with.
An amazing birthday surprise!
In the early afternoon, I made a quick stop at my dorm in French Hall to finish up my homework and grab a snack. Then, I walked to Berry Library to attend my Writing 5 – Deus et Machina: Sports, Science and Ethics class. This has been my favorite class this term, because I enjoy the subject matter and the small class size. I also love the discussions I've had with my classmates in this class and have found them invaluable to my understanding of the material.
After class, I walked to the Green and set up a picnic blanket in the sun to work on my Latin I homework. Studying on the Green is always fun, because you're able to enjoy the weather, people-watch, and greet your friends as they pass by!
My study view on the Green
Later that day, I met my friends May, Clara, Maggie, and Samay at Molly's for my birthday dinner. Molly's is a restaurant in Hanover with a great atmosphere and delicious food. I ordered the macaroni, which is made with local New Hampshire cheese! My friends sang "Happy Birthday" to me, and we ordered a huge slice of cake to split for dessert.
Samay, Maggie, Clara, May, and me!
Birthday drawings on the the Molly's table paper!
I wrapped up my day by going on a Woccom (walk around Occom Pond) and calling my family, which was a great way to end my birthday. I had a great 18th birthday at Dartmouth, and I can't wait to celebrate with my friends throughout the year as we each turn a year older.
Thanks to West House, one of the housing communities I'm part of, I got the chance to go on an overnight trip to New York City. Read on to hear all about the experience!
After three terms apart due to Dartmouth's D-plan, junior spring marks a joyful reunion with old friends, deepened by the Toulouse study abroad group that has carried their bond seamlessly back to campus.
