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!
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.
I’m absolutely loving this hands-on introduction to paleography, and the fact that my class meets at Rauner every day! I can’t wait to hear from our guest lecturers, too, and I’ll be sure to share those experiences on the blog. All in all, Latin 10 was a great way to get back into the language after a term away in Rome.
I signed up for this Latin class after the FDOC (first day of class), and I'm so glad I added it to my sophomore summer schedule! Our class is combined with GRK 30.08 History and Structure of the Greek Language, and it has been incredibly interesting to compare the ancient languages and learn a bit of Greek.
FallIvrea, Italy
This term, I'm interning with the Olivetti Leadership Institute in Ivrea, a small town in northern Italy.
WinterHanover, NH
For my second off-term, I'm back on campus! I'm keeping myself busy by working, spending time with friends, and working on my to-be-read list.
I signed up for this course to complete my final distributive requirement for graduation, and it has turned out to be one of my most rewarding classes! It’s been fascinating to explore a region of the world I hadn’t formally studied before. As a bonus, the lectures are incredibly engaging and I always leave class feeling like my perspective has been broadened.
SummerMunger, Michigan
This summer, I'm spending time at home working on post-graduate applications and hanging out with my family. I'm also working remotely for the Hood Museum and spending a lot of time traveling to visit Dartmouth friends across the country!
The summer between my senior year of high school and my first year of college, I was equal parts nervous and excited. I didn't quite know what to expect from the term ahead, and I'd only set foot on campus once before, during Dimensions. I spent that summer googling everything from what to pack for my room to which classes to take, leaning heavily on People, Places, Pines. I even applied to write my own blog!
My first sunset in Hanover (which definitely helped me fall in love with campus).
Now, as I pack for senior year and get ready to head back to Hanover, I wanted to reflect on what I wish I'd known all those summers ago. All of the photos in this post are actually from my first fall on campus—a little time capsule from those exciting, unfamiliar weeks! I hope these small pieces of advice help, whether you're gearing up for your first term on campus or just trying to picture yourself here.
It's normal to be nervous
Everyone on your floor, in your classes, and in line with you for their first Collis Café smoothie or FOCO cookie is doing something unfamiliar too—even the ones who seem like they know exactly what they're doing. That shared uncertainty, I discovered, is a great excuse to make new friends. You'll realize quickly that it's okay to not have everything figured out.
I still remember how exciting (and slightly overwhelming) it was to walk into the dining hall for the first time!
Build good habits early
Everyone has their own system for organizing work and life, and it's worth taking the time to find yours. You don't need to buy highlighters or a planner if you already know you won't use them. But taking a few minutes to create folders in your inbox, add your classes and meetings to your calendar, and write down assignments can save you from missing something important.
I'd also recommend building a simple morning and evening routine—even a short one, like going for a 20-minute run or reading 10 pages of a book for fun. The habits you form in the first few weeks of college tend to stick, and I found it's worth setting a solid foundation for yourself.
I love my Google Calendar, but it's not right for everyone—sometimes you have to try a few methods before you find the right fit.
Try new things
It's a cliché, but there's a reason you've heard it so many times. Before I got to campus, I was sure I knew exactly which clubs I'd join and what I'd do with my free time. It turned out that some of my favorite activities weren't even on my radar—I found them because I tagged along with a friend or I had a free afternoon. Follow your curiosity and let yourself be bad at things. This is probably the lowest-stakes stretch of your life to try something new, and not everything has to fit into a bigger plan for "success."
I tried sports journalism during my first fall on campus, and ended up writing the hockey beat!
Some of my friends tried out for performance groups, like the Dog Day Players, during our first term on campus.
You're going to be okay
I remember repeating this to myself during the 12-hour drive to campus, on move-in day as I hauled boxes up four flights of stairs, and while wandering around trying to find my classes. At first, I didn't think Hanover would ever feel like home. But day by day, I found my people and place at Dartmouth.
Something that helped me settle in was realizing that campus is built to help you succeed. There's support for everything, from picking classes to navigating mental health resources to deciding what to do around the Upper Valley on weekends!
Homecoming was when everything finally "clicked" for me and I felt like I had made the right decision.
Everyone's first few weeks on campus will look a little different. But we're all in this together, and every older student you see was once in your shoes too. Trust that it'll work out, and know that we're so excited to welcome you home.
With all the amazing dining options Dartmouth has to offer, rest assured you will not go hungry on this campus! In this blog post, I will be discussing one of my favorite dining locations, Collis Café, with you.
I'm so happy I chose Dartmouth, as it offers unparalleled access to the beautiful outdoors. Click on this blog post to read a poem I wrote in appreciation of nature and Dartmouth!
