May Oo Khine

I am not the best photographer. I don’t know the first thing about lighting or angles. But has that stopped me from trying to capture almost every moment of my life in pictures? Most definitely not. For me, Dartmouth is a completely different world from where I grew up in. I dove into my first pile of golden leaves in the fall and dug my fingers into a fresh snowball on the Green. I’d be walking back to my dorm after class and then stop to take a random snap of the snow on the sidewalk or of the sunset.

They are everywhere! And they never fail to brighten up my day. I think it’s really interesting how the writings on the whiteboards always have a good balance of the “serious” and the “silly.” Cartoon figures on top of calculus equations, random phrases circling equilibrium charts…my friends and I like to spend a good minute examining them before clearing up the whiteboards. And then maybe create a masterpiece of our own…

Many students don’t really use the dorm kitchens unless they want to 1) microwave some popcorn, 2) use the electronic kettle, or 3) sit on the counters and hangout. However, I absolutely love using the kitchens on a regular basis as I enjoy making small dishes from home or cooking together with my friends! Here’s a friend making us some late night ramen!

Probably the highlight of my freshmen year: First-Year Trips! For many of us, First-Year Trips is our first Dartmouth experience. We spend three days in the wilderness with a small group of students and two trip leaders while participating in activities ranging from whitewater rafting to cabin cooking. My trip experience definitely was the welcoming I needed to get myself to open up to the college at its people. A lot of friendships, and a bunch of crazy memories in the forest (!), are made during these trips that will stay with you for a long, long time. From getting stung by a bee, starwatching on the roof, waiting for the mac and cheese to cook in the dark...

Homecoming: the night we officially became college freshmen after walking around the iconic bonfire. From playing around while face painting and drawing wonky "23s" on our cheeks, circling the fire while cheered on by upperclassmen and Dartmouth alumni, feeling occasionally scared of the huge flames, to waiting in line for cake and some apple cider, taking TONS of photos with people you've just started calling your friends, and chatting away on the bleachers watching the fire die down...I remember it all! 

Dartmouth's badminton club is pretty small but I've gotten to know all of my badminton teammates so well because of it! I absolutely love the sport and really couldn't have asked for a better team. Our seniors are our reliable drivers when we travel far from Hanover for a tournament and the sophomores make sure everyone is eating and training well. Our coaches are the upperclassmen who used to be national players and I think that's so cool! Here are some of my teammates getting pumped to eat hot pot during a team dinner in Boston!