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!

Does anyone else feel the satisfaction of writing things out or solving math problems on a board? Because I do! One thing I definitely miss about Dartmouth is going to my math professor’s office hours and working through problems on the chalkboard. I feel that I learn much better when I can see my thought process upfront and catch errors much easier.

I think all college students find so many happiness in a fresh, carefully folded, pile of clean clothes. For me, giving time to sit down to fold my clothes is giving myself time to be alone, away from the havoc of a busy schedule. It’s a time for me to collect my thoughts and remind myself to take things one at a time while I calmly go through my pile of clothes.

Whenever it’s the start of a new season or it’s a national holiday, our main cafeteria, ’53 Commons, otherwise known as FoCo, serve a specially customized menu. For example, on Valentine’s Day, there would be trays of strawberries and a chocolate fountain in the middle of the cafeteria. I always look forward to special holidays at Dartmouth because it’s exciting (and culturally engaging) to see what would await me when I enter FoCo!