Hello everyone! My name is Natasha Raman and I'm a freshman at Dartmouth. Although I'm undecided on my major, I am leaning towards something related to government, economics, and Asian studies. In my free time, I like to watch The Office, keep up with current events, learn new languages, and hang out with my friends. I am excited to explore my interests at Dartmouth and take advantage of the amazing opportunities offered here!
Apart from maybe midterm season, Halloween is the scariest time of the year. While other holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to steal the spotlight, Halloween holds a special place in my heart. When I was a child, I looked forward to picking out my costume and going trick-or-treating with my friends. Oh, and of course, I was always excited about the candy. From Skittles to Snickers and Butterfinger, it is truly a miracle that I never got a cavity from eating so much sugar! Although I stopped going trick-or-treating by the time I was in high school, I still love celebrating this holiday. From watching scary movies with friends to giving out candy to cute kids in costumes, Halloween is a time for wicked fun.
When I got to college, I didn't know how I was going to celebrate Halloween. But rest assured, I quickly learned that we go all out for Halloween at Dartmouth. From the Class of '53 Commons (more commonly known as FoCo) decking itself out in Halloween-esque decorations to students wearing the most ridiculous Halloween costumes, it became very clear to me that the Dartmouth community loves to get into the spirit of this spooktacular holiday.
My Halloween looked a little different this year than it did last year. While attending a Halloween party and hanging out with friends was off the cards due to the pandemic, I still had a fa-boo-lous day. I kicked off the night by carving pumpkins with my parents, which was really fun.
The Jack-o'-lanterns I carved with my parents.
Afterward, I watched the movie "Dead," which is a hilarious paranormal comedy. During quarantine, the Hopkins Center for the Arts has been hosting a program called Hop@Home. This program offers plenty of virtual events and movies for students to watch for free. In fact, I was able to watch "Dead" for free through Hop@Home. Before I went to bed, I had to do some studying for my midterm the next day-- talk about some truly spooky stuff!
A still from the movie "Dead."
Halloween is one of many occasions that the Dartmouth community celebrates. More than anything, Halloween is a day for people to have fun and spend time with their friends. Everyone in the community is involved-- from local Hanover residents to staff members and students, celebrations at Dartmouth are always full of excitement and never disappoint!
Looking back on my college search process, I remember really wanting to meet students to try and get a sense of the school's culture. To help you guys out, I decided to interview a couple '24s to help you guys get a sense of Dartmouth!
I was attracted by the opportunity to engage with first-year residents and shape their Dartmouth experiences, in addition to working with other UGAs and staff who shared my interest in helping others.
With lots of things (understandably) still closed on campus, it's nice to know that study spaces are beginning to open up again in a safe and responsible way.
In previous winters, I was able to skate on Occom Pond, usually at events with my Living Learning Community, and I'm glad to see that we're still able to take part in such winter festivities even with COVID-19 restrictions.
Dartmouth's Center for Social Impact has several opportunities for students to be involved with the Upper Valley. This year, I have the privilege to be involved in Foundations, a first-year program, and can't wait for other opportunities!
Afterward, I watched the movie "Dead," which is a hilarious paranormal comedy. During quarantine, the Hopkins Center for the Arts has been hosting a program called Hop@Home. This program offers plenty of virtual events and movies for students to watch for free. In fact, I was able to watch "Dead" for free through Hop@Home. Before I went to bed, I had to do some studying for my midterm the next day-- talk about some truly spooky stuff!
