Paulina Cuadra

The Tower Room is by far my favorite place to study in and perhaps one of my favorite places at Dartmouth (which says a lot)! It has a quintessentially Dartmouth feel with its green velvet chairs, dark wood, and peaceful yet academic ambiance. The warmth of the room as well as the warm golden glow of its lamps make it a perfect place to work in. 

4FB refers to Fourth Floor Berry, or the topmost and therefore quietest Berry level. This study area has a more modern look to it and has individualized workspaces to study in as well as some couches and tables. I love going here as you get an amazing view of the New England outdoors, so it is an especially beautiful place to go study quietly on clear sunny days. 

The Orozco Room has gorgeous murals lining its walls depicting Mexican history. This room reminds me a lot of Latin America and gives me something to look at as I focus on my work. Each panel is so interesting and holds a lot of symbolism and critique that make for a compelling experience.

Coming to Dartmouth, I was very afraid. I worried that I would simply not be able to endure the brutal New Hampshire winters and would have to remain locked away my room shied away all term long. This wasn’t the case. While New Hampshire can definitely be cold, it is not as bad as it is often made out to be. I’ve learned that sweaters, scarves, thermals, and winter boots will all do their fair share to shield you from the cold. With a couple of layers and a warm beverage in hand, nothing will be able to stop you come January and February. 

It is true what they say about time when you’re having fun. Time at Dartmouth goes by incredibly fast. Every term feels like the blink of an eye as most classes and activities tend to structure themselves through a weekly format. It is common to go around campus asking your fellow peers how week four or six is going. I love this in that it helps conceptualize your activities perfectly and keep track of them. Setting up a routine on campus and outline goals for each week is crucial. 

It’s true that we will often find ourselves conflicted with simply too many things to do. At the beginning of my time at Dartmouth I found myself struggling to make time and fit everything I wanted to do into my schedule. Now, I’ve realized that this is easier than I’d thought. I tend to plan out my life in order to do everything I want to do. I use meal-times between class and school work to socialize with friends. Often, I organize study dates as a fun way to spend time with others and be productive. One of my favorite things to do is to meet-up at Still North, a bookshop down Main Street, to work and socialize. Handling your time correctly by setting aside time to do your work, is incredibly helpful to prevent you from scrambling.