Hi all! Welcome to my blog! My name is Robin. I am a freshman studying Economics and Computer Science. Outside of class I'm a guitarist, amateur rock climber, and seasoned billiard player–if you're on campus, there's a good chance you can find me in the basement of Collis playing pool with friends. I'm still new around here and have lots to learn and will share my journey in this blog. So if you're a prospie, parent, or Dartmouth enthusiast, you've come to the right place!
A First-Generation Student's First Term of College
Coming to Dartmouth was a big step in my life.
My father, a farmer, only studied up to middle school before having to work to support his siblings. My mom finished high school, but was not able to pursue a college degree. Thanks to their support, I am the first in my family to attend college.
No one before me had even thought of applying to an elite institution. As you can imagine, I was intimidated by the idea of attending college. During high school, I did my best in class and was heavily involved in extracurricular activities. Still, I didn't think I had much of a chance of getting into my dream school once application season rolled around. Then, it happened — I was admitted to Dartmouth.
Now that I was in, I had lots of new questions. What classes do I take? What major should I pick? Does my major matter? How do I get my stuff to Dartmouth? And so many more! Fortunately, the First Year Student Enrichment Program (FYSEP) came to my rescue.
FYSEP is a program to help first-generation students thrive in college. In early September, they help a week-long pre-orientation where we received information about academic, financial, and health resources at Dartmouth. Moreover, we attended short lectures on Calculus, English, and Psychology to give us an idea about what college classes are like; there are many staff members throughout campus who support FYSEP, including professors and Undergraduate Deans.
FYSEP does not stop after pre-orientation. Part of the program's goal is to create a community for first-generation students to support one another and forge meaningful relationships. We have upperclassmen mentors, bi-weekly dinners and fun events like apple picking, pumpkin carving, and talent shows. I have met my best friends in college through FYSEP, and I continue to be involved in the program whenever possible because, frankly, I love the people.
FYSEP Community Dinner
Thanks to FYSEP, I had an easy, smooth transition to college. I learned to find and take advantage of the resources offered at Dartmouth, and found a community — before classes started! In the future, I hope to be involved as a mentor and help incoming students find their path. I'll be honest, being a college student is not easy, and it's always nice to have someone who has through it to guide and support you. Thus far, my experience as a first-generation college student at Dartmouth has been nothing short of amazing, and I am grateful for FYSEP's support — I've only gone through one term at Dartmouth but I am happy to call this place home, and cannot wait for what the next four years have in store.
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!
Snow, snow, snow, and more snow! Although my courses have definitely been difficult to manage, I have still been able to participate in some ~cool~ activities and admire winter in Hanover.
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.
We so very wish you could step onto Dartmouth's campus yourself to witness the beauty of our winters live, but COVID-19 has made visiting campuses extremely difficult. I would love to share some of my favorite photos from this past snowy week!
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.
FYSEP Community Dinner
