Welcome!! My name is Serena and I'm a '28 from New York City. I couldn't be more excited to be here at Dartmouth and share my experiences with all of you! I know I want to explore English Literature alongside a STEM discipline. I love to run, play volleyball, hike, knit, and read books! If you want to hear about a city kid's adventures in rural New Hampshire, follow along as I experience life in the woods!
Dartmouth is such a fun place, and there's always something to do! Whether that's joining a new club you've never played in before, going on a Dartmouth Outing Clubtrip (visiting the o-farm, day hiking, overnight hiking, canoeing, and more!), going to housing community dinners, going to class, finding new spots to study in the library, or just hanging out on the Green with a friend!
But I'm not going to lie; between having so much fun and studying, sometimes I crave a break. Here's how I've taken time to reset and relax through the Student Wellness Center!
Look at how beautiful the Green is! What a gorgeous sky and what an amazing time to be out in nature and enjoy the superb weather!
The SWC has so many great services to help your mental wellbeing. I've been trying new activities at the SWC practically every week (including my very first week, orientation week, on campus) and the staff are always so welcoming. Most importantly, it is super accessible and easy to get to! It is located in Baker-Berry Library, our main library complex, on the edge of the Green.
Meditation: I've tried the small group, weekly guided meditation led by a SWC staff member. It was very beginner-friendly!
Yoga Nidra: Last Thursday, I went to the weekly Yoga Nidra and reflective journaling session with a friend. It was such a beautiful and transcendental experience. I feel like I am a changed woman, seriously. Yoga Nidra is a blend between falling asleep and meditating, aka creating liminal spaces. Indeed, it felt like I was walking the line between dreaming and being awake. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, I am rejuvenated.
KineticSand: I love hanging out and playing with the SWC's Kinetic Sand with my friends. Also, the SWC is a work-free environment, which I find highly helpful when I want to reset and just relax!
Massage chairs: The massage chair room is such an integral part of the SWC!! It is a great place to let your worries go and just breathe. Not only are there a billion different settings on the massage chairs, but the relaxing mood lighting is so calm and peaceful.
Motivational stickers: I love putting meaningful quotes and images on my water bottle (an Owala water bottle, in case you were wondering)! I love the reminder I get every time I look at my current SWC sticker on my water bottle: "Allow yourself to be a beginner. No one starts off being excellent." I chose it because I thought it was a great outlook and reminder, needed more than ever during my first quarter at Dartmouth.
The Student Wellness Center is such an amazing place full of great resources to take advantage of! I can't wait to see what else I can discover about the SWC this term.
The big-little process in my sorority has strengthened my bond with my big, fostered new friendships across class years, and deepened my sense of community and belonging on campus.
After a long winter term where everything was overlaid in snow and serenity, the weekly Norwich farmer's market is finally back—and I could not be more excited.
