Taoheng (Tao) Chen

Before the Bonfire even happened,  I had the opportunity to help build it! My friend and I, along with fellow 28s, took turns in shifts to build up a mega star-shaped bonfire. And then we got to sign it afterwards with our names—it took our class two days and tons of pizza breaks in between!

Perhaps the most exciting of them all, our class got to walk around the bonfire with our housing communities. This was something I’ve never experienced before, seeing a giant flame igniting the school spirit on The Green. Upperclassmen and alumni cheered us on as we walked around the Bonfire, paralleling the powerful flame igniting our spirit. I'm proud to say that I’ve officially “come home”!

At Dartmouth, I’m also a part of the student council, who are in charge of planning class events to promote community. After the Bonfire, I got to lead a giant karaoke session where I sang my heart out with my classmates; what’s more exciting is that I’m still meeting new people from my class even though I’ve been here for more than two months. I think the beautiful thing about Dartmouth is exactly the tight-knit community that makes Dartmouth, Dartmouth!

Coming from New York City, where my high school was inside an office building, I didn’t have a chance to attend a football game. However, the bonfire was the first time I got to dress up in full Dartmouth merch, and watch a game with my roommate! He explained to me the rules of football as the game progressed; this is another one of Dartmouth’s many opportunities for me to explore new things I’ve never experienced before.