Hi everyone! I'm Tess, and I live 30 minutes outside of London. I love everything Dartmouth, including the sunsets, the traditions, the classes, and the merch. I'm super excited to experience everything I read about in this blog over the next four years. Come along with me as I explore the ins and outs of life in the woods.
A course that definitely surprised me, I did not know what to expect and had very little philosophical knowledge before taking this course. It was a mixture of current and past readings, with the final project to make a group video, testing my technological ability. Professor Bumpus was amazing, and I got to know her more when I took her to breakfast at Pine through the Take Your Professor to Lunch Program.
I was recommended to take a history course, specifically a history course with Professor Lu, and it has not disappointed! This course is cross listed with Asian Studies, my major, but it has made me consider a history minor... We start every class off with a song relating to the topic of that class, and then we move on to discussion based activities.
The next sport highlighted in this athlete series is football. Anthony '28, from Lagos, Nigeria, is an offensive lineman for the Big Green. Like Zeynep, he also went to high school in the US, attending school in Connecticut. He is planning to major in computer science modified with economics.
So, let's get on to some questions.
1.Can you tell me about your recruitment process and why you chose Dartmouth?
The recruitment process was crazy—it was loads of coaches and existing players on teams reaching out to me. Dartmouth was one of my first offers, and I ended up getting around twelve overall. Although I got a couple other offers from other schools in the Ivy League, the main distinction was between heavy football and heavy academic schools. After I received all of my offers, Dartmouth was at the bottom of my list. And then I visited Dartmouth.
I had my official visit over the summer, which was three days and two nights. I spent time with players, coaches, and I saw what life was like in the woods. The visit wasn't as focused on football, rather what Dartmouth could do for me. Out of all the schools, it felt like Dartmouth was one of the few that encouraged football players to major in what they really wanted to major in. The idea of being away from a city—I grew up in a city, so coming to a place where the community is this tight and having a school really care about me as a person were factors in my choosing Dartmouth.
A phrase that really resonated with me was 'four for forty.' You spend four years playing football here, going through an education that will provide the basis for the next forty years. I realized that the next four at Dartmouth would put me in a prime position for the forty after.
2.What was the most memorable moment from the championship season?
I feel like one of the most memorable moments was being in the final game. It was an amazing game against Brown, probably one of our best. After our win, we all gathered on the field, waiting to see the result of the Harvard vs. Yale game that would decide if we would win the Ivy League Championship (which is determined by number of conference wins in a season). The suspense of the team and the fans watching the jumbo screen really shows the kind of community here at Dartmouth. The faculty care about the students they teach; they come out and support us. Seeing physically how close this community is was very memorable.
3.How would you describe the bond among your teammates?
Brothers. We're all brothers, a huge family.
As soon as we set foot on campus, there were loads of team building activities, creating this family atmosphere. You could see this in how the older guys were willing to take the freshmen under their wings, you can see this in us constantly texting each other, supporting each other. We are always checking up on each other, making sure people are doing well physically as well as mentally.
4.What was the role of the coaching staff in shaping the team's championship mentality?
From day one, we knew the plan was to finish the season with an Ivy League championship. In the first meeting we had, the coaches showed us where the team was projected to finish in the Ivy League—fifth. The odds weren't with us to succeed. This just made everyone more motivated.
One of the main mantras of the coaches is to do it for your brothers, fight for your brothers. Hold each other accountable. Also, focus on winning the next game in front of you, taking it week by week.
A football game on a sunny day
5.How do you manage the pressure of competing in such an intense sport while staying on top of academics?
The football team provides resources to ensure that players stay successful in the classroom. This includes Dartmouth Peak Performance (DP2), which helps us get help with classes we are struggling in by finding us tutors and other resources. We also have to input our grades into an app every week. At the team meeting at the end of the week, coaches display the players with the highest academics. When you see your friends hanging on the wall, you celebrate them, and you want to be as good as them. The competitive spirit exists outside of the field as well.
6.What does a typical in-season day look like?
In season, we are encouraged to take classes in the mornings, as we had practice in the afternoon. This season I took Spanish, Math and a religion class. My day started at 7:30AM with Spanish speaking practice. I would then go to breakfast and have classes from 9 until 12:35. Team meetings start at 2:30, but we had to be at the facilities at 2. 2 until 7PM is allocated time for football. During this time, we have team and position meetings, and practice. All first years also have a mandatory study hall from 8-10PM.
7.What's one piece of advice you'd give to younger athletes dreaming of reaching your level of success?
First of all, you have to stay on top of your schoolwork. If your high school GPA is high, it opens so many more options for you. Then, of course, you must be very good at your sport. Go above and beyond just the mandatory.
I would also say do something that you love beyond football—I have a Youtube channel where I vlog my life, and I really enjoy singing and playing instruments. So, I allocate time in my day to do my hobbies. It is good to have another attribute in your arsenal, rather than just being a football player.
The limited edition Homecoming t-shirt
8.What are your goals for the rest of your time at Dartmouth, both on and off the field?
On the field, my goal is to be the best I can be, and to get a starting job sophomore year. For this, I need to show up every day and execute everything I do to the best of my abilities, giving 100% to everything.
Outside of football, my goal is to experience Dartmouth. It would be a shame to go to a school that is this amazing, and not actively experience everything it has to offer. I'm taking a theatre class right now, which I am really enjoying.
Basically, meeting new people, having new experiences, and having fun.
9.What do you think sets Dartmouth football apart from other Ivy League schools?
Definitely the people we have in the locker room. I visited other schools, but the chemistry was nothing like that at Dartmouth. We have a high mentality of working to be the best, of looking out for each other. Everyone works to make the environment as comfortable as possible, so people can be themselves. We're a group of talented individuals that are doing amazing things outside of football—we have advocates, musicians, scholars. The coaches do a good job of recruiting not just football players, but people who can contribute to the community. So, I feel it's really the people that set Dartmouth apart.
Tailgates!
Game Day
I have gone to quite a few football games, and I am starting to get a hang of the rules. Before the games, we have a tailgate with sausages and burgers. I'm vegetarian, but the vibes are always so fun. The games are a blast, partly because Dartmouth does a lot of winning. I am looking forward to going to more games next season!
The first-generation community at Dartmouth is an extremely tight knit and supportive community! This past week, we celebrated first-gen week, with a myriad of activities and lots of chances to meet new people!
One of the most important aspects of being a Dartmouth student is knowing how to be a college student and manage your time effectively. As a first year student, these are resources that have helped me.
I can't wait to celebrate Winter, so I just had to write a blog post all about it. Read on to hear about all the fun (and affordable) Winter activities at Dartmouth!
After experiencing this Dartmouth winter term, I am ready to write an ode to this cold weather! Here is what a weekend in the Hanover winter feels like.
My first week back on campus– full of lots of hugs and an extensive amount of time spent making my Google calendar! Cold days and walking to classes after six weeks at home can be an adjustment, but my friends at Dartmouth make it all the more fun!
