Natasha Raman
Sunshine and Swimming: What I am Looking Forward to This Summer!
If you ask a Dartmouth alumnus about their favorite term in college, many of them will tell you it's sophomore summer. Now you may be wondering, what in the world is sophomore summer? As the name suggests, sophomore summer is the term where sophomores spend their summer taking classes on campus. As part of the D-Plan, which is Dartmouth's academic calendar, students are on in the summer so that they can take another term off, such as the fall or winter of junior year, to do an internship, a job, or even to travel!
My class' sophomore summer will be rather unique because there are also a sizable number of juniors on campus. When the pandemic hit, the '22s (students who will graduate in 2022) were given the option to either have their sophomore summer online or delay it by a year. Because many Dartmouth students look forward to this term, a lot of '22s took up the latter option and are now spending the summer alongside us sophomores.
One reason why Dartmouth students love sophomore summer is that the campus is so gorgeous during this time. Especially since I have been away from campus for over a year due to the pandemic, stepping onto the Green, which is the central place on campus, and seeing the beautiful greenery everywhere was nothing short of surreal. Dartmouth students also love sophomore summer for the plenitude of summer-related activities available. Because a large percentage of students on campus are vaccinated, many of these activities are still possible for us to do this summer. Here are some of the activities I am most looking forward to this term:
1. Swimming in the Connecticut River
It can get pretty hot in Hanover during the summer. In order to cool off, many Dartmouth students like to go down to the Ledyard docks and swim in the Connecticut River. As the sweltering heat persists throughout the summer, I will definitely make sure to take a dip in the river!
2. Having a picnic on the Green
Whether it is playing a game of spikeball, throwing around a frisbee, or simply talking with friends, there is always something happening on the Green. I can't imagine a better afternoon than eating sushi from Collis Cafe and spending time with my friends on the Green!
3. Trying a new activity
Because there are typically only sophomores on campus, many student organizations are happy to take in new members in the summer. Some popular organizations people are a part of include dance teams, acapella groups, and even improv troupes!
Posts You Might Like
I'm still trying to get over my fear of mice…
Fellow blogger Joanna '26 and I rented a Zipcar to check off a long-time item on my bucket list: visiting the Ben and Jerry's factory in Vermont!
This spring in Spare Rib, the intersectional feminist zine and feminist collective on campus, has been quite busy and exciting with a bunch of new events. Keep reading to find out more!
After the last bit of snow melted, the sun brightened the entire campus. When the eclipse blocked the sunlight for a few minutes, Hanover was lively!
Turns out we have a new café in town since I've been gone: The Works! Of course, I had to put them to the test.
What major exploration and declaration look like at Dartmouth! And, an ode to the Government department.
Amid the pressures of schoolwork and occasional homesickness, the natural landscapes accessible from campus have become my sanctuary.
It's easy to forget how easy it is to access walking trails during the hustle of a Dartmouth term. As graduation nears, I am reminded of how special it is to step off campus and enjoy quiet moments in nature.
In this post, I write about why I think Dartmouth's undergraduate focus is valuable.