Garrett Crouch
Fall In Hanover (and all its glory)
As midterms creep around the corner, I've been stressing pretty hard lately about logging enough study hours for my courses this term; however, recently, I've come to realize no such thing exists, especially here at Dartmouth.
At Dartmouth, with the ten-week term, classes are never at a standstill, you're constantly learning and building upon everything, every day. And this manifests an extremely positive learning environment as well as a very enriching one. In general though, because the academics are so enriching, sometimes you can get overwhelmed—lately, I've been experiencing this first-hand. So, instead of constantly trying to satisify that unrelenting voice in my head telling me I haven't sudied enough, I've been emphasizing my mental health through spending more time outside in the Dartmouth scenery. With fall in full swing, there's really no better time, so join me as I chat about self-care at Dartmouth and show you some of my favorite fall campus nature staples.
I've been documenting nature here on campus a lot more lately—the trees, the leaves, and the like. And I've come to realize that while academics are important, and it's important to prioritize your studies as a college student, they aren't the end all be all—sometimes there's only so much you can accomplish in one sitting. Allocating some of my time each day to immerse myself in the fall scenery here in Hanover has been a precious experience overall; through nature, I've come to understand the importance of balancing academics here at Dartmouth with self-care.
One aspect of Dartmouth that I've found to be particularly comforting, especially as a first-year student, is the outlook on mental health. Inclusivity and well-being are always a priority, and I think that's something very few institutions embrace in the style Dartmouth does. On top of the beautiful scenery and well-being spaces around campus, all the faculty are extremely transparent about mental health and encourage time off and self-comfort whenever necessary. At every student gathering, assembly, conference, or panel I've attended, the first thing the opening speaker always highlights is the importance of mental health as well as available opportunities to implement well-being practices.
Leaning into Dartmouth's philosophy on mental health through the fall foliage and nature has given me an outlet to release some of my academic stress while also providing me with a sort of introspective boost towards accepting the fact that a sufficient amount of study time truthfully doesn't exist. In reality, as long as you do what you can, and give your all while you're doing it, you're going to end up just fine, and I'm more than happy allowing the trees here to invoke those kinds of thoughts! Although midterms and the like can be hard, Dartmouth does a phenomenal job at providing routes for self-care and community embrace, and as you've seen, campus is nothing short of breathtaking. So, to end this week's post, let me go ahead and reiterate that one more time with another glorious fall photo!
And always remember to take time for self-care. Especially during the fall!
Your friend,
Garrett
Posts You Might Like
Come learn more about one of my favorite classes of all time!
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.