Julia Cappio

Coping with Change

I've lived in Seattle for my entire life. I've lived in the same house for thirteen years, and I've only attended two schools. All of that to say, coming to Dartmouth has been the biggest change of my life. Here are some of my tips for settling into a new space.

1: Tell people when you need support

In my first few weeks here, I remember someone mentioning that Dartmouth students tend to be pretty transparent if you open up to them. I couldn't agree more; everyone here is willing to talk to you when you're down. I can't imagine making it through the first few weeks of school without people like my roommate (Riley AKA the light of my life), my floormates, and even Trips croo (the way we spell "crew") members. People are ready and eager to support you through thick and thin.

On my way to go swimming during O-Week with my friend Julia!

2: Make your dorm feel like your own

This one kind of goes without saying, but the space you live in matters. I found it helpful to decorate my dorm like my room at home by hanging the 4x4 photos I'm used to, similar posters, and the same fairy lights I had before. I even took one of my blankets and brought it here! Being able to fall asleep in a similar environment to what I was used to helped me acclimate to my new surroundings (especially given my initial jetlag!).

3: Take breaks when you need to

Over the summer, incoming students had the opportunity to meet the Undergraduate Deans via Zoom to talk about what the first few weeks would look like on campus. Dean Natalie Hoyt mentioned that O-Week can be overwhelming and thus, it's normal for kids to take time away from sessions. At the time, what she said didn't resonate much with me. How would O-Week be overwhelming? We wouldn't even be in classes yet. It turns out, though, that Dean Hoyt was right. O-Week was a lot of fun and it was also the most exhausting week of my life. I took up Dean Hoyt's advice on many occasions and most of my friends did, too. Taking time to pause—whether in my dorm, on a walk around Occom Pond (known as a "woccom"), or on a random couch in Berry Library – was crucial to my initial success.

A beautiful view from a recent morning woccom.

Arriving at Dartmouth for the first time as a student comes with all of the emotions, good and bad. On one hand, I felt overjoyed to be in the place that I had been dreaming of for so long. On the other hand, though, I missed Seattle deeply and felt like this place might never feel like "home." I embraced all of the feelings and, just a few weeks later, I can confidently say that this is where I am meant to be.