Welcome! My name is Serena and I'm a '28 from NYC. I'm so excited to be here at Dartmouth and share my experiences with you! On campus you can find me organizing events at Hillel, hosting socials for the women's club frisbee team, trying every single Dartmouth tradition, and yapping in the library. I also love to run, play volleyball, hike, knit, and read fantasy books! If you want to hear about a city kid's adventures in rural New Hampshire, follow along as I experience life in the woods!
Hi, I'm Serena, and I can't wait to tell you all about my new life at Dartmouth!
But first, let's get to know each other! I was born and raised on the Upper West Side of New York City and went to a pluralistic Jewish day school. I've always been rushing somewhere, from running to catch the next train or dashing to volleyball practice across the city on the Upper East Side. I have a twin brother at Wake Forest University and a younger brother who is still in high school in NYC.
Me and my twin brother Baylin in Central Park posing in our caps and gowns after we had both graduated!
I love to knit, crochet, jog, play volleyball, hike, and watch The Great British Baking Show! I loved playing sports in HS, and I plan to stay active at Dartmouth by joining a club sports team (there are sooo many to choose between!) and taking some skiing lessons offered at the Dartmouth Skiway during the Winter. Some city kids might be apprehensive of Dartmouth's rural location—but I can't wait! So far, I've loved experiencing a version of small town living in Hanover and slowing life down.
Look how beautiful Hanover is! I took these photos while on a peaceful walk to the Connecticut River. I then went swimming and saw the sunset with my friends!
I am super, super undecided in terms of major! I feel like I should have this figured out—but it helps that so many of my peers, upper-classmen, administrators, and professors that I've talked to say I'm exactly in the right place and encourage me to keep exploring.
That being said, I love writing and definitely want to explore English Literature. I was the co-editor-in-chief of my high school literary magazine, and I am eager to explore different modes of creative writing on campus. I also believe writing is one of the most powerful and vulnerable ways to express yourself, and I hope that by reading this blog, you can develop a real and authentic picture of what Dartmouth is actually like. Anyway, right now, my plan is to major somewhere in the humanities while also exploring STEM departments.
I've only been at Dartmouth for a couple of weeks now, but I've already fallen in love with the nature and beauty of the outdoors all around me. Every time I walk across the green with my friends, I exclaim something along the lines of "OMG look at the moon!" or "Do you see how bright those stars are??" or "This sky is sooo beautiful!" On my First Year Trip I even hiked in the mountains and slept under the stars for 4 days and three nights! Here are some more snapshots of the nature I've seen!
So, if you want to hear about a city kid's adventures and explorations in rural New Hampshire, follow along as I experience life in the woods!
The River Cluster (the group of residence halls closest to the Connecticut River, including French and Judge Hall) has a reputation…and some of it is warranted. But there's more to living in the River than you might expect!
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Isabelle Sullivan '26, an environmental studies and geography major, showed me around her room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
There was never a single "aha!" moment of clarity when I knew that Dartmouth was right for me, yet now, it is impossible for me to imagine having chosen anywhere else.
