Hello, 你好! My name is Tao; I'm from New York City, and I'm a proud first-generation student. I'm currently interested in studying Math, Economics, and Philosophy. I love being immersed at campus–especially aesthetic Woccoms and soaking in the nature in the Upper Valley. Come one, come all: let me take you along!
Around six months ago, I received an email in my mailbox that said "Dear Tao, we are excited to welcome you to East Wheelock House!" and that this was my official "home base."
At Dartmouth, all undergraduate students belong to six different houses (yes, like Harry Potter!): North Park House, West House, School House, Allen House, South House, and last for the best East Wheelock House! Each house has their housing district, in which the dorms cluster around, and you will live with your housing community for the next four years.
Being a part of the housing community is great; throughout my time at Dartmouth, East Wheelock has put on multiple events that have integrated me into Dartmouth's warm and welcoming community.
The Events
Houses are given funds to put on community events for their undergraduate students. For East Wheelock, we have had community dinners—my favorite one being the mid-autumn dinner with special catering—social events such as pizza and arts & craft (I learned stitching there!) and field trips to places such as Corn Maze and Six Flags. Additionally, since housing communities consist of all students across class years, you get to meet new people at events!
East Wheelock's Six Flag Trip! It was rainy, but we had our East Wheelock Poncho (our house color is yellow/orange!) to shield us from the weather.
The Space
The common study room, Brace Commons, for East Wheelock students. I spend nights here inside individual study rooms, on the sofas, or on the standing desks. We also have a fully functional kitchen to cook late night food as well!
Being in a community space means that there are tons of opportunities to be in the same space! I cannot count how many times I have pulled study sessions in the afternoon or the evening with my East Wheelock floor mats. East Wheelock is also opening an outdoor studying space (which is currently under construction, super exciting). Other times, I find myself cooking ramen with my roommates at 2 A.M.. Moments like these made me feel closer at home, and I am so thankful to have deliberate spaces within houses to foster a sense of community!
The People
Being a part of housing communities means more than just joining a group of students. Within each house, we have a house professor, as well as leadership teams (Assistant Director, Resident Fellows, Event Coordinator, UGAs (Undergraduate Advisors). They are all wonderful humans that are brought together by the houses to guide you during your time at Dartmouth. They put together community events, are always available to support you, and are filled with depth of knowledge. I go to my UGAs all the time (who lives on my floor, by the way) to ask questions about the campus or even as casual as borrowing a kettle! Other times, I find myself at social events with the resident fellows chatting about majors and careers, as they are all graduate students, and got to know them through only a slice (or two) of pizza! Our house professor invited first-gen students in the housing community to his house to have lunch before orientation to welcome us! It is moments like this that I begin to appreciate Dartmouth's tight-knit community.
My house professor hosted a lunch for first-gen students and invited us to his house! We had catered Italian food, which had the best—and I mean the best, tiramisu I've had yet.
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