Hi! I'm Reece, and I am '28 from Northern California! I hope to study Government, Policy, and Religion in college but come winter, I'll just be hoping to survive the snow. Outside of classes, I love to read, crochet, and journal, and can't wait to expand on my interests this year. I love the outdoors—but hate hiking—and I can't wait for my first spring on the Green! I hope my blog can help answer your ungoogleable questions, and please follow along for chaos that is bound to ensue!
One of my favorite things about Dartmouth has been the many traditions. I've been able to experience the Twilight Ceremony, First-Year Trips, and matriculation, but by far, my favorite has been Homecoming.
For one weekend every fall, thousands of alumni return to campus to celebrate the College's history, reunite with old friends, and welcome the incoming class to Dartmouth. To be honest, it was a bit overwhelming to see the campus so busy and full of alumni after the past few weeks of peace and routine, but it was also exciting. Knowing that alumni care so much about this community to return makes me excited for my years post-graduation. No matter how old I am—two years after graduation or twenty—I will always be welcome at Dartmouth and experience the magic of Homecoming Weekend.
Among the many exciting events that took place this Homecoming Weekend, the most notable was definitely the bonfire. Each year, the first-year class spends a week building a wooden bonfire in the middle of the Green. The structure is created entirely by the first-year students, and this year, I signed up to help build it. When I arrived, I was told to put on a hard hat and some glasses and then go to the center of the Green, where the bonfire-in-progress was located.
We worked as a group of five to haul wooden beams from a forklift and place them on top of the structure.
Was I hard at work or hardly working? Anyway, this is me watching my four group mates place a new beam on the structure.
We were required to use nails to secure the uneven beams to the structure. As a result, we all learned how to use a hammer and were tasked with securing some parts of the bonfire.
We had to crouch down to get the right angle for the nail. It was low-key scary but fun!
When I signed up to help build the bonfire, I didn't really know what to expect. I'd never done anything like this before and had zero expectations. When I got up on the structure, I was kind of scared because, to be honest, I am slightly afraid of heights. However, the view from the top was so pretty that it made up for the distance.
Me on top of the structure! Behind me, you can see the Bake Tower!
By Thursday, the bonfire's structure was complete, and the only thing left to do was add the bonfire boards. Groups and organizations around campus can purchase wooden boards to decorate, which will then be attached to the structure before the fire.
As a part of the Dartmouth Programming Board—a group on campus that organizes major events like the spring concert series called "Green Key"—I was able to sign a board and have my name written on the bonfire. Additionally, the Class of 2028 has its own board that I was able to sign.
The Programming Board!
Go Class of 2028!
The whole experience felt very symbolic, and I was so excited to be a part of this time-honored tradition.
On Friday, the night of the bonfire, I gathered with my dorm community and got ready for "the sweep", the parade around campus that collects all the first-year students and brings them to the Green.
We all dressed in spirit gear and then joined the group of first-year students to walk around campus. Eventually, we reached the Green, where the fire was already lit, the structure fully engulfed in flames. The heat from the bonfire cascaded out into the seemingly endless crowd, and it was almost overpowering.
My view of the bonfire!
Knowing that I helped build that fire, placed specific beams, and had my name written on the wood made the experience all the more powerful. I loved building my first Homecoming bonfire, and can't wait to watch the future fires burn!
Every Dartmouth student is required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Here's my experience navigating the language requirement!
