Sometimes I wonder if it's okay to be happy or content or pleased with where you are and how your life is going. It seems to me that a lot of times, if you're here at Dartmouth, and you're happy with the way things are on campus, or your social life or your academics, you are seen in an almost negative light. It's as if you don't care, aren't interested or you are, for God-sakes, conservative and reactive -- when, in all honesty, you're just sort of content.
Now, I don't mean to suggest that change is a bad thing, and that the only way to be happy is to desire the status quo. I fully recognize that there are major societal issues that face us all every day here in Hanover. They are not only national issues, like the deficit, the Balanced Budget Amendment debate and crime, but also college life issues, such as eating disorders, social relations and diversity. It is in the interest of all of us to think about these issues, especially those that directly affect our campus life.
Yet, in the same way that focusing on solutions to issues that affect us is important, recognizing the positive aspects of our time here at Dartmouth is meaningful as well.
I have never been one who is necessarily in favor of change, just for the sake of change. And in my two and a half years here in Hanover, I have had a great experience. From Homecoming weekends, to final exams, and through lectures that have ranged from the sleepy to the magnificent, I have been happy. I suppose that I have been blessed to have not encountered any major crises while here, nor have I had any major doubts over what I've thought or have planned to do. I do realize that for everyone, that is not always the case.
Our time here at Dartmouth is generally limited to four years. In perspective, that is an incredibly short amount of time to do what we can, and what we want and what we feel is important. Whether that's changing things to make them better or concentrating on retaining those things we think are good -- or both. I only hope that it's still okay to be happy here, no matter what path we choose.
Because I tend to like to be happy, and don't think, that in all honesty, it's that bad of a thing.
