There are 5,000 possible paths at Dartmouth, and "my freshman year I tried to follow 4,999 of them," panelist Randi Barnes '98 told the audience of more than 100 students, mostly women.
A panel of seven senior women spoke about their backgrounds and college experiences and gave advice about how to take advantage of the opportunities at the College last night in 105 Dartmouth Hall.
Barnes said she thought she would only be accepted by Dartmouth students if she dressed and acted like them.
If everyone was wearing Khaki pants, she had to wear them too, even if they didn't fit, Barnes said jokingly.
Barnes said she began to take courses that interested her and participate in the activities she enjoyed during her junior year, when she realized her desires were separate from those of her parents and peers.
Barnes, a former class president, said even though she is currently president of the Rugby team, her parents would not be as proud of her new leadership position as they were of her old one.
"I'm not 32 flavors and then some -- I'm four or five at best," Barnes said. She advised students to find out who they are and what they enjoy.
"If you have to do it by finding out who you're not, go ahead," she said.
Panelist Laura Turner '98 said that, in contrast to Barnes's anticipation she would be involved in extracurricular activities, she came to Dartmouth just hoping she would pass her classes.
Turner said she came from a small town in Michigan where people had barely heard of the Ivy League and took community college courses the summer before coming to the College because she was worried she would not be able to handle a Dartmouth course load.
During the first term of her freshman year, Turner was "incredibly cautious" about taking on extracurricular activities and limited her social life to ensure she had enough time to "hit the books."
Turner said when she went to her first sorority rush meeting and when she was asked to describe what kind of fruit she'd like to be, "I got up, said I had to go to the bathroom and never came back."
But Turner said she rushed a sorority her senior year and eventually "wound up taking leadership roles."
Liz Sumida '98 said she came to Dartmouth with the perception it was "a white school" and students would segregate themselves based on race.
Sumida, who grew up in a Latino neighborhood, said she felt guilty that she and other Dartmouth students had privileges and opportunities while the teens in her neighborhood joined gangs and "the 16-year-old girl down the street [was] pregnant."
Sumida said she recently realized she should stop feeling guilty about her opportunities and should fight to reach her goals.
Panelist Min Jung Lee '98 said her Korean heritage has impacted her time at Dartmouth.
Lee, who said she has always felt "marginalized" as a Korean living in the Philippines, said she still felt stereotyped at Dartmouth -- not as a Korean, but as an Asian.
But Lee said she has learned not to categorize herself while at Dartmouth.
Latia Curry '98 said her time as a black student at a predominately white school was difficult, but was facilitated by her membership in the Afro-American Society.
Curry said she regretted she had not asked more questions while she was a student at the College.
She said students at Dartmouth should take advantage of the opportunity to ask for help, because it will not be as readily available in the working world.
Bess Tortolani '98 said her experience as a member of the basketball and softball teams has taught her dedication and provided a very close network of friends, but consumed so much time she was unable to meet a wide variety of people and participate in more activities.
Tortolani said she learned "the hard way" that she did not have the time or energy to go to fraternity parties, and regrets she did not take advantage of the College's Foreign Study and Language Study Abroad Programs.
She advised students to branch out -- to meet as many people as possible.
Anat Levtov '98 also served on the panel.
All seven panelists emphasized the importance of friendships, and said the people at Dartmouth make it the type of College it is.
