As I'm sure many of you will discover in the months ahead, Dartmouth can be a busy place. With the multitude of academic, extracurricular, social, and other avenues for chasing your dreams, sharing your talents, and expressing your identities, time often rushes by faster than an Olympic sprinter, leaving you to scramble to fit everything in, and still turn in that 10-page paper on schedule. While I'm no stranger to this abundance of opportunities, one of the most important and enriching components of my Dartmouth experience continues to be the wisdom and knowledge I've gained from my six years as a long-distance runner: slowing down, pacing myself, and considering the meaning of the countless steps that have brought me to the present moment.
During my time at Dartmouth, one of the greatest sources of joy in my life has come from nurturing the friendships with which I've been blessed. Often I'll do this by meeting people for lunch or dinner, taking the time to slow down, gather in pleasant company and discuss whatever is on our minds. The exchange of ideas, stories and humor constantly gives me a new perspective on my own beliefs, values, and assumptions. Also, sometimes all a person needs is someone to listen to them, to truly pay attention to them, to feel that somebody cares. Everyone -- me, you, your parents, your friends, your teachers-- is that person from time to time. Funny thing is, you don't always know who that will be, and when they'll be in need; if you're too hurried to notice, you could miss a chance to make their day. May you never be too busy to let someone know you care for him or her.
One of the reasons I came to Dartmouth was an attraction to the surrounding landscape. The Upper Valley, the Connecticut River and the forested mountains to the north are beautiful to me, and again, some of my best experiences of them came when I slowed down enough to truly behold these places. Walking down to the river on a Sunday morning to watch the rising sun lend unspeakable brilliance to a hilly palette of fall foliage. Strolling back to my dorm at on a crisp winter night, stopping to gaze in awe at snowflakes noiselessly piling up on every last branch of a tree, lit by the soft glow of a nearby streetlight. A warm afternoon in May, watching students, faculty and local families playing, walking and biking upon the Green, letting gentle breezes turn the pages of my book.
Of course, my life isn't always as peaceful as these words might suggest. I take my academics very seriously, and this means I'm often reading for class, doing some research or writing a paper. I have a weakness for believing I'm busier than I actually am, and this has caused me plenty of undue stress, leading to some missed opportunities that, in hindsight, I shouldn't have skipped. Yet I've always recovered, come to my senses, and regained proper devotion to the aspects of my life that truly matter. I couldn't have done any of this alone, and I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the people and things that support me. Above all, my Catholic faith, which is flourishing here among the community of amazing people at Aquinas House. My parents are also an essential and valuable source of love and support, always ready to share advice, a kind word, or a "news from home" blitz that often makes my day. My friends and acquaintances on this campus have also helped me to stay on an even keel, for at least one of them always seems to notice when I'm struggling and stressed, and manages to slow me down enough to take stock of my current situation more realistically.
I'm running out of room, so I'll have to get busy for just a moment to fit in some closing thoughts. Welcome to Dartmouth, and I wish you much happiness, joy and success in this marvelous odyssey called college. It'll move pretty quickly, and my advice to you is to make sure you slow down often enough to watch it all unfold. Be aware of what you value the most, and accord these things high priority and unswerving dedication. I pray. I run. I care for my family and friends. I go to bed between 10 and 11 p.m.; I wake up between 6 and 7 a.m. Day in and day out. This is the bedrock upon which I let my creativity, imagination and wonder go free, constantly seeking new ways to grow and learn about myself, the people around me, the world, and the beautiful gift of life we all share. Thanks for taking the time to read my words. If you wish to contact me (hurricane@dartmouth.edu) with your thoughts, questions, or concerns, I'd be happy to take the time to answer you.
Peace, my friends.
