Dear Dartmouth,
I know we've had our rough times together, but I'm back for the summer. I want to make things right. I know that I will never get that little bit of my soul back from Econ 10, and God knows that I've spent enough late nights writing papers. Many '11s would say that they've "paid their dues" and are owed some good old relaxation, sophomore-summer style. That idea is certainly tempting, but frankly, you know as well as I do that it's not in our best interest.
Initially, I intended to register for two classes faster than you can say "Classics 4." Sophomore summer is supposedly about jumping into water off of tall things, making debauchery hip and growing closer to the people you care about. I almost forgot that you wanted me to learn things, too.
Yeah, you've always been big on that "education" thing, and honey, I understand. You're world-class, and even Jim Wright has acknowledged that the illustrious sophomore summer has been an under-utilized term in the development of Dartmouth's sons and daughters. Reduced dining service hours, fewer course offerings, bigger class sizes, and a different campus community have left everyone, including you, a little confused. While everyone is caught flat-footed, laziness takes hold and we easily succumb to the beautiful summer and all of her charms. The Connecticut River and the Copper Mines were just a part of Camp Dartmouth. We might hit the books, but it is often just enough to get by.
A true break isn't all that bad either; it can be a respite from the hypercompetitive environment of academic rigor that runs deep in this place. The summer can be an unparalleled time to grow together as a class and discover new friendships and deepen old ones. While the '10s did have some of the worst weather in sophomore summer history, most would probably tell you that it was still their favorite term at Dartmouth. Sophomore summer isn't perfect but it is doing a lot of things very well. This summer, we can do it even better.
Of course, we are faced with a few difficulties. The dining situation is a little rough. Reduced DDS hours and the elimination of Lone Pine and the Courtyard Cafe have all left us a little disenchanted. I've also heard rumors that the phrase "air conditioning" is used only to refer to Hanover's clean air quality as students swelter in their residence halls. With this in mind, is it much of a surprise that students would rather be down by the river or relaxing on the Green instead of studying inside?
But those inconveniences aren't a license to clown around. We, Dartmouth students and our parents, are spending a lot of money for this education, and thus we bear responsibility for making the most of it. Despite the common misconception, learning typically doesn't "happen to you," like some kind of irresistible osmosis, after you walk onto campus. You reap what you sow, and if we want to truly make this sophomore summer our best term at Dartmouth, students must take the initiative to expand their intellectual as well as recreational horizons. With some good old student initiative, the two are not as distinctly isolated as one might think.
With even fewer students on campus, this is the perfect chance to live the "college" experience to the fullest. Before our D-Plans divide junior year, we should take every opportunity to interact with one another and develop relationships across lines of identity and ideology. Engaging with your fellow '11s, professors, and even our new President Kim can encourage a whole new dimension of personal growth.
This summer, we have an array of choices that can be fun, rewarding and easy. Pick two. With our connection to President Kim's first term at Dartmouth, our intimate campus community and all of the blessings of summer in the Upper Valley, there is no excuse not to make the most of it. Someday, as we reminisce about 09X to the '12s and '13s, let's hope that our bragging rights don't lie in the things we didn't do.
