This weekend's Fieldstock is a rite of passage for us '12s. It represents the last hoorah, that last OMG IT'S 10X moment before the reality of finals (insert generic astro joke) and 10F kick in. Think about it, we're halfway through our Dartmouth career the youthful days of college are dying! Times change. Sloppiness booting on yourself or blacking out on Tuck Mall becomes taboo. There is no Thayer and Blitz is gone forever. The Dartmouth X is becoming more reality than myth.
I was originally asked to write a bucket list. It's super morbid to have to correlate the end of the summer with death. And as one Phi Delt '09 told me freshman year, "Yo, after sophomore Summer you're living like the dinosaurs you know sad shit's going to happen, it's all downhill."
But wait, 10X isn't over yet! There is no better time then the last two weeks of the summer to rekindle our love for Dartmouth, that tingling sensation we had the first time we shook ex-prez Wright's hand/went to office hours/played pong. Make the next weeks something you will remember as part of the "good ol' days" when you're 85 with 20 obnoxious grandchildren.
Here is my bucket list to help you make the most of it:
Week 9
Go to class or at least watch the podcast.
Blue Light Challenge: The Ledyard Challenge is so freshman year. Everyone's done it, and in fact S&S said they wouldn't get you in trouble if they caught you. It isn't rebellious if S&S approves. Furthermore, no one does the Blue Light Challenge, the crazy half-cousin of the Ledyard Challenge. To run around and hit over 30 blue lights clothed is herculean. Doing it nude is impossible. Who knows what S&S would do to you! Whatever, you'll be a campus legend, right?
Jump off something high: Jumping off things is all the craze these days. Rock formations, ledges, roof tops, GDX stairs, rope swings it seems that Dartmouth students have a love for high-altitude leaps. So, Parkour around campus to get to class, try to climb the Rockefeller Center arches or perhaps slide down that crazy statue outside Fairchild. The more impractical the path, the better!
Pick blueberries: Blueberry picking in New Hampshire has proven to be the number one way to 1) meet your future spouse and 2) make a fresh blueberry pie. Besides, strawberries are overrated.
Dartmouth Seven Twitter: Completing the Dartmouth Seven is the classic summer goal. But why not spice it up a little bit and utilize the new-era Internet technology? Tweet out constant updates to your crew about how you got BEMA down, but HPo's raining on your parade in front of the President's house.
Lose a black North Face: With fewer people on campus, warm weather and fewer parties, there is no reason for anyone to send a campus-wide blitz about a Black North Face. It would be a true challenge to actually lose one. Be that guy.
Actually go to the Fieldstock events during the day: The AEGIS and the Dartmouth home page need some good photos.
Week 10 Study for finals: The fact that you NROed your two classes doesn't mean you shouldn't study to try to get that C-.
Custom order at the Hop/Collis: In light of the FoCo shutdown and the "super chill" atmosphere, get your DDS Detective on and try requesting something crazy. Peanut butter and feta cheese sandwich? Gazpacho stir fry? As Mike Katz '12 told me, "Only this term do I feel comfortable with ordering my post-workout Billy Bob without the meat, cheese, sauce and vegetables." Om nom nom.
Bring a puppy to class and say nothing.
Impromptu BBQ: Nothing says you are enjoying the summer like grilling some burgers. Duh.
Go hiking: Take some photos and score a new Facebook profile pic. I guess its cool to be outside too. More importantly, try and pick some blueberries. I cannot stress enough (again) how that's the hot thing to do this term.
Go to a different frat/sorority/co-ed: This one's serious. Diversify your social scene. Go to a house that you haven't been to since freshman Fall and hang out. Meet new '12s while we're still all here. Of course, a circuit is a superb way of achieving this.
Here's to the end of 10X. Enjoy it!
