The first few days of Orientation at Dartmouth are packed with activities, responsibilities and emotions. When students first arrive on campus, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the new atmosphere. My first few days here at Dartmouth passed in a whirlwind, as I seemingly completed a half-marathon each day by running from academic open houses to advising meetings while somehow grabbing lunch in between. After a comparatively relaxed summer, my arrival on campus and the subsequent commencement of classes presented a substantial change of pace.
I mention all this because I recognize that as a Dartmouth student, it is easy to get caught up in work, sports or any of the other plethora of activities offered here. These pursuits are critical to how Dartmouth students define their experience in Hanover. However, none of these are truly what makes Dartmouth distinctive, or at least what made the school unique to me when I was deciding which school to attend only a few short months ago. Dartmouth is made distinct not by the academic achievements of the students here, but rather the character of the people it draws to campus. I remember clearly the moment when, during Dimensions weekend, an upperclassman stopped me outside of Thayer and proceeded to not only help me find where I was going, but also launch into a convincing sales pitch for the school and its students. She repeatedly cited the friendliness and care that each member of the community exhibits towards one another. She, along with others I met, implored me to take advantage of this fact when I decided to come to Dartmouth.
So when I arrived on campus, I knew that as consuming as the bustle of organized activities would be, I needed to find a way to build and nurture relationships with the truly exceptional people that walk the paths here every day. Key to this would be encouraging people to come into my room to hang out or just chat. I found that a successful means of doing this involved leaving the door propped open whenever I was in the room. Within a few days, my roommates and I were enjoying routine visits from floormates in search of a conversation (and sometimes a quick snack as well). The best thing about these interactions was that they provided a means through which I got to know the incredible people living on my floor. Through heated discussions over sports, politics and the supremacy of the United States over Canada (which is still disputed by the two Canadians on my floor), I've grown to appreciate the very thing that, according to the student who stopped me outside of Thayer, makes Dartmouth a great place the people.
But as upperclassmen here can probably attest, nothing draws the attention of a Dartmouth student like the sound of music. This leads me to the second way in which I've been able to connect with the students here at Dartmouth, which is not being afraid to occasionally play loud music, leading to an impromptu dance party. This isn't just limited to the dorm room either. Just a week ago, while working at the United Way Day of Caring, my small group of volunteers broke out into spontaneous dance while in a Dartmouth van. While we surely raised the eyebrows of the surrounding volunteers, who watched as a large, parked white van bounced up and down and immersed the surrounding area in the lyrics of Yeah! by Usher, nobody inside that van can help smiling when recalling that rainy Saturday morning.
Although I've only been at Dartmouth a few weeks, I can say that it's these informal, unplanned experiences that stick out most in my mind. It's the willingness of Dartmouth students to be spontaneous, and the value we associate with conversation and interaction with one another that I have found to be both comforting and enjoyable. So, for '15s reading this, and for all others who may be looking to broaden their experience, here is my advice to you: Appreciate and sustain the relationships you have built, but always search for new ones around you. As one of the members of Lodj croo suggested during my DOC trip, "make the effort to meet people you wouldn't otherwise come across in your everyday life."
Oh, and don't be afraid to invest in a doorstop you never know when a new friend may walk by your door.
