Sometimes I feel like I will look back at my days at Dartmouth and remember only a series of different-colored time blocks on my iCal. The fact that so many Dartmouth students portion their days out to the last minute makes me wonder why we as a school pursue this type of rigid scheduling. Dartmouth students without some sort of planner, be it a Google Calendar or an old-fashioned Moleskine, appear to be few and far between. While some of my friends spread their time over too many groups and organizations to keep track of, others have just one all-consuming activity. There is nothing inherently better with either type of commitment. Rather, it is the motivation behind one’s extracurricular involvement that determines its worth.
Yes, there is absolutely a wrong way to schedule your time at Dartmouth. Several students I met during the course of freshman year had what I call the “high-school mentality” when it came to extracurriculars. They continued to be involved in as many clubs as possible because they thought that was what was expected. This is a limiting but contagious attitude. Too often students under the impression that everybody else is heavily involved on campus try to “keep up” by joining activities that they aren’t really committed to.
I had moments freshman year when I looked around at my friends and floormates and wondered if something was wrong with me. While they rushed from meeting to meeting, I was never rushing to anything. I realized, though, that my lack of involvement and their over-involvement both meant that we mismanaged our time. The over-committers were using up all their time just for the sake of appearing involved, and I simply did not participate. All of us missed out on the chance to deeply explore our interests and contribute to the Dartmouth community.
Luckily, most of my iCal-addicted friends realized that some of their extracurriculars were actually extra baggage. At the same time, I began to accrue activities organically, out of interest rather than a pressure to be a Dartmouth super student. Sure, this meant I had to start using an iCal, but I discovered that planning my day out could be fulfilling. Getting involved at Dartmouth meant that I was making an impact at a great institution — that I was taking advantage of the time I am so grateful to have here.
Cut out extraneous activities and focus on what matters. Have you not yet found your calling at Dartmouth? Look into the groups your friends are involved in. Chances are you’ll find an activity that not only will excite you but also improve your community.
When we get involved with clubs we actually care about, we’re in the position to facilitate teamwork and cooperation amongst Dartmouth students, which gives us the opportunity to truly change our institution and even effect change beyond Hanover. Movement Against Violence has changed the way Dartmouth students think and talk about sexual assault, and students involved with the Big Green Bus raised awareness about environmental issues across the U.S. over nine summers. Maybe the students involved in these or countless other Dartmouth student organizations sacrifice a little more free time than they would like, but I am certain that they feel fulfilled by their extracurricular commitment.
There’s nothing wrong with being busy at Dartmouth. None of us will likely be surrounded by such a high concentration of extraordinary individuals ever again, so don’t forget to just hang out with your brilliant classmates. But keep in mind that when we interact with those individuals through organized groups and clubs we’re actually dedicated to, we’re making Dartmouth a better place. It is, after all, better to look back at Dartmouth as a busy time than as a time lost to countless hours of Netflix and pong.
Vivien Rendleman '16 is a staff columnist.
