This past weekend, I walked outside my house at noon and didn’t see a single person on the street. What was everyone doing?
When I first got to Dartmouth and I FaceTimed my friends at other schools, they told me they spent their weekends watching TV, playing cards, writing, reading and generally relaxing.
For three years, I’ve found myself feeling guilty for wasting a mere two hours watching a movie. At Dartmouth, there is always something looming. Maybe it’s that final term paper. Or a problem set due in a week. Or maybe that test on Thursday you still haven’t studied for yet. Not to mention the “social meal times” you scheduled. I’m getting stressed just writing about it!
So this past couple of days, I attempted something that many people at Dartmouth would scoff at: The chill weekend. Friday, Saturday and most of Sunday, I did not do any work and I did not think about my assignments for the next week.
I found myself baffled at just what to do with all of this extra time. So, I sat on the porch in my backyard. It was one of the first days of the term where I didn’t need a jacket. I looked out onto the grass. Well, not really grass. A lot of dirt and two grills that may or may not work. I decided to venture down Main Street to CVS. My mission was to find something to play catch with.
All I could find was a tiny foam American flag-patterned football. This would have to do. So, on Saturday, for about an hour, I did something I’ve always wanted to do: Be a frat bro. I played catch.
This week in Mirror, our writers take a step back. One writer reflects on growing into her true self. Another writer examines the highs and lows of busying yourself. A third writer contemplates how she feels belonging as an international student.
Happy week 3, Mirror! I’m done. You can go outside now.
