Tomorrow is March? / Finals Are Coming

When did this happen? We have about two weeks left in this term (including finals!) and I can't believe I'll soon be done with my second term at Dartmouth. And then, I'll begin the last term of my freshmen year! It saddens me.

But this is the time when the last midterms are being stuffed in (I have a test on Wednesday, though technically there shouldn't be any more tests given after this past Friday) and the last papers are assigned. This is our last full week of classes, and next Wednesday is the beginning of Reading Period. Reading period is the time in between classes and finals (usually around 2 days) that you have to study and begin those dreaded final papers before testing begins. It's a nice time without classes, but the large amount of studying left to do can seem overwhelming and requires a lot of planning (unless you decide to wing the final, which I HIGHLY discourage). It's the last bump before finals and academic freedom for a few weeks, and I'm preparing myself for the occasion.

I've included a picture of a book in case you've stopped using/looking at them (second semester senior year is tough, I know). It was my calc book from last term:


Enjoy!

Class, Take 2. Add Snow.

I'm back at the center of the world, and am very happy to be on my own again (though break was a great time for seeing friends, relaxing, and not stressing about work!). Right now I'm working on an application to be a tour guide, something I'll talk about later if I (hopefully!) become one...it's pretty competitive, from what I hear. We'll see! And then I need to do some homework...but it's for friday. I tried to plan ahead but ended up doing very little to get ahead. Oh well.

Happy 2010! And congrats to all Regular applicants who finally submitted their apps to colleges! (i.e. Dartmouth!) I was in this boat last year...and won't start talking about it now. Good luck!

Back to School

One of the most exciting parts of coming to Dartmouth, apart from meeting a ton of great new people and realizing all of the great opportunities that are present here, are classes. While academics may be one of the furthest, or closest, things from your mind when you think of college, but when you see all of the classes that are offered it often becomes exciting to think of the possibilities of learning about something you want to learn about, rather than what school has planned out for you. A new, freer and more flexible schedule allows for less stress and, best of all, classes that don't start at 7/8 am! (The earliest class you can have is drill for languages at 7:45 am, but even that can be taken later. After that the next class is at 8:45, and the majority of classes are at 10 and after, so far later than you're probably used to in high school.)

And since we start so late (quarter system starts late September, about a month after all of your friends!) most people are somewhat eager to begin classes again! And with so many classes to take, there’s almost always something interesting to learn about. One of the best aspects I found was the ability to study areas I had never thought about before Dartmouth.

This coming term I’ll be taking a course in the Native American Studies Department titled “Native American Oral Tradition Literatures,” about the history, culture, and development in Native American society of oral texts, a medium rarely studied in contemporary western classrooms. I’m very excited to encounter this unique perspective; when else would I have studied something like this? Not to mention Dartmouth has one of the nation’s best Native American Studies departments (Fun fact: This is thanks in part to the college’s charter, which said that the college would be founded to educate natives, then referred to as “savages.” Unfortunately, the success of native education never crystallized until the late 20th century when the college finally came around and honored its promises).

So: while academics may or may not be the thing you are most excited for in coming to Dartmouth, once you get here there are plenty of opportunities to pursue your interests and “expand your horizons.” Take that as you will.


That being said, enjoy the remainder of high school and ESPECIALLY the summer. While Dartmouth is extremely fun, the mantra "work hard, play hard" is definitely in use here!