Winter Carnival, like Homecoming and Green Key, is considered a "big weekend" and revered by some as a holiday in the world of Dartmouth.
Big weekends, like traditional holidays, are typically thought of as times of celebration and joy. They are a break from the normal routine and a time to relax and enjoy a special occasion.
In my own experience at Dartmouth, I have found that people make a bigger deal out of these weekends than is actually warranted. I feel that big weekends are even less enjoyable for some than other weekends of the term.
This is because big weekends, and all holidays for that matter, come with expectations. On Thanksgiving, you are supposed to have a delicious meal and spend time with your family. On Christmas, you need a tree.
Similarly, on big weekends, Dartmouth students are supposed to either run around a bonfire or jump in an ice cold pond or drink a lot. And then some more.
It's not that these traditions are inherently bad (save for the binge drinking part) and it's not that I haven't enjoyed some of the things I've done during the big weekends. Some of my favorite memories at Dartmouth happened during Homecoming, Winter Carnival and Green Key weekends.
Still, I find fault with the reality that many times on these big weekends, I wasn't doing things because I wanted to do them. I was doing them because I felt like I needed to be doing them to have a good "Dartmouth experience."
Our society places so much emphasis on conformity that if we do not fulfill one of the requirements for a big weekend or a holiday, many of us feel as though we are missing out on something. And like most other people, I buy into this culture. To be honest, on most holidays, I usually end up feeling at least a little disappointed because I never seem to excel at the requirements I am expected to fulfill. It always feels like my traditions aren't as good as other people's traditions are. My Christmas tree isn't as nice as his Christmas tree! Or, I took a nap and missed my senior year bonfire! The negative thoughts are endless.
That said, I think it is important to venture out and experience things that are new and unknown to you. At the same time, though, I feel if something does not sound appealing to you, you shouldn't feel like you have to do it. Big weekends and holidays shouldn't feel like a checklist of things to get done.
I remember last spring during Green Key when I was walking on the Green, someone in my class saw me holding a book we were supposed to read for Monday. She shouted, "Why are you holding that book? Is this a joke? Why aren't you drunk?" I was on my way to the gym, not to the library, but still her comment surprised me because for the first time, I didn't feel like I was missing out on what many other students were doing that weekend.
And I think it was because like many upperclassmen, I came to realize during that Spring term that many things at Dartmouth are over-hyped and people play up how much fun they are having here. I realized that having a fun time is an individual experience, not a collective one, and you need to define it for yourself.
My point is, this year, you should make your own Winter Carnival. It doesn't need to involve the Polar Bear Swim, but it could. You don't need to go to the frats and get super drunk, but you could do that, too. You could also take a weekend to catch up on your work, watch a marathon of "Supernatural" or just sit in your bed and stare at your ceiling for hours.
This Winter Carnival, you should ignore the expectations and define your own fun.
