The Class of 2012 consists of individuals who boast an array of interests, talents and accomplishments.
Four seniors Sophie Caldwell '12, Aidan Nelson '12, Giulia Siccardo '12 and Mike Randall '12 share some memories and experiences that have defined their years at Dartmouth.
Sophie Caldwell '12Major: PsychologyHometown: Peru, Vt. Post-grad plans: Professional skiing on a Vermont-based team with other Dartmouth classmates.
Which activity had the most significant impact on your Dartmouth experience?
Being a part of the ski team has had the most significant impact on my Dartmouth experience.
My teammates are some of my best friends. They are the people I spend the most time with, and we push each other to work hard and stay focused so we can perform to our potential during the season.
Joining my sorority, [Tri Delta], has also forced me to branch out to meet new people, and it has allowed me to become friends with an impressive group of women.
What are you going to miss the most about Dartmouth?
I'm going to miss the balance I've found at Dartmouth. The skiers call it the three S's skiing, school and socializing. Obviously, that list isn't exhaustive and it's constantly evolving, but I've found a balance here where I always feel engaged and constantly have something to look forward to because I'm balancing a variety of interests.
What are you going to miss the least about Dartmouth?
Germs and hangovers!What is your favorite memory from your time at Dartmouth?
My favorite memory was performing well as a team at NCAAs this year. When we drove back into cell phone service, all of our phones blew up with messages from what at the time seemed like the entire Dartmouth community. My other favorite memory was all of sophomore summer.
If you had to do Dartmouth all over again, what would you do differently?
I would have gotten to know more people (too many cool people and too little time!) and done a term abroad.
What advice would you give to underclassmen?
Senior year flies by, so spend time with the people who are important to you and make a list of everything you want to do. And streak a final. I finally did it this term!
Do you have any last words for your fellow '12s?
Thank you, that was fun.
Aidan Nelson '12Major: Theater modified with FrenchHometown: Piermont, N.Y.Post-grad plans: Spending the summer working on a production of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, traveling with education professor Andrew Garrod and theater professor James Rice as part of a program aimed to bring together different national groups that fought in the Bosnian war and heading later to New York to pursue a career in film.
Which activity had the most significant impact on your Dartmouth experience?
I've been very lucky to live with people who provide me with a sense of balance for much of my time at Dartmouth. In any given term, regardless of how well or poorly my classes and activities are going, returning home to people who make me smile has helped me to stay focused on what is important and not stress too much about the rest. More than any activity in particular, having a good sense of home has made my time at Dartmouth that much more enjoyable.
What are you going to miss the most about Dartmouth?
I'm going to miss being so closely connected to the people I really care about. While I'm sure I will stay in touch, being able to see most of my closest friends on any given day is a real luxury. I'll miss how randomly running into friends can brighten any day. I'm also going to miss being so connected to the outdoors. We're ideally located to do most of what you would want to do outside without having to make any long trips.
What are you going to miss the least about Dartmouth?
The Jones Media Center closing song. It always signals the beginning of a long night. On a slightly more serious note, I won't mind going without the myth of this not being real life. I've spent four years here and they seem pretty real to me. I think a lot of excuses are based on this myth, and a lot of poor decisions made by referencing this myth. This is real life, so don't postpone anything.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Dartmouth?
Biking through Hanover on a clear night during sophomore summer to go look at the stars by Occom Pond.
If you had to do Dartmouth all over again, what would you do differently?
Not much, if I'm honest, but I wish I had realized that you can watch the sunset from the Berry 3/Stacks 5 bridge and gone and done that more. Maybe I would have watched more Dartmouth sports. They are great fun.
What advice would you give to underclassmen?
Make sure you keep on exploring try not to get stuck in the same patterns and relationships and activities that you've been involved in simply for the sake of familiarity. And be honest with yourself: Spend time on the activities that excite you and with people who excite you. If you're not excited with where you are, kindly excuse yourself and move on.
Do you have any last words for your fellow '12s?
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." Blitz me?
Giulia SiccardoMajor: Economics and environmental studiesHometown: Los Altos, Calif.Post-grad plans: Traveling in the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Nepal, Hong Kong and Korea before starting as a business analyst at McKinsey & Co. in San Francisco, and later heading to Harvard Business School as a member of the Class of 2016.
Which activity had the most significant impact on your Dartmouth experience?
Definitely heading the Dartmouth Business Journal. Working on growing and developing this publication since I joined freshman year has presented me with countless lessons on teamwork and leadership.
What are you going to miss the most about Dartmouth?
This one is hard to pin down. I'm going to miss passing by someone wearing a Teletubby suit on the Green and not thinking twice. I'm going to miss how gorgeous Baker Tower looks no matter the time of year.
I'm going to miss being the first one on Collis porch in the morning, teaching friends how to ski down Winslow and crashing Tuck Dimensions. As much as I complain about the cold, [the Class of 1953 Commons] and the Campus Events Listserv blitzes, the truth is I'll probably miss those, too. The entire experience of being an undergrad at Dartmouth is what I'll really miss.
What are you going to miss the least about Dartmouth?
Vitamin D deficiency. And my Hinman Box, which still takes me an average of 3.5 tries to open after four years.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Dartmouth?
Wandering into a meeting of the Upper Valley Ukulele Club (yes, it's a real thing) with two of my best friends. I learned that if all else fails, I will never be able to count on a career as a ukulele player.
If you had to do Dartmouth all over again, what would you do differently?
Absolutely nothing. My Dartmouth experience has been far from perfect, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. Each stress and challenge I've faced has provided me with an opportunity to learn and grow.
What advice would you give to underclassmen?
Prioritize fun. Yes, senior year can be busy and stressful, but when the opportunity to be spontaneous and go on an adventure presents itself, don't turn it down. And explore the world. After your first few terms at Dartmouth, you'll have a hard time believing anyone would ever want to leave "Hogwarts and Disneyland," but push yourself to leave your newfound comfort zone and travel. Apply to an interesting FSP or LSA, do research, intern or volunteer somewhere you've never been before. It'll be one of the most valuable college experiences you have, one that lends you perspective both on yourself and on Dartmouth.
Do you have any last words for your fellow '12s?
Three words: Best. Class. Ever.
Michael RandallMajor: Cell biology and governmentHometown: Dallas, TexasPost-grad plans: Working at Trinity Partners, a health care consulting firm near Boston and eventually attending medical school.
Which activity had the most significant impact on your Dartmouth experience?
It's hard for me to choose any single activity. For me, the "Dartmouth experience" is the product of all my activities integrated together. Everything is significant because the experience wouldn't be cohesive otherwise. If I have to choose one, I'd say it was membership in Psi Upsilon fraternity. It's been the consistent core of my experience that I can always return to.
I developed lasting friendships with a lot of people that I wouldn't have been close with otherwise, and I learned a lot about myself in the process. I had an extremely rich academic experience at Dartmouth and grew as a scholar, but I think I'll take my most lasting lessons from the experiences and conversations and shenanigans I had with my house.
What are you going to miss the most about Dartmouth?
Probably the network of support. Right now, all of my closest friends are no more than a 10 minute walk away. I can look up at Baker Tower from almost anywhere on campus and know that I'm grounded, that I'm amidst a community that cares for me.
Part of that is lost after you graduate. I'm going to miss stepping off the coach in the fall and seeing how thrilled H-Croo is to welcome the freshmen. I'm going to miss walking into the 1902 room at 2 am and being hit with the stuffy, dingy air and thinking that we're all in it together.
What are you going to miss the least about Dartmouth?
Labels, and how they affect our perceptions of each other and ourselves. It's even ingrained in the way we introduce ourselves: "Hi, I'm Mike. I'm from this state and I'm this major. I'm in this fraternity and I participate in x,y,z on campus." And because we identify ourselves so much by the groups and activities we participate in, it's easy to overlook that we're each interesting and worth knowing because we're unique.
Groups are reflections of their membership. It also leads us to try to conform you end up trying to fit the labels that are applied to you. It's related to the idea that you can't be unhappy at Dartmouth, or at least you can't express that you're not happy. We're not honest enough with each other.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Dartmouth?
It's hard for me to hone in on any one memory, so I won't.
I can say that the memories that stick out best were unplanned. Random trips to the river or to Fort Lou's or spur-of-the-moment early morning hikes, that kind of thing. My best memories came out of making connections with people.
If you had to do Dartmouth all over again, what would you do differently?
I would have been more flexible, more spontaneous. I think I sometimes took my work and my dominion over my little slice of Dartmouth too seriously.
The best memories I had were unplanned, like when I went to an open mic event and a Fusion show for the first time last week. I wish I had let myself discover that kind of thing sooner. And I also would have tried to explore the surroundings more.
What advice would you give to underclassmen?
Write a thesis. This is the last time in your life when you'll be able to really take ownership of an academic project and conduct scholarly research on this scale and you'll learn about your ability to see an undertaking from its inception to its conclusion. Be introspective. Reflect on why you're doing the things you're doing.
Do you have any last words for your fellow '12s?
I'm looking forward to hearing about the impact this group is going to make. Shoot me an email if you're in Boston, whether you want to grab a meal or just need a couch to sleep on for a night.
