This article is featured in the 2024 Freshman special issue.
To the Class of 2028,
Welcome to Dartmouth!
Arriving on campus can feel like blasting into outer space. Or like an astronaut untethered from their spacecraft. Or like floating on the moon. The point is, during your freshman fall, Hanover can appear to be a vast, unexplored territory — the last frontier, if you will. In these early weeks at Dartmouth, everyone you meet and everything you do will be new, which is why we believe the theme of this issue, “Into Orbit,” is especially fitting.
You’re shooting into the next great chapter of your lives.
In your time at Dartmouth, you’ll learn new things about yourself and the world. Sometimes, a profound realization will inspire you to leave behind the gravitational pull of a comforting, long-held belief. Be open to new possibilities. Whether it is in the more than two million volumes in Baker Berry library or the 65,000 objects in the Hood Museum of Art’s collections, Dartmouth grants you access to a vast intellectual and cultural universe.
So, take a step back, and look at the vastness of the space surrounding you — literally and figuratively. On a clear night, find a moment to look up at the stars. The beauty that surrounds this campus is staggering, and too many of us often forget to appreciate it. Don’t forget to look around, observe the changes in the seasons — and your life — and the movement of the moon and stars above. In that vein, this issue explores the best stargazing spots on campus, new roommates entering your orbit and making space for political dialogue — pun intended. Being away from home in an unfamiliar environment can be disorienting at first, but we promise that you will also learn more about yourself and gain a new perspective on the world.
As you soar into orbit, remember to look back. Be easy on yourself. Remember that feeling overwhelmed or homesick sometimes is normal. In this special issue, take a look at advice from 10 current students, or read the musings of a rising senior and what she wishes she knew when she was a freshman.
We hope you enjoy this selection of articles — all focused on what we hope you might find useful as you begin your time in Dartmouth’s unique, complicated, beautiful orbit. We are so excited about what this next year holds for you.
With love,
Annabelle, Emma and Kent
