Mixed Emotions

Hello, my name is Hannah, and I am proud to say that I am a Dartmouth student of the class of 2015. I have been waiting for this day ever since I set foot on the Big Green in 2009, a confused, overwhelmed rising junior in high school, hoping to find that perfect fit. As the white Honda CRV cruised through Hanover once again, I couldn't believe how fortunate I was to have been accepted in the first place. I still cannot believe that I am at Dartmouth! And so my adventure begins...

I just wrote a BUNCH of stuff and for some reason it didn't save.

I give up.

Just kidding. I'll write it again.

Today was filled with mixed emotions. Departing from Winslow, I felt nostalgic. Even though I absolutely hated my high school experience, I could not help holding onto the good memories that I made with certain people. Receiving my dorm key and my student ID card, I felt very anxious to get started with my adventure. Unloading the car was not as strenuous as my mom and I expected it to be. I felt so fortunate that I happened to be living in the only building of the East Wheelock Cluster with an elevator. As I assembled my room, I felt a bit stressed. As my roommate put it, "it gets worse before it gets better." Of course, my room transformed from an empty space with a neat pile of boxes and bags, to the target of a natural disaster, to a cute and organized abode. Saying goodbye to my mother was hard, but the bawling fest the night before allowed us to purge most of our sad feelings. As a teenager taking her first steps into the adult world I felt liberated, but also lost. When I met my roommate, I felt so welcome and excited to continue the relationship of loyal support and intellectual exchange that we had established online. During the Matriculation ceremony, I felt so proud to be a part of the class of '15 as I heard the statistics of our accomplishments and the remarks given by the President, Dean of Admissions, and Dean of the College. Dr. Kim is so charismatic and really connects to the students both intellectually and socially (http://youtu.be/4lHKJEp5e-8). The opening dinner made me feel overwhelmed and confused! There were so many different stations to choose from in the food court, and it was so easy to get lost among such a large student body. Running all over campus in East Wheelock's "Amazing Race," I felt exhilarated and energized, even though my legs became increasingly fatigued. I know that I will sleep well tonight.

I must say, I couldn't have asked for a better first day at college.