All the Leaves are Brown: My favorite study spots

First and foremost, I want to introduce myself as this is my very first post! 🙂

Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Hernandez, I’m a first-generation Latina from Lynn, MA. I attend Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH and I’m currently a third-year student taking classes remotely and online due to COVID-19. I’m a Sociology modified with Latinx Studies major and a Spanish and Education double minor. Some of my favorite things to do are: bullet journaling, watching Netflix, reading, and spending time with my family and friends (though this has been a bit tough). 

Currently, as I sit in the kitchen typing this, it feels so strange to not be on campus with my friends. Definitely having to be remote this year makes me miss campus so much and my favorite study spots. Aside from the basic answer being my room (I promise I didn’t study on my bed), some of my favorite study spots on campus are Sanborn Library, Baker-Berry Library, and the Green. Sanborn Library is right next to Baker-Berry Library, it’s extremely beautiful and a very great quiet space to study in. It kind of gives me Hogwarts vibes. As much as I love the quiet environment, sometimes I feel like it’s too quiet and I’m almost afraid to cough and get those awkward stares. 

Next up: Baker-Berry Library, which is our main library and one that many students tend to study in. There are some pretty amazing spots to study inside of Baker-Berry and where I choose to study honestly depends on my mood and the work I plan to do. For instance, if I’m feeling “FaceTimey” (feeling social in Dartmouth lingo) then you’ll probably find me on the first-floor berry with some friends working and chatting. If I feel like I need a more quiet space, I’ll go one level up to the Jones Media Center and sit in one of the comfy, orange couches and do some work whether alone or with a friend I can talk to when I take breaks. (Yes, breaks are super important!) 

Lastly, the Dartmouth Green! Can I firstly just say: WOW! During the warmer months and early Fall time when we can study on the Green, it’s extremely beautiful, especially as the leaves are changing from their bright green leaves to the full range of browns, oranges, and yellows. I really enjoy just sitting on a picnic blanket on the grass, reading or studying with friends, enjoying each others’ company, and truly just in bliss. 

I can definitely say that sitting at my dining room table or my desk in my bedroom doesn’t compare to the gorgeous places to study on campus. It’s almost painful how much I miss it. On the bright side, I can’t wait until I can go back so I can be able to soak in the time and the beauty of these spaces again. <3