Written by Alleah Schweitzer, Wellbeing Program Coordinator, Student Wellness Center

He brought me a cup of tea before we began the interview. I was seated on a retro couch in a farmhouse in rural Washington, asking a farmer to tell me his story. I wanted to know why he embraced sustainable agriculture when the bumper stickers on his pick-up would appear to suggest otherwise. I had similar such experiences with this farming community for my graduate work. Each time, I was met with warmth, honesty, even gratitude.

Looking back, my project wasn’t just about categorizing the ideologies and mythologies the study population embraced. It also highlighted the power of curiosity and the role it can play in helping us connect across experience. I genuinely wanted to understand the positions of these farmers because I genuinely wanted to explore what belief systems could inspire more people to embrace a greener, more sustainable future for all. Seeking deeper truth for its own sake brought me closer to true understanding. It also made clear to me the value of active listening (giving someone your full attention, and withholding judgment with the intention to understand what the other person says).

Here are some ways to harness your own curiosity as a way to connect meaningfully across experiences:

1. Begin by nurturing your own curiosity. Notice when your curiosity is piqued by a certain topic or perspective. Try giving yourself the permission to be intrigued and to follow that line of inquiry, wherever it leads. Do a deep-dive search on an issue that compels you.

2. Seek out diverse experiences and practice being active listener. Join a club meeting, take a class, attend a HOP event or check out a Black Legacy Month event you wouldn’t otherwise. Observe any differences in experiences you encounter as opportunities for expanding your own perspective.

3. Encourage others to share their personal story. Storytelling (paired with active listening) can offer cultural and emotional insights about someone’s personal experience. With an open and curious mindset, you might be surprised to learn that you share more in common than you think. Try this “Just Like Me” meditation to practice this mindset shift on your own.

Harnessing the power of curiosity can be a tool in our toolkit that helps us dig deeper into the realm of understanding. Especially when applied to our efforts to meaningfully connect with others, who might share experiences outside our own. I often wonder how enriched our lives and communities could be if we approached engaging with different experiences from a place of openness and a genuine willingness to learn.

Written by Armita Mirkarimi ’25

Our winter theme, “Opening to Understanding Across Experiences,” is all about building meaningful connections. Expected and unexpected ones that are born of thoughtful intention. Holding each other’s hands in times of crisis and happiness. Finding new places and people on campus to get to know better. What does it really mean to be open to understanding across experiences? As we complete midterms and see our 10-week terms swiftly pass, let’s break down how to practice our winter theme daily. 

This is my last winter on campus and intentionally connecting with the people around me is almost always on my mind. My internal dialogue sometimes works on overdrive. Am I doing enough? Am I hanging out with friends and soaking it all up? Am I doing all the activities and getting outside? 

It’s exhausting, right? See, there’s all this pressure to do everything all at once and it can become quickly overwhelming. This is where our winter theme comes in, slowing down time and making us savor the little moments that make Hanover so special. 

We open ourselves to understanding our beautifully diverse community and forge meaningful connections through intention. When we step back, breathe, and take actionable steps toward creating new relationships or rekindling old ones, life becomes sweeter and more manageable.  So, I made a list of things you can do today to not only practice our winter theme but also enjoy all that 25W has to offer. 

Connecting to familiar people 

• Reach out to a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Whether they’re on an off-term or someone with an opposite schedule than you this term, we all have friends we haven’t connected with in a while.  Send that text to schedule a time to grab a meal, a walk, or schedule a Facetime call! 

Connecting to familiar places 

• Do you have a favorite spot on campus? A favorite walking loop or window sill in the library? The massage rooms in the Student Wellness Center? Block some time out in your calendar this week to go there and soak it all up. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes, go to that place, put your phone away, and just breathe. You deserve ease. 

Reach out to someone new 

• It can be really intimidating to reach out to someone new or say hello to a stranger. My challenge for you this week is to compliment a stranger! Are they wearing a hair clip you like? Or perhaps have a sticker on their computer you resonate with? Or maybe you see them all the time after your 10A and you want to say hi! This is an easier way to strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know. People will always appreciate another person saying something nice and maybe you might turn out to be friends! 

Explore a new place 

• Is there a space on campus or off-campus you’ve always wanted to go to? Maybe a DOC trip on trailhead or a club meeting that always seemed interesting? Take a minute to survey a new place that piques your interest and try to go. The only way we keep growing is to keep showing up in familiar and unfamiliar places. Explore a new corner of campus this week. You got this! 

Connect to yourself 

• For me, a big part of being intentional is actually connecting with myself. When I spend too much time running around campus without a break, I begin to lose how I am actually feeling. One of my favorite ways to reconnect with myself is to go on a solo date. Plan something special that you can do for yourself by yourself. I love getting a coffee in town and going on a walk. But you know yourself better than anyone else. Do the thing that’s going to make you take a breath and slow down. 

We can find moments for connection every day. When we connect to people, places, and ourselves, we begin to understand across all experiences. We keep learning and discovering new pieces of the world. And isn’t that so beautiful? 

Sending ease,
Armita 

What does it mean to intentionally engage with people or groups of people who hold different perspectives, values, or identities than ourselves? 

Intention refers to a deliberate or purposeful decision or mindset to move towards a specific goal or way of being. It involves a commitment to align your actions with your desired, typically value-based, outcome. The decision to open to understanding across experiences must come from an authentic place within us and intersect with what we care most about. It can be helpful to deepen our understanding of how our individual wellbeing may benefit from such an undertaking and how it ultimately connects to our guiding principles:

When we move towards connecting across experiences, we cultivate the capacity to: 

1. Build personal resilience. Empathy, the ability to cultivate non-judgment and compassion, lies at the heart of connection. When we practice empathizing with others who share experiences outside our own (not passively/resignedly accepting different worldviews but acknowledging their reality with greater clarity), we challenge our own assumptions, encourage critical thinking, and build the strength it takes to see situations from different angles. This in turn can help us add innovative resources to our toolkit that enable us to face new and emerging challenges in our personal lives with confidence.

2. Bring greater clarity to societal challenges. Our ability to address societal challenges relies on how well we engage with worldviews that differ from our own. Particularly around the understanding and discussing of such viewpoints. Opening to different perspectives, while understandably difficult, doesn’t mean you have to accept harmful viewpoints, it’s more about engaging in critical engagement.  When we are able to tap into this, personal stress around these events can be reduced by the cultivation of empathy. We may even be able to comprehend our deep connectedness on the basis of our common humanity (and suffering), in spite of vastly differing views. Try this “Just Like Me” practice to tap into the interconnectedness we share with all human beings.

When we choose to engage across all experiences with a sense of curiosity and openness, we can build stronger, more innovative communities. We can promote more opportunities for belonging and connectedness. Dartmouth Dialogues, one of President Sian Beilock’s five key areas of focus, represents one way that our institution is committing to bridging personal and political divides.

It has never been a more critical time for us to recognize the challenges that our community (and world) face when we remain unwilling to engage with differing perspectives and experiences. Similarly, it has never been more important to realize how surmountable these challenges can be and how they stand to benefit our holistic sense of well being. Through intentionality, we can think about what might help us connect authentically with others and contribute to a more inclusive community. When we open to shared understanding together, we commit to building upon our collective humanity for the sake of our common benefit.

Written by Whitney Skillen, Positive Relationships Specialist, Student Wellness Center

As continue into the academic year, the Student Wellness Center is focusing on a theme that’s both inspiring and deeply personal: Connecting with Our Purpose. This fall, we’re inviting you to reflect on what truly matters to you, especially when it comes to your relationships. College is a time of incredible growth, and the connections you build here can shape not just your time on campus, but your entire life. So, let’s start with a simple yet powerful question: What parts of your relationships are most meaningful to you?

Why Authenticity Matters

When we talk about meaningful relationships, we often think about trust, support, and shared experiences. But there’s one key element that ties all these together: authenticity. Being authentic means being true to who you are, sharing your real thoughts and feelings, and allowing others to do the same. It’s about showing up as your true self, even when it feels a bit vulnerable. Authenticity isn’t just important for your relationships—it’s a crucial part of connecting with your purpose.

When you’re authentic in your relationships, you’re more likely to attract people who appreciate and value you for who you truly are. These are the connections that can help you grow, challenge you to think differently, and support you when times get tough. Authentic relationships also give you the space to explore your passions and values without fear of judgment, helping you to clarify what really matters to you.

Reflecting on Meaningful Relationships

Take a moment to think about the relationships in your life—friends, family, mentors, or even casual acquaintances. What makes some of these connections feel more significant than others? Is it the way they make you feel understood? The trust you’ve built over time? Or maybe it’s the way these relationships align with your values and the person you want to become.

Here are a few simple actions and thought exercises to help you deepen your understanding of your relationships and their connection to your purpose:

1. Identify Your Core Values: Write down the values that matter most to you—things like honesty, kindness, growth, or creativity. Then, think about how these values show up in your relationships. Are there certain people who help you live out these values more fully?
2. Reflect on Your Interactions: After spending time with someone, ask yourself how you felt during and after the interaction. Did you feel energized, understood, and supported? Or did you feel drained or misunderstood? Use these reflections to guide which relationships you want to nurture.
3. Practice Vulnerability: Try opening up to someone you trust about something that’s important to you—your dreams, fears, or even a small insecurity. Notice how this deepens the connection and allows for more authentic communication.
4. Set Boundaries Where Needed: Authenticity also means being clear about what you need and what you won’t tolerate. If a relationship consistently feels one-sided or draining, it might be time to set some boundaries or reevaluate its place in your life.
5. Journal About Your Relationships: Take time to write about the relationships that matter most to you. What do you appreciate about these connections? How do they help you stay true to yourself? Journaling can offer valuable insights into the role these relationships play in your journey towards purpose.

Moving Forward with Purpose

As you explore these exercises, remember that finding your purpose is a journey, not a destination. By connecting authentically with others, you’re not just building meaningful relationships—you’re also taking important steps towards understanding and living out your purpose. This fall, let’s commit to being true to ourselves and to the people who make our lives richer and more fulfilling.

Stay tuned for more resources, tips, and stories on how you can continue to connect with your purpose throughout the fall term. We’re excited to be on this journey with you!

Written by Denva Nesbeth, Jr. ’24

Love. Community. Service. These are some of the values I care about the most and during my time at Dartmouth, I was able to invest heavily in those things, particularly through my hobby of making music. In spring 2022, I created my instrumental song In The Stacks while I was in the East Reading Room with the goal of creating music that I could imagine my peers listening to while studying or completing their assignments. This eventually inspired the album of the same name and the subsequent albums I’ve released in the series: Back In The Stacks, Stacks Vol. 3, and, most recently, Stacks Vol. 4. Anytime someone has told me that they were able to complete tasks and assignments or study while listening to my music, it brings me joy because it means that the music is serving people and having the positive impact I intended. I find meaning and purpose in being of service to others with what I do. I’ve also been able to build community with others as a result of music. Some of the closest friendships I formed at Dartmouth originated from a common interest in songs or artists we like.

Additionally, even though my songs are all instrumental, the song titles serve as affirmations and reminders as one aligns themselves with their purpose. For instance, my latest project Stacks Vol. 4 contains song titles like Only Competition Is Me, In My Element, One Day At A Time, and Trust The Process. When you’re involved in activities that directly connect with values you hold dear or ideas you’re most passionate about, that’s the best place to be because you’re in your element and there’s no need to compare yourself to other people. You are your only competition since everyone’s respective journey is unique and everyone has a different purpose, so it’s important to take things day by day and trust the process as you walk with purpose. Stacks Vol. 3 has song titles like When You’re Going Through It and Give Yourself More Grace because having setbacks or stressful challenges is normal, but it’s important to give yourself more grace and embrace the beauty of imperfection, which is the opportunity for growth.

By putting my energy toward activities that align with the values I find most important, my mental health benefited greatly while at Dartmouth and beyond. I find joy in working on music that can uplift one’s well-being and provide a calming mood as one completes whatever important tasks are ahead of them.

-Denva Nesbeth, Jr. ’24

Denva Nesbeth Jr. ’24 is a recent Dartmouth College graduate who received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematical Data Science with minors in FILM & Media Studies and African, African-American Studies. While at Dartmouth, he served as Vice President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and as the Educational Chair of the Men of Color Alliance (MoCA). He spent time as a research assistant at the Augmented Health Lab as well as pursuing his passion of music production by releasing instrumental albums on all streaming platforms, amassing over 20,000 streams. Notably, he’s released an instrumental album series called In The Stacks, which was inspired by Dartmouth Libraries. 

Post written by Armita Mirkarimi ’25

Hello everyone, 

Happy fall! It’s surreal to be back on campus, marveling at the changing leaves and autumnal festivities that await. On the morning of the first day of classes, my friends and I hiked Gile Mountain. The world was quiet as we climbed the metal tower to reach the top. A sea of yellow, orange, and red leaves greeted us. We were silent for a few moments as immense gratitude washed over us. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about this month’s theme, “Connecting to Purpose.” Purpose takes on different shapes during our time at Dartmouth. As a ‘28, you have just begun your journey of finding purpose on this campus. Sophomores or Juniors might be redefining their purpose on campus. To be honest, as a senior, I am still trying to figure out my purpose here. 

There is so much pressure to figure out what your purpose is on campus. On the surface, it can look like everyone knows where they’re going and the intentions they are pursuing; Classes planned, jobs secured, and a packed calendar to boot. 

Let’s focus on the word, “Connect” as we explore this theme. Purpose evolves as we connect to different ideas, people, and places. It is not something that can be defined in a word, sentences, or even paragraphs. We are all multitudes with different passions and pursuits. It can seem daunting to define your purpose as we are all still exploring who we are. However, finding small moments to connect every day can shape the tapestry of purpose. 

Here are a few ideas to find a connection with yourself and others this fall: 

1. Find a spot in Pine Park to just think or journal about these questions: What are the things that bring me joy? What do I want to be doing less of? What are the things I want to be doing more of? What does your ideal afternoon look like? 
   
   
2. Hop on DOC trailhead and sign up for an activity that looks fun to you! From O-Farm dinners to beginner hikes, there is something for everyone. 
   
   
3. Send the “Want to grab a meal?” text. After off and abroad terms, there may be friends who you haven’t seen or caught up with yet. Send the text! Be the one to reach out. People will always appreciate it. 
   
   
4. Say something nice about yourself. Yes, it’s that simple! Sometimes, connecting with yourselves just takes a moment where we celebrate our strengths and reflect on ways we want to improve. 

And don’t forget the awesome resources on campus: 

1. Student Wellness Center – Set up 1:1 time with a trained, non-judgmental listener to deepen your self-awareness and embrace your path toward flourishing.
2. Counseling Center – Meet with a licensed mental health provider in a confidential setting to help you understand your emotions as you explore your identity and other challenges.
3. Tucker Center – Seek confidential spiritual guidance through Pastoral Counseling with a College Chaplain.

You deserve to feel good and take care of yourself this fall. Stop by the SWC for a cup of tea or just to say hi! 

Sending you ease,
Armita 

Welcome back to Connecting With Our Purpose where we will offer tools and tips throughout the term to help you embrace and maximize that which makes your life most worth living. 

Revealing glimmers of your life purpose can be achieved through something as simple as a journaling practice. Let journaling be a powerful tool for helping you better articulate your goals and needs and gain new perspectives along the way. You may also find it to be a relaxing, even meditative activity. Sometimes it helps to write freely, while other times it helps to write under the auspice of a specific prompt. We’ll offer some of our favorite journaling practices and prompts here to help you kick start your journey!

1. Pause and Center Before You Begin
   • Set aside at least 5-10 minutes for your journaling practice.
   • Try this 2.5 minute STOP practice as a way to pause, breathe, notice, and reconnect to your intentions.

2. Our Favorite Prompts to Help you Connect With Your Purpose (write openly or try one of the journaling tools below):
   • When you imagine your future self, what do you hope to see?
   • What does “purpose” mean to you? 
   • Name one way a value of yours connects to your purpose. How did you arrive at this value?
   • Do your decisions reflect your values?
   • What parts of your relationships are most meaningful to you?
   • What does having a sense of purpose provide you?
   • What makes you come alive?
   • When have you felt a sense of meaning?
   • Fill in the blank: I exist to _____ (intended impact) in order to serve _____ (desired audience). What do you notice about your response?

3. Our favorite Journaling Tools:

• Gratitude Journaling: Each day, write down 3 things you are grateful for. When we take the time to remember and list three things we are grateful for, we focus on what’s good in our lives and helps us recognize qhat truly matters to us. Pick up a free gratitude journal from the Student Wellness Center (located in Berry library, right above Novak).

• Swift Ink or Stream of Consciousness Journaling:
  • Want to journal but don’t know where to begin (or worry you’ll get caught in the trap of perfectionism)? Swift Ink can be an effective practice for letting words flow freely onto the page, without judgment.
  • How to start: Set a timer for 2-5 minutes. Choose one of the prompts above and write, without lifting your pen from the page, until the timer rings. If you are stuck, simply write “I have more to say” over and over until an idea or direction emerges.
  • Reflect on what you have written: What themes have materialized? 

• Three Things Journaling: This practice is helpful for helping us prioritize what is important and release that which no longer serves us. Periodically check in and jot down your responses these three questions:
  • What is one thing I want to let go of?
  • What is one thing I want to embrace?
  • What is one thing I want to focus on?

Want more journaling prompts? We’ve developed more prompts here to help you reflect on your past journey, present focus, and future intentions. Happy writing!

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Schedule a Wellness Check In with one of our skilled wellness coaches to reflect on your journaling practices and debrief what emerges related to finding your sense of purpose here at Dartmouth.

Armita Mirkarimi ’25 and Class of ’28 Photo Grid

Dear Class of 2028, 

Happy fall term! By now, you might’ve gone on your First-Year Trip, waited in line for stir-fry at Collis, or figured out your favorite place to study on campus. 

Your first couple of weeks at school can be a whirlwind. There’s so much pressure to figure it all out: What you want to study, who your friends are, what you like and don’t like. It can seem so daunting. 

During my first few weeks in Hanover, I felt like everyone else knew what they were doing and I didn’t. I kept asking myself: What if they all know I don’t deserve to be here? What if no one wants to be friends with me? My homesickness was not helping. I wanted to be both in Hanover and back home in Southern California. 

One fall morning, I found the Student Wellness Center (SWC), a small haven amidst the rush between class periods. It was a place I could go to when I was feeling stressed and wanted a cup of tea. I found a group of people invested in giving students the tools they need to cope with the stressors of life. Since then, it’s become one of the most consistent places on campus for me. If I’m having a good or bad day, I know I can go into the SWC suite and take some time for myself. 

As you’re embarking on your college experience, I hope you think about what well-being looks like in your life. What are some ways you can relax every week? Where can you build pockets of peace amidst your hectic schedule? This is going to look different for every single one of us. You might be into yoga or opt for scheduling time in your calendar to simply do nothing. 

You deserve to feel good. You deserve to take care of yourself. The Student Wellness Center is here for you throughout this journey. Whether you need a place in the library to unplug, sit in the massage chairs for 15 minutes, or do a wellness check-in with one of the amazing staff, the SWC is committed to your well-being. For a full list of Student Wellness Center resources, check out the website here: https://students.dartmouth.edu/wellness-center/ 

More importantly, you belong at Dartmouth. You’re not going to figure it all out in the first week, month, term, or maybe even a year. No one ever really does. But, the cool thing is that we get to make Dartmouth a home together. 

Stop by and say hi 🙂 The SWC is located on first floor of Berry Library, Suite 178-179. 

Sending you ease, 

Armita

Welcome to Connecting with Our Purpose where we at the Student Wellness Center will be exploring with our community the various pathways for pursuing purpose. A wonderful step to serve you on your journey towards more meaning and fulfillment is by recognizing the character strengths you hold and express, which can help you tap into one of the many entry points for living your strongest life possible.

What are character strengths? Character strengths are, according to the field of positive psychology, a family of constructive traits expressed through a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are universally recognized for the strength that they create in individuals and communities. Understanding your own character strengths can help you realize what you intuitively gravitate towards and contribute. With awareness and intention you can maximize that which makes your life most worth living.

There are more than few tools out there to help you connect to character strengths. But did you know that Dartmouth students have free access to the renowned Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment, which guides you through your unique talents and how to use those talents to succeed in your role as a student? Understanding your top strengths can help you thrive academically, socially and in your future career. Explore the assessment (available for Dartmouth students) here. Or perhaps you already have a heightened awareness of your unique strengths or understanding of your heart’s compass through a reflective journaling or other wellbeing practice. What next?

Try Gallup’s “Name It, Claim It, and Aim It” framework to make meaning of your strengths and leverage them to fortify your connection to purpose:

1. Name it: Raising self-awareness of your unique talents and intentions helps you gain clarity on what you naturally do well and enjoy. Take the CliftonStrengths survey and/or try these steps for strengthening your self-awareness.

2. Claim it: Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism, posits that “your obligation is to the highest contribution you can make”. So how do you know what unique contributions you have for this world? By not only understanding your strengths but accepting them too. By appreciating what powers and values you are bringing to the table, you are empowered to claim ownership of them and better articulate your needs moving forward.

3. Aim it: When you have identified your talents and claimed them as strengths, you might ask: ‘how can I leverage these strengths to accomplish what is most important to helping me live a purposeful life?’ Intentionally practice using and developing your strengths. Schedule a Wellness Check In with a trained Wellness Coach at the Student Wellness Center or connect with a Career Coach from the Center for Professional Development to strategize how to meaningfully apply your strengths towards personal growth in areas like your career, relationships, and wellbeing.

You can thrive and live more fully into your life’s purpose when you take a strengths-based approach to your life. By doing more of what you do best, and you can feel more engaged, empowered, and energized.

The buzzing sense of anticipation in the air must mean that Fall Term 2024 has officially arrived! Cars full of students, twin XL bedsheets, and mini fridges deluge our dorm parking lots, and our campus transforms into a vibrant and diverse tapestry of people, talents, interests, and experiences. It’s like showing up to a garden at the peak of a harvest (coincidentally, it is peak harvest season!). All around you are opportunities ripe for the picking.

As an integral and deserved member of this community, you are offered an abundance of opportunity. “You can leverage the tremendous resources of this institution to start creating the life you want to be living right now.”  And the abundance of choices and commitments might leave you feeling overwhelmed as you pile on the classes, social commitments, and extracurriculars that sound most exciting. Our Fall theme of Connecting to Our Purpose can help you realize your core values and develop a systematic approach for determining which opportunities at Dartmouth serve you on your path towards meaning and fulfillment.

Before we jump in, we first invite you to consider how you might leverage the tools and resources here to deepen your connection to your life’s purpose:

1. Discover and embrace your core values. Recognizing what your values are early on can provide you with the assurance that the goals and opportunities you pursue in your time as student are anchored in your larger vision. Professional staff and campus resources can help you unearth what matters most, and help you design a criterion that makes a thousand decisions and opportunities dissolve into just a few priorities. Check out this sampling of Dartmouth services that can help you narrow in on your core vision:

1. Student Wellness Center – Set up 1:1 time with a trained, non-judgmental listener to deepen your self-awareness and embrace your path towards flourishing.
2.  Counseling Center – Meet with a licensed mental health provider in a confidential setting to help you understand your emotions as you explore your identity and other challenges.
3. Tucker Center – Seek confidential spiritual guidance through Pastoral Counseling with a College Chaplain.
4. Center for Professional Development – Schedule a coaching appointment to discover self-assessment tools that help you identify your interests and strengths, and which career pathways they most align with.

Reflect: What brings my life a sense of fulfillment and meaning?

2. Maximize opportunities that connect you to a future life vision rooted in your core values. Once you have unearthed what you instinctively most value, your role as a student is to explore and grow the avenues that connect you with your purpose. So many departments and groups are poised to help in this regard. Here are some, just to name a few:

1. Center for Social Impact
2. Dartmouth Sustainability
3. Academic Skills Center
4. Office of Pluralism and Leadership
5. Outdoor Programs
6. Hopkins Center for the Arts
7. Dartmouth Athletics
8. Student Groups

Reflect: Which Dartmouth experiences and opportunities can connect me to what gives my life meaning?

3. Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop about additional, actionable steps for connecting with your and deepening your connection with your purpose. We will provide tools, resources, student experiences and more to help you recognize your strengths and potential, weed out that which does not serve you, cultivate that which does, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Happy harvesting this fall!

Your friends at the SWC