Class Note 1990. This month I asked ’90s, “What was the luckiest thing that happened to you during your years at Dartmouth?” Here is Part I of your (astounding) responses. David Janssen writes: “Late junior year I wandered into the career center trying to figure out what the hell I was going to do with a degree in history modified with philosophy. I had no clue and no vision about what I was going to do after graduation. I found an article by the American Association of Museums explaining the different staff roles in museums. That sparked curiosity, further exploration, a goal, a couple of graduate degrees, and a 34-year career in museum leadership. I still have a copy of the article.” Jenny (Goldberg) Wood writes: “Not getting the Hood Museum curatorial internship that I had counted on. If I had gotten it, I probably would have continued along that path and wouldn’t have found my true calling as a healer until years later, if at all.” Tom Parker writes: “Freshman spring I was playing catch with an Aerobie Frisbee on the Green with Mike Sullivan. Sully threw the Aerobie about 50 yards over my head and I turned and ran to catch it, watching the gliding Aerobie instead of where I was running. As I unknowingly approached at full speed one of the fixed benches on the Green’s perimeter, Trent Pansze ’88 yelled, ‘Watch out!’ at the last second, giving me just enough time to jump up and over the bench. If Trent had not been sitting on that bench to warn me, I would have broken both my legs and likely ended my football career—which, more than anything, set me on the path to who and where I am today.” Marcus Weiss writes: “The luckiest thing that happened to me at Dartmouth was being at Dartmouth. In every way the experience was and remains pivotal. My life had been building up, I believe, to a pretty intense depression, which hit a zenith in my first year. But the beautiful College also provided the light for my turnaround: the Summer Rep! I found my voice and freedom doing theater, and my heart has never looked back. I’m still speaking, coaching, and acting—all in the name of joy! My oldest son, Jacob, just graduated from arts high school, where he was president of the film board, spearheaded festivals and directed nonstop, and just won first place at the National Skills USA competition. Slay! My younger son, Lukas, is off to an East Coast boarding school on a full merit scholarship. Boom!” Julie Urda writes: “In high school I decided to become a psychiatrist. Throughout college the plan was either med school or clinical psychology. Then junior spring I took Organizational Behavior: The Psychology of Business. It was the only course at Dartmouth I found easy. Taking that as a sign, I asked the professor, ‘How do I get from where I am to where you are?’ Then I did it—changed my life.” David Sherwood writes: “I would say the luckiest thing that happened to me at Dartmouth was that my freshman-year roommate was Chris Colasanti. He taught me to love Bruce Springsteen, the state of New Jersey (begrudgingly), and to never take myself too seriously. I feel forever graced to have had that year in Butterfield with him.”
—Rob Crawford, 22 Black Oak Road, Weston, MA 02493; crawdaddy37@gmail.com