Meet Lauren ’25: On and Off the Ice at Dartmouth
The January 2025 edition of the DCF student-produced vlog
Welcome to the January 2025 edition of the Dartmouth College Fund's student-produced vlog! This month's featured student is Lauren, a Class of 2025 member of the women’s ice hockey team.
Lauren ’25, from Burlington, Ontario, has spent the past four years balancing academics and athletics at Dartmouth. As a key member of the women’s ice hockey team, she cherishes memories of victories—like a recent back-to-back win against Harvard—and the friendships formed along the way.
Majoring in psychology, Lauren fell in love with studying the human experience, a passion sparked by her first intro class. Looking back, she values the connections she’s built and the lessons Dartmouth has taught her about dedication, time management, and the importance of meaningful relationships. Grateful for the opportunities made possible through financial aid and donor support, Lauren feels ready to take these experiences with her as she moves beyond college.
Full Video Transcript
Hi, my name is Lauren Messier. I am a Class of 2025 from Burlington, Ontario. I play on the women’s ice hockey team here at Dartmouth, and I am in my senior year. As it comes to a close, I can reflect on all the memories and all the good times I have had here at Thompson Arena.
My favorite part of being on the hockey team has been all the wonderful memories and friends I have made through the program. It has also taught me a lot about myself—hard work, dedication, and time management, especially. I think that my favorite memory so far with the program has been just this past weekend. We beat Harvard back-to-back and Harvard is our biggest rival, so it felt really good to do that.
I have made connections within my team because, over the past four years, every class of freshmen that comes in, they are brand new, and we get to show them the ropes, teach them the values of our program, and what makes Dartmouth special. It has been great to bring them along with us.
When I am not playing hockey, some of my favorite things to do around campus are hanging out with my friends outside on the Green, grab a coffee at Dirt Cowboy or The Nest, and enjoying the beautiful nature of the Upper Valley.
I chose Dartmouth because of the amazing opportunity to not only continue playing my sport at a super high level but also challenge myself academically in the classroom. I wanted to be part of the community that Dartmouth has built here over the years, and I am fortunate enough to have done so for four years.
The most important value I will carry with me past Dartmouth is the importance of creating meaningful connections with those around you. The fast pace of the Ivy League can sometimes overshadow relationships, so slowing down, having conversations, and making new friends have been invaluable lessons. I look forward to continuing to do that post-college.
I chose to be a psychology major because I took the intro to psych class and absolutely fell in love with the content and material. Class after class, I loved learning about the human experience and what really makes us individuals. I have really enjoyed my time in the psychology department here.
I never thought that coming to Dartmouth would be an opportunity I would have, and it has all been made possible through financial aid and your kind donations. I want to extend my greatest thanks for your support and contributions to the school. It is deeply appreciated.