Hey! I'm excited to welcome you to my blog page! I'm Andrea Agola, a '26 born in Kenya and raised just outside of D.C. As the eldest child of three, I'm the first to go off to college! I'm glad Dartmouth will enable me to explore both the sciences and humanities. Don't even get me started on the numerous extracurriculars that pique my interest, like the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact, research projects and dance groups. Follow along as I navigate this unique college experience!
Academic Program
Sociology major, International Studies Minor, Pre-Med
Favorite Thing Right Now
Studying abroad on the French LSA+ in Toulouse, France!
When I began my first term at Dartmouth, I knew I wanted to explore the French language and culture more after having been a French music and film fan for as long as I can remember. This was an accelerated course that covered French 1 and 2 in one term and offered an exciting and fast-paced atmosphere. The small nature of our class allowed us all to have more speaking time in class from partner activities to performing creative skits. One of the best assignments was a scavenger hunt! I was also able to learn and make a presentation about francophone countries. This class really prompted me to apply for the ‘24 Winter–Toulouse, France Study Abroad which I got accepted into!
This course considers the discipline and political happenings of Black Feminist Thought by highlighting interlocking issues related to gender, sexuality, race, and economics. The professor was amazing! I was always genuinely excited to do her assigned readings/viewings and remember being sad when she canceled class one day (imagine!). I reveled in the thought-provoking, warm, restorative (the list goes on & on) ambience that she fostered. I even took advantage of a cool opportunity that Dartmouth offers, the “Take a Faculty Member out To Lunch” program at Pine Restaurant across from campus. I enjoyed the lovely conversation we had over delicious food. Her class was such a great source of empowerment!
This course examines the epidemiology and social impact of past and present infectious disease epidemics. It was a great and insightful class to take for the Global Health Minor! I had the chance of hearing from many influential guest lecturers like the Former Minister of Health of Rwanda and a key member of the U.S Covid Task Force.
This course explores causes and patterns of global poverty and links this with the urgent need for care and care ethics in our lives and in society broadly. Not only did the class feel like such a caring environment but it was especially interesting because it had a Social Impact Practicum (SIP) component. A SIP is a project-based experiential learning opportunity connecting undergraduate courses at Dartmouth with community needs identified by nonprofit organizations. In other words, a SIP is a real-world project with real-world impact. My SIP was my care work as a UGA within Dartmouth's Residential Life.
This term on the Language Study Abroad + in Toulouse, France I'm taking French 9.01 which is taught by two professors about the overarching theme of Art History. On Wednesdays, I have the first professor from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and her course is titled "Art, history and culture of southern France in the Middle Ages: Toulouse from the 11th to the 15th century." Then I have the second professor from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm and his course is titled "Art, politics and society, from the end of the Ancien Régime to the beginning of the Third Republic (the 19th Century, 1770 - 1914)."
So many beautiful pieces of artwork!
I've never taken Art History classes before, so this has definitely been a new experience. I've been enjoying it because these classes are often conducted outside of the traditional classroom. My cohort of 13 students normally meet our Middle Ages professor in the morning at the Capitol Center metro then proceed to walk together to a museum or church. The class is supposed to help us learn the history of Toulouse and southern France in the Middle Ages, the conditions of creation in the Middle Ages, as well as the major stages in the art of the Middle Ages, through religious architecture, monumental sculpture and mural painting. So far, I've attended class inside the archeological museum called Musée Saint-Raymond, the beautiful Moissac Abbey and the Basilique Saint-Sernin, which is a very historic and important church in Toulouse. Throughout the rest of the term, we'll be going to the Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, Church of the Jacobins, the Seilhan House (where the Dominican Order was founded) and even to other neighboring cities for full-day and overnight excursions.
"This exhibition of Toulouse in the Middle Ages takes place in situ, in direct contact with the monuments and the many major works preserved in the city. These allow students to get to know the southern city first-hand, making it their own."
Both professors take us on three great excursions throughout the term. We just had our first one in nearby cities Montauban and Moissac where the 19th Century professor first took us through The Musée Ingres Bourdelle to see the famous paintings of Ingres and famous sculptures of Bourdelle. Then, the Middle Ages professor took us through the scenic Saint-Pierre Abbey in Moissac. Next weekend we'll be going on an overnight excursion to Bordeaux City which is known as the wine-growing region or capitol of France. In the second to last week of the term we'll go on an excursion to a historic town called Albi.
What an interesting painting—it gives me "Mona Lisa: South of France edition" vibes.
I can't wait to continue discovering the beauty in and around Toulouse. It's amazing to witness the ingenious artistry and engineering of people from the early centuries. Another great bonus is that after every destination, I always end up with a long list of new French words jotted down in my notebook.
Over half of Dartmouth students study abroad at least once during their undergraduate journeys—quite a high percentage, right? Do you want to know how to best prepare for your own abroad experience? Come check what it was like for me.
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
I have written about being a student worker plenty of times in the past, but I have yet to talk about one of my favorite jobs ever: ticket selling at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience.
