Hello, Eda here: full-time learner, part-time writer, and pretty much a happy amateur at everything else. My hobbies include reading, discovering new movies, and looking at the pictures of my cat. On campus, you can find me peer supporting for the Mental Health Union and SAPA, writing for Spare Rib, doing research in psychology, or listening to Turkish & English alt-rock. Feel free to ask me about taking a gap year, transitioning to a new cultural space, or college in general!
This class discusses the concepts of sex and gender in the broader context of issues related to race, class, national identity, and more. I loved this class because it helped me better understand how systemic inequality affects individual lives and made me think about ways to change it. Professor A'Ness is such an inspiring prof!
In this first-year writing seminar, we discussed how avant-garde movements from futurism to punk rock have constituted a rebellion against the status quo. I loved all the readings for this class and Professor McCann inspired me to take more courses in the English department!
In this course, we learned all the basics of fiction: character, plot, setting, etc. My favorite parts of the course were receiving feedback from other students, reading my peers' work, and having fiction readings as assigned course work! I also appreciated all the guest speakers we had, who were experienced writers in their respective genres.
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this course has been one of the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth so far. The class focused on the etiology, diagnosis, characteristics and treatment of various mental disorders. Professor Hudenko has been one of the greatest lectures I had the pleasure of meeting. As a clinical psychologist himself, he had extensive knowledge in not only the theory, but also the practice of clinical psychology. He also succeeded in making a lecture-based class feel interactive and dynamic.
We covered the complex neural and biological mechanisms of multiple mental health disorders ranging from common conditions like anxiety to more complicated illnesses such as schizophrenia. In addition to reading about the cutting-edge research in this area, we also read memoirs and watched documentaries about the mental illnesses to focus on how these conditions are affecting people in real life. Professor Funnell is one of the best profs I had!
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this has been one of my favorite classes at Dartmouth. We learned about different therapy methods, how and when to use them, their advantages, and shortcomings. The class was incredibly engaging with Professor Hudenko's frequent demonstrations of methods, therapy videos, and guest speakers. I would recommend this class to every psychology major.
I worked at Dimock Health Center as part of my community health internship. I was part of a team of summer interns who were college students like myself. We worked as patient advocates that helped people reach out to resources regarding housing, food, utilities, etc. Most of our work involved calling patients, helping them fill out forms, and researching resources. I learned so much about community health resources and how to communicate with a diverse set of patients. It was an invaluable experience!
I took classes in the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary University of London. My favorite class of the term was called London Performance Now, which involved going to different performance events in London and discussing them in class. It was the perfect opportunity to explore the cultural landscape of London.
As the title of the course suggests, this class was about food: its history, economics, and cultural practices. I learned a lot through this course thanks to guest speakers, thought-provoking readings, and engaging assignments. My favorite assignment in this course was writing about a family recipe; I learned so much about my family's history as well as the cultural conflicts in my home country. Overall, it was among the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth. Plus, we even got to eat delicious food cooked by our classmates!
The final day of the finals. The campus is suddenly cold, quiet, and empty. Most Dartmouth students return home for the winter break, but some students either choose to or have to spend the winterim on campus. A good portion of these students are internationals for whom international travel has become even more difficult due to covid policies and travel restrictions. As an international student, I was lucky enough to go back home, but I had many friends who had to spend their winterim on campus. I was with them for two days after the finals while waiting for my flight, and the experience left me with a lot to think about. I was happy to finally have the time to form closer connections with people I liked, but there were times when the campus felt lonely though I was only here for a few days. So, let's hear what the winterim experience was like on campus from international students!
What was the best part of staying on campus?
J: Community-building! We hung out in the common room*, and that was nice.
O: It really was bonding over a shared experience. The campus also felt roomy - not everything was claustrophobic.
A: Having your own space.
X: Also, the gym was empty!
*Some of the stuff we did in the common room: Played the piano, watched movies, had SO much hot chocolate and tea, shared music from our countries, talked about life, read some books in front of Julie's sun lamp…
What were some of the challenges?
A: The food. The weather.
J: Everything seemed a little empty.
How did you spend your days?
X: I woke up late, brushed my teeth, and went back to bed [laughter]. There was time to read a lot of books. The library was open, so I had the Tower Room all to myself.
What were the opportunities like on campus?
O: There were hikes almost every week.* I went on a hike to Quechee Gorge. The hikes were one of the best parts of staying on campus.
*These hikes were organized by the Outdoor Programming Office as part of Winter Outside 2021. Other outdoor activities included cabin overnights, campfires, and trips.
There was programming organized by the First Gen Office: community dinners, pizza, and pool in the 8 Ball Hall in the Collis Student Center on Wednesdays, movies and snacks on Fridays, workshops by the Claflin Jewelry Studio, karaoke, and game nights.
Did financial aid cover the costs of your stay on campus?
O: There were no extra charges for room and board. There was also a meal subsidy that covered dining charges.
What was the holiday season like on campus?
X: The Christmas tree on the green!
O: There was no official programming for New Year's Eve*, but people were hanging out on their own. The First Gen Office and the Church of Christ at Dartmouth organized Christmas and Thanksgiving Community dinners.
*There was a New Year's Eve Sunsike (Sunset Hike) on December 30.
Being a super senior ('23) is like being an incoming freshman ('28) in that you get to make a new set of friends. Luckily, Dartmouth is a small school with many social spaces students can tap into.
