Amy Guan

Perfect for anyone who likes a challenge and variety, Kardio Konditioning is an 8 AM PE class offered every term that trains you through running, various HIIT cardio workouts, and spinning classes. The class met every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and was definitely one of the most fun and engaging classes I've taken at Dartmouth. Each day had a different focus and workout routine, and the instructor was incredibly encouraging and energetic, making every class exciting to go to, despite the early wake-up time. 

Offered over the summer, sailing is known as one of the most fun and unique classes you can take over your sophomore summer. As someone who's never really been a fan of water-related activities besides swim classes in elementary school, I signed for sailing on a whim after hearing from a '19 that the class had made his summer. A bus leaves from campus at 2:30 pm every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday that takes you to the Dartmouth Yacht Club on Lake Mascoma, an incredibly beautiful lake half an hour from campus. There, we met with the instructors who went over the parts of a boat before setting us all up into groups and letting us out onto the water. It was so cool to be able to actually navigate and operate the boat—we were each taught how to use each of the ropes and sails, and in no time, we were sailing on our own. It was incredibly relaxing and peaceful, and definitely an experience I wouldn't have had otherwise. 

Fun fact: I actually wrote my college application essay about my brief figure skating career. I dropped skating in middle school, but I've wanted to get back on the ice since then—I signed up for ice skating lessons during the winter, where we met twice a week to skate with members of the Dartmouth Figure Skating Team. It was fun to get back on the ice and practice jumps and spins. For those who didn't know how to skate, there were also instructors to teach beginners.