Hi! I'm excited to welcome you to my blog! 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! Dartmouth enables me to explore my passions in both the sciences and humanities. Don't even get me started on the numerous extracurriculars that pique my interest, like the Dartmouth Dickey Center, research projects (WISP & DHMC), and dance groups (Soyeya). Follow along as I navigate my unique college experience!
Academic Program
Sociology major, International Studies Minor, Pre-Health
Favorite Thing Right Now
Studying abroad on the French LSA+ in Toulouse, France!
Happy Black History Month-or as we call it here, Black Legacy Month! So far, there have been so many great events, and many more yet to come. Black Legacy Month (BLM) is a time in which the entire Dartmouth community comes together to celebrate and recognize the triumphs, struggles, and excellence of Blackness at Dartmouth. This year, BLM 2023 centers on Black joy and the "Blacknificent" genius and power of Blackness. Black joy is the appreciation and embracement of Blackness in all of its authenticity and richness, which is essential to fostering happiness and reflection within the Black community. Joy is an alleviating sentiment of prosperity and happiness that highlights the uncensored bliss and optimism within the Black community that encompasses the mind, body and soul.
To kick everything off, our Black Legacy Month Opening Ceremony took place on the second day of the month and attendees were able to enjoy great food, raffle prizes from Black student organizations and student performances. It was also an opportunity to mingle and network with other students, faculty and staff. Back to the performances though, there was a range of spoken-word, singing and my biased personal favorite–dancing from the Soyeya African Dance Troupe which I am a part of. Our performance was preceded by much excited anticipation since this was our first performance in 3 years due to a Covid-influenced hiatus. Our electric set of 5 songs included hits like Beyonce's "Alien Superstar," popular "Why Are U Running," and Burna Boy's "On The Low." I had so much fun dancing and connecting with my African heritage.
Events in this year's BLM calendar include the Dartmouth Black Student Athlete Alliance (DBSAA) Field Day, Haircare/Styling Sunday, Black Women's & Men's Forum, Black Queer Joy Night, Game Night, Study Sesh, Afrochella (yup you read that right!), Black Businesses Spotlight, Day of Service, Black Brunch, Artist Dinner, Black Joy in the Media, BLM Talent Show, Professional Development Workshop, and an African & Diaspora Fashion Show where I had the honor of representing my motherland–Kenya. Just recently an Anthropology PhD candidate from Princeton University came up to give a talk titled "Blooming Where We Are Planted: Islam and the Flourishing of Black Life in the Americas."
All of these amazing events wouldn't be possible without the support of all the Black student organizations on campus. These organizations include the Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Theta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), AKAs, Black Praxis, Morning Glory Community Fellowship, Black Underground Theatre Association (BUTA), DBSAA, Men of Color Alliance (MoCA), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Dartmouth African Student Association (DASA), and Black Girls are Magic (BGAM).
I've been wearing this cute "Black Joy" tote bag everyday!
This year's theme of Black Joy couldn't have been more perfect as it has truly felt like an endless and boundless celebration.
Dartmouth is no stranger to a variety of student-run full-year performance groups in dance, a cappella, improv, and comedy. Sophomore summer is particularly special, as most of these groups allow sophomores to audition and join just for the summer.
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how I joined a sorority earlier this fall by going through the recruitment process. I've come a long way since then. In fact, I am living in my sorority house for my sophomore summer!
Dartmouth is not just a college. With world-renowned graduate schools, why would we choose to call ourselves a college instead of a university? The story behind that decision dates back to a significant Supreme Court ruling.
On a quiet spring Saturday in Hanover, I traded the usual campus buzz for Monet in the morning and archery in the afternoon—a reminder that Dartmouth weekends can be just as meaningful when they're slow, reflective, and a little unexpected.
During my sophomore spring quarter, I took on the challenge of four STEM courses, and while it has been intense, the unexpected connections across subjects and the joy of learning have made it one of my most rewarding academic experiences yet.
Read about the Sophomore Summer Soiree and how I got to witness the beginning of something that hopefully grows into a long-standing Dartmouth tradition!
