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.
As a member of the Nathan Smith Society, which is the pre-health society at Dartmouth, I have been able to shadow a physician at the Dartmouth Health center. Through the shadowing lottery that takes place every term, I was able to shadow an anesthesiologist in my fall 2023 term! There is a database of several physicians and practitioners that are interested in supporting pre-health students by providing them clinical exposure. While it is technically a lottery system, most students are able to shadow a physician each term.
I've found that shadowing a physician as a student is a unique and invaluable experience that offers a glimpse into the daily life of a medical professional. As a student medical physician shadower, you have the opportunity to observe and learn from experienced doctors, gaining insight into the medical field and the intricacies of patient care.
One of the most rewarding aspects of shadowing is the opportunity to witness the impact that physicians can have on the lives of their patients. Apart from diagnosing illnesses and providing treatment and support, physicians play a crucial role in helping people lead healthier and happier lives. I've personally seen how the especially impactful physicians bring a comforting and dynamic approach to healthcare, being the compassionate and trustful people that you would want in your corner during dark and uncertain times. As a shadower, you can witness firsthand the compassion, dedication, and expertise that physicians bring to their work. Getting to observe a physician in action whether it's at a general check-up appointment, in the operating room, or at the bedside of a recovering patient, is very inspiring.
In addition to observing medical procedures and patient interactions, shadowing also allows you to learn about the various specialties within the field of medicine. Whether you are interested in surgery, pediatrics, internal medicine, or any other specialty, shadowing provides you with the opportunity to explore different areas of medicine and gain a better understanding of which path may be right for you. Through the Nathan Smith Society shadowing lottery, you can find yourself shadowing one type of physician one term and another the next term. I look forward to hopefully shadowing a Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon, Pediatric Surgeon and OB-GYN in the future.
Another great aspect of shadowing is that it allows pre-health students to earn some of the clinical hours that medical schools look for in applications. Other great way of earning these clinical hours are during breaks or off-terms at Dartmouth. There are so many options like working as a medical scribe, patient-care assistant and others. It's also very possible to shadow physicians in hospitals closer to home like I did during my Freshman Summer. I had equally enriching experiences shadowing a General Surgeon at Kaiser Permanente and a Radiation Oncologist at Sibley Memorial Hospital. I was also able to learn from 2nd and 4th year medical students who were doing their specialty rotations.
Overall, being a student medical physician shadower is a transformative experience that can shape your future career in medicine. It offers you the opportunity to gain clinical exposure and valuable insights. So, if you have the opportunity to shadow a physician through the Nathan Smith Society or elsewhere, definitely do it!
Most students have to go back to college after Thanksgiving to take their finals, but not at Dartmouth! We have a six-week winter break, known as "winterim!" Let me tell you how I spent my winterim!
As a second-year at Dartmouth, I've embraced leadership roles that foster community, creativity, and support! Here's a look at how each role has shaped my journey.
