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.
Wow, it's actually crazy how fast time flies. Gone are the freshman days of trekking up Tuck Drive from the river cluster dorms; now I'm a sophomore with a single room in Richardson Hall serving as a UGA (Undergraduate Advisor) for the freshman girls living on my floor. I'm really loving how well located Richardson is on campus as it's just steps away from the library, my classes, dining halls, and gym. I arrived back on campus two weeks earlier than other upperclassmen, and just two days before the big freshman move-in day. Throughout this time, I attended several UGA trainings and helped with the new student orientation schedule.
My new bragging rights are that I have the room with the balcony!
As a UGA, I am responsible for facilitating the development of communities that support and enhance the intellectual, cultural, and social development of residents. The Richardson floor I am a part of is a smaller part of the West House community. By being a team member of West House, I get to organize cool events that enable relationship building and new experiences. I also get to support residents as they grow academically, personally, and socially. For residents who fill the same shoes I was in last year, I can be a source of comfort, joy, and information about resources. Now that I have become an integral part of the Dartmouth residential experience, I will not only gain a better connection with the Dartmouth community, but I also hope to be able to share and strengthen this community with other students. Already, during the orientation training period, I was able to meet so many new people such as fellow UGAs; we did so many fun things together like daily river dips, Gile Mountain Sunsike (sunset hike), Norwich Farmers Market visit, and going out to the TukTuk Thai restaurant in town.
The trusty 0.5x was able to capture all the lovely faces of some of my fellow UGAs at Gile!
Move-in day felt like a rewind in time. I remembered the excitement (& sweatiness) of meeting roommates and hauling everything from home to a new home. This time around, I watched as parents pulled into the parking lot in cars filled to the brim, and the new class of 27s excitedly materializing their dorm Pinterest boards. I had funny little convos with dads who were taking little breaks in the hallway or building shelves in the common room. At one point, I sat with a mom as she went down memory lane and shared her own Dartmouth freshman move-in experience over 20 years ago. After all the families had said their goodbyes, I led my first floor meeting that went even better than I expected! The following weekend, Matriculation Day felt like a full-circle moment as I peered back at my dressed-up self in the mirror a few minutes before leading my residents to their first official meeting with President Sian Leah Beilock.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the term unravels with my floor and all the things we'll get to do together. Just last week, I was so touched and happy that many of my residents came to watch me perform with my Soyeya dance group at the week 1 dance showcase. Many have joined a cappella groups and clubs like the water polo club — I can't wait to show up and support them at their events too!
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a phenomenal total solar eclipse occurred — and we happened to be within the path of totality. As a result, Dartmouth hosted a variety of eclipse-related events on- and off-campus. Find out how I spent the eclipse!
