Ei! My name is Antônio Jorge Medeiros Batista Silva (yes—four last names!) and I'm a '25 from Governador Valadares, Brazil. My journey to Dartmouth has crossed two continents, three countries, and over 10 schools—and I'm a strong believer that everyone's path to the Big Green was unique in a way. At Dartmouth, I study Linguistics, Native American & Indigenous Studies, and Spanish. I am passionate about social justice, language-learning, and the oxford comma!
As my second term at Dartmouth approaches, I found myself in a very similar situation I was three months ago. Having to choose classes will never be easy, to be honest. It is always a stressful but very fun experience. If you are curious to how my academic schedule looked like last term, you can check in on this post I wrote at the beginning of the year.
Now, things are a tad bit different. I wanted to choose classes that would already set my path into my desired major. Of course, I am still leaving some room for exploration, as your plans can always change – especially at a liberal arts college.
Last term, I took SPAN 20, ARAB 01, and EDUC 01. None of which I planned to enrol in until the day of course selection haha.
For this term, I selected LING 01 (an introduction course to Linguistics), THEA 10.68 ("Staging Rebellion," a class on Latin American revolutionary theatre), and WRIT 5 – which is a mandatory writing course for first-year students.
If you don't know already, I am a prospective Linguistics major, with possible minors in Spanish and/or Theatre. This term, as you can see, I am getting closer to my intended areas of study. In the fall, I allowed myself to explore, taking unexpected classes and discovering unexpected tastes. But, now, I am genuinely excited to see what the Linguistics and Theatre departments are like. With these courses, I hope to get a sense of what it would feel like if I were to actually proceed my studies in these disciplines.
Something that has been making a real difference in my Dartmouth experience is how much fun I have with academics. I know that, personally, I never thought of college as fun. Yes, I was excited for the quintessential American college experience. But, personally, the parts that talked to me the most were related to the social aspects of college: going out, meeting people from all over the world, becoming independent and mature, etc.
However, to be honest, over my first term I realised how much fun the academic part of college can be. From choosing courses to writing papers with the most creative prompts, learning at Dartmouth is a one of a kind experience.
A statement I never thought I would make. Being completely honest, during my first term I was counting down the days to go back to Arizona. However, being away from Dartmouth made me realize how lucky I am to be here.
Dartmouth's Chinese New Year celebrations brought a sense of home through themed dining, student-led events, and cultural gatherings, fostering community and appreciation for the holiday.
ENGS 12: Design Thinking—one of Dartmouth's most popular courses. Read on to hear about my experience, key takeaways, and how the class reshaped my approach to creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
A history class that starts with music, brings the past to life through debates and museum visits, and just might make me a history minor—welcome to History of China Since the 1800s.
Valentine's Day at Dartmouth is an exciting day to spread love and appreciation for the people around you! On campus, a myriad of programs are hosted for all students to enjoy.
