Hi! My name is Arianna, and I'm a sophomore ('27) from Georgia. On campus, I am involved with the Cheerleading Team, Dartmouth Caribbean Connections, the First-Gen Office, and the Minority Pre-Law Association. My aim is to pursue a degree in History modified with Public Policy. I love reading, listening to music, and meeting new people. Follow along through this blog as I traverse my wonderful experiences!
Given my intrigue in pursuing a major in Government, I adored my Politics and AI class. I had zero background in computer science, yet Professor Breuer cohesively connected politics with principles of algorithms and artificial intelligence in a way that I could understand. We finalized the course by doing a cool research project of our own liking.
I am interested in pursuing a minor in Public Policy, which was my reason for taking this class initially. As the term progressed, I was able to learn most of the introductory principles of Public Policy and the framework for policymaking in democratic governance. The readings were interesting, and the discussion-based lectures kept me engaged.
Wow...what an amazing class! This has been one of my favorite classes that I have taken the entire year. Professor Chaney encouraged us to expand our writing through a multitude of methods of analysis, allowing students to look beyond the details of a photograph. Our ideas were not discouraged or disproved, leaving room for proper evaluative learning and prompting discussions about interesting moments in black art history.
SummerWoodstock, GA
I spent this summer at home, but I stayed busy through continuing to blog for the Admissions Office, working a part-time restaurant job, and completing a Market Research and Consulting Internship with a women's health care nonprofit organization, HappySneeze.
This class is a gem for those interested in learning more about the development of the healthcare system from the pre-colonial period into its contemporary form. Initially, I took this class because I am interested in becoming a healthcare lawyer and wanted to explore the foundation of one of the biggest systems in America. While the content is still fairly fresh, and it is the beginning of the term, I already know that this will be one of my favorite classes this fall! Despite the vast influx of information that we go over each class, Professor Koop writes all the topics we will discuss that day on the board sequentially. Not only does this keep me engaged and willing to participate, but it also encourages me to stay organized and on track!
When I was first accepted into Dartmouth, I was certain I would major in economics—I wanted to understand financial principles and thought it might refine my appreciation for math, a subject I enjoyed at the time. However, once I began exploring other courses, I realized midway through my first-year fall that my true passion lay elsewhere.
During my first-year fall, I took Politics and AI, a government course, and followed it up with Introduction to Public Policy during the winter. Both courses were intriguing and broadened my interest in understanding the systems that govern society. For a while, I also considered declaring a government major until my perspective shifted after taking a First-Year Seminar (FYS) course, Picturing Black History, during the spring term.
This FYS, taught by the incredible Professor Michael Chaney, was my introduction to the history department. The course explored Black art history through critical analysis of photographs, different mediums, and historical narratives. Professor Chaney encouraged us to expand our analytical skills, allowing us to delve deeply into the context and significance of historical imagery. Our ideas were never dismissed, fostering an environment of evaluative learning and engaging discussions about pivotal moments in Black history.
An example of an in-class assignment that Professor Chaney would instruct is our historic picture book activity, where students would choose an element within the illustration and explain (on a note card) what it symbolized with relation to the book's theme. "I Am Ruby Bridges" is featured in this image.
Since then, I have delved further into history, taking Africa and the World with Professor Robert Zeinstra and Health Care in American Society with Professor Allen Koop during my sophomore fall. These courses have deepened my understanding of global perspectives and societal structures. History feels like a natural home for my intellectual pursuits, particularly as I prepare for a career in law (and a potential pursuit in the medical malpractice realm). I'm also still drawn to public policy, and I am considering modifying my history major to include it, or declaring it as a minor.
Delving into the past to understand the roots of modern healthcare in Professor Koop's class—history comes alive through these notes!
My Public Policy professor encouraged us to attend this inspiring talk by Jamie Raskin at the Rockefeller Center, where policy meets practice!
One of the most rewarding aspects of Dartmouth's liberal arts education is the freedom to explore diverse academic fields before committing to a major. Dartmouth students don't declare their major until the winter term of their sophomore year, giving us a full year and a half to discover our academic passions. Dartmouth offers the flexibility of modified majors—an option that combines courses from related fields into a unified, coherent study plan; furthermore, a modified major consists of usually ten courses: six in one primary field and four in another, tailored to suit a student's specific interests and goals.
This interdisciplinary approach has been instrumental in my journey as a pre-law student. It has allowed me to cultivate a broad understanding of history, government, and public policy, equipping me with the contextual knowledge essential for a future in law.
