Hello, and welcome to my neck of the woods! My name is Brendilou Armstrong, and I am a '26 hailing from the cornfields and grassy plains of Western Nebraska. This year, I plan to involve myself in The Dartmouth and WebDCR (Dartmouth College Radio). I couldn't be more excited to set out on this expedition through college alongside all of you. Thanks for visiting my page!
If you are interested in Victorian literature in any capacity, this is the class for you! It is a course taught by the WGSS (Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) department and combines historical and political aspects into a literary seminar. The material is compelling and allows you to view female authors, including Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, and Elizabeth Gaskell, in a different perspective knowing the societal context of the time period and themes in their most popular works.
If poetic language and artistic writing styles are your forte, this is the perfect class for you! Taught by the English/Creative Writing department, Introduction to Poetry is an incredible foundation to storytelling, introducing students to poetry styles from prose to ekphrastic and written to slam. The approach to teaching the course revolved around the strategies of Robert Frost, where the Poetry Room in Sanborn Library held our class, and students' chairs were arranged in a circle rather than in rows of desks. CRWT 12 is one of the most unique and fascinating classes I have taken thus far, and as a result, has become my favorite class I have taken on campus.
Niche classes and concentrations define a Dartmouth education, and before this term, I never intended on taking an Asian art history course, let alone one with such a defined focus. Taught through both the Department of Art History and the Department of Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages by Columbia University guest lecturer Seher Agarwala, this course contextualizes sacred architectural structures of the Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic faiths. I left this course with a newfound interest in the artistic practices of East Asian cultures and an appreciation for their diverse historical backgrounds and religions.
For any Los Angeles natives or those generally wanting to delve into the history of southern California, this class is for you! Focusing mainly on the contributions of minorities to the area, this class provides insight on the seldom-discussed history of L.A. through the perspectives of non-white settlers from the 18th century to the present day. Through examining controversial films depicting L.A. (including La La Land and Once Upon A Time in Hollywood), I left this course with a deep understanding of the sacrifices made to construct contemporary Los Angeles.
If the history behind 1960s politics, fashion, art, music, and society interests you in any capacity, this class is the perfect fit for you! Taught through Dartmouth’s Humanities Department, this course covers the late 1950s through the early 1970s, focusing on the era's transformative nature while immersing students in the time period through samples of art and music. What an incredible introduction to an incredibly important decade!
My Spring Term Timeline: An End-of-Term Reflection
What an incredible spring! While amazing for a variety of reasons, its noteworthy events and opportunities made this term unforgettable and, undoubtedly, my favorite that I've experienced on campus thus far. As I patiently wait to board a flight back to Hanover for a highly anticipated Sophomore Summer, I reflect on everything that allowed this spring term to bloom.
My late-March return to campus after a rejuvenating spring break filled me with excitement for the upcoming weeks of classes, activities, and warmer weather (but not without a brief hint of snow during the first few days). Delving headfirst into new courses, reconnecting with old friends, and crafting new connections defined the tail-end of this month, providing me with a preview of the incredible weeks ahead.
April was quickly marked by its events on the 8th: a full solar eclipse (which I described in a previous blog post—check it out!). Driving to St. Johnsbury, Vermont with a friend and exploring the town in anticipation of the eclipse became a highlight of the term; adventuring into the Upper Valley always serves as a treat with its extensive list of attractions and cities to visit.
My friends and I on a road trip to Vermont!
As the month progressed, the weather followed suit, and with more sun came more hours spent outside near Occum Pond or the Connecticut River. Campus officially awakened from hibernation as students took to the outdoors with biking, kayaking, and running (to list only a few of the extensive hobbies Dartmouth students have) in mind.
A walk near the Connecticut River!
As May rolled around, the most anticipated events of the spring followed as the sun shined its rays on the Native and Indigenous community's annual Powwow and the Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community's annual Lūʻau. These multicultural celebrations at the beginning of the month were only a precursor to Green Key, a renowned Dartmouth spring tradition that acted as the culmination of spring term (check out my previous blog post to learn more about what Green Key is!).
My friends and I during Green Key!
After reflecting on the busy, yet exciting activities signifying the end of a successful term and academic year, I am filled both with gratitude for the endless memories made this spring and anticipation for another uniquely-Dartmouth norm: Sophomore Summer!
Thanks for an incredible spring, Dartmouth, and I'll see you very soon.
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
Homecoming—a time when current students and alumni gather to relive cherished memories and exhibit large amounts of school spirit. Find out how I spent my second Homecoming Weekend at Dartmouth!
