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!
Pirouetting Through 24X: My Time in a Summer Dance Ensemble
When asked about my favorite term at Dartmouth thus far, I'll enthusiastically answer, "Sophomore Summer!" Whether it's the Upper Valley's summertime beauty or the campus's heightened sense of community, one aspect stands out as the highlight of my term: the start of summer dance ensembles!
Sophomore Summer, a renowned Dartmouth tradition in which the sophomore class spends summer term on campus, arrived with a completely different feeling than previous terms. With fewer students enrolled in classes and longer days of warmth and sunshine, the campus gained a more relaxed atmosphere as its clubs followed suit.
My friends and I at Fission rehearsal—we would be so BLUE if you don't try out for a dance ensemble during your sophomore summer!
As a fun way to foster connections within the sophomore class, Dartmouth's a cappella, dance, and comedy groups welcomed students with little experience, including myself. I felt drawn to audition for something completely out of my comfort zone, and a dance group seemed to be calling my name.
On the day of auditions, everyone interested in Dartmouth's five summer dance groups (Raazberry, Ujimelt, Fission, Splenda, and Sheba Lite—all plays on their year-long names), made their way to Alumni Gym to register. Students only needed to audition for the groups they wanted rather than for all of them. Two 45-minute rounds of group choreography made up the entirety of tryouts, and congratulatory emails were sent out by the end of the day.
After hours of learning choreography and dancing with directors, I officially became a member of Fission (the summer counterpart of Fusion Dance Ensemble)!
Fission Dance Ensemble members before our first performance of the summer!
With weekly rehearsals, three performances, and a formal, Fission became an activity that I looked forward to participating in for the entirety of summer term. Not only were the dances themselves fun and energetic, but Fission's collaborative and accepting environment forged lovely friendships that have continued into fall term. By the end of the summer, I had fully become a part of the Fission family.
Sophomore Summer was a term for seeking new experiences, and my time as a part-time dancer proved to be one that forced me out of my comfort zone, cultivated new skills, and created new friendships that will last. I cannot express my appreciation for the recreational arts at Dartmouth enough, and I am so grateful to have indulged myself in them this summer
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.
