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!
When I first began applying to colleges, one of the most important factors that I prioritized was the food source, whether that be through cafeterias, cafes, or restaurants in the surrounding area. There are a multitude of smaller coffee shops, snack bars, and dining areas scattered throughout Dartmouth's campus, including the Class of 1953 Commons (FoCo), Courtyard Cafe, and Collis Cafe. Today, I invite you to join me at a few of these locations as I show you all what I eat in a day as a Dartmouth student!
My Class of 1953 Commons breakfast spread: waffles, ham, cereal, and a banana!
For breakfast, I chose to grab a filling meal near my dorm at the Class of 1953 Commons. Here, there are a variety of spots where you can choose your morning spread, whether that be from the cereal bar, omelet station, bagel bar, or Ma Thayer's, the main area that serves a daily selection of either French toast, pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs… the works! Today, I decided to go with a bowl of Apple Jacks cereal, French toast-style waffles, ham, and a banana. This filled me up quite nicely and filled me with enough energy to go about the rest of my day.
My Umpleby's study and snack spread: a vanilla chai latte and a chocolate croissant!
After breakfast, I made my way to Umpleby's Bakery and Cafe, a quaint off-campus cafe, to study and finish some assignments for the upcoming day. Here, I enjoyed a small vanilla chai latte with a chocolate croissant, both of which were super tasty and affordable!
My Class of 1953 Commons lunch spread: beef stir-fry and white rice!
Once a few hours of studying and schoolwork passed, I decided to change locations and head back to the Class of 1953 Commons for some lunch. Compared to the mornings, the number of options multiplies, as stations including the vegan, sandwich, soup, and food allergy and dietary needs stations (to name a few) begin to serve food. Every so often, they will replace the morning's omelet station with the stir-fry station, a lunch and dinner option that is very popular among Dartmouth students–today was my lucky day! I opted to get a plate of beef stir-fry with broccoli, onion, and green peppers, along with a few scoops of white rice. Although not pictured, I finished this meal with a sweet treat, a cup of s'mores flavored ice cream!
My Molly's dinner spread: truffle fries and a bowl of rigatoni pasta!
To end my day, I ventured into Hanover once again with a group of friends, stopping at Molly's Restaurant and Bar for dinner. With a lively atmosphere and a large selection of dinner options, this was the perfect way to end a busy evening. Here, I chose to share a plate of truffle fries with one of my friends, and I ate a main course of creamy rigatoni pasta. It was delicious to say the least.
Dartmouth's multitude of restaurants, cafes, and dining areas drew me in when applying, and as a current student, I am incredibly grateful for the amount of tasty options there are to choose from each day. Whenever I am hungry or craving something to snack on while I study, I am never too far away from a food source, leaving me with energy and a full stomach to get me through my homework!
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!
