Hello! My name is Cal Shin, and I am a '27 double-majoring in Economics and Philosophy. When I'm not studying or writing a blog post, you can find me drawing as the Design Editor for The Dartmouth, hosting my radio show at WebDCR, or spending time with my friends. And if I'm not doing any of those, I'm probably watching cat videos. Follow along as I share the moments that make Dartmouth feel like home!
You may hear that Dartmouth is big on the outdoors. That's definitely true; there are a myriad of outdoor programs and opportunities that any student can and often does take advantage of.
One of the first DOC experiences first-years often have is trips. First-year trips is a time-honored tradition at Dartmouth where first-years get to explore the outdoors through multitudes of inclusive ways, such as but definitely not limited to hiking, cabin camping, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, and exploring the town of Hanover itself! With no outdoor experience whatsoever before coming to Dartmouth, my anxiety around first-year trips was only natural. Thankfully, there was such a wide range of trip options, making the experience a safe, inclusive experience that meets everyone's abilities.
My trip was called Sacred Spaces. Partnered with the Tucker Center, Sacred Spaces was a trip for anyone interested in interfaith at Dartmouth. My trippees (other first-years on my trip) and I visited a bunch of religious and spiritual spaces around campus, and I found myself pleasantly surprised by the variety of faiths here! There were many religious and secular backgrounds represented even within my trip, and I enjoyed hearing their stories about how their experiences have shaped who they are today.
Sacred Spaces group photo! My trip group standing in front of a building
One particular concern I had going into trips was accessibility. As someone with a long list of dietary restrictions, I was worried that I would not be able to find food on trips that I could eat safely. Thankfully, I was able to meet the Sustenance Coordinator (the person in charge of all the food for trips). We worked together to find a solution that met my needs.
Trips was a fundamental part of my orientation week, and I would do it all again. I highly encourage you all to go on a first-year trip if you are able to!
Dartmouth is no stranger to a variety of student-run full-year performance groups in dance, a cappella, improv, and comedy. Sophomore summer is particularly special, as most of these groups allow sophomores to audition and join just for the summer.
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how I joined a sorority earlier this fall by going through the recruitment process. I've come a long way since then. In fact, I am living in my sorority house for my sophomore summer!
Dartmouth is not just a college. With world-renowned graduate schools, why would we choose to call ourselves a college instead of a university? The story behind that decision dates back to a significant Supreme Court ruling.
On a quiet spring Saturday in Hanover, I traded the usual campus buzz for Monet in the morning and archery in the afternoon—a reminder that Dartmouth weekends can be just as meaningful when they're slow, reflective, and a little unexpected.
During my sophomore spring quarter, I took on the challenge of four STEM courses, and while it has been intense, the unexpected connections across subjects and the joy of learning have made it one of my most rewarding academic experiences yet.
Read about the Sophomore Summer Soiree and how I got to witness the beginning of something that hopefully grows into a long-standing Dartmouth tradition!
