Hello! My name is Cal Shin, and I am a '27 planning to double-major in Economics and Philosophy. Outside of academics and blogging, you can find me drawing (perhaps even designing for The Dartmouth), hosting my radio show as a proud deejay at WebDCR, perusing the Free Market, or hanging out with friends. Ultimately, I am an artist and a storyteller. I hope you enjoy reading about my Dartmouth experience; the journey has just begun!
I took this course with Professor James Binkoski and loved it! I had never taken a philosophy course prior to Dartmouth, so this introductory course in the department was perfect! After all, it combined my interests of philosophy with time and time travel — at least, how time and time travel are depicted in the media. This course may initially seem to be on the more technical side, but Professor Binkoski made sure to break down the various time travel theories — various ways scientists and philosophers think of time and its supposed movement — in a manner that’s easy for anyone to understand. A very popular course overall; I am fortunate to have been able to take it during my first term here!
I took this course with Professor Ha Yan Lee and it was absolutely amazing! I had my initial reservations about this course, mainly because I knew a lot of my classmates would have had some background knowledge while I had none. Professor Lee did a wonderful job of breaking down concepts in a manner that, as she often put it, is easy for even “your grandparents to understand”. Even beyond the course, the level of care Professor Lee exhibited towards her students is significant. She’s one of the most popular professors at Dartmouth, and for good reason! I ate lunch with her at The Pine through the Take a Faculty Member to Lunch program, and she gave me tremendous insight and advice! Because of this course, I have been inspired to explore more courses within the Econ department and potentially major in Economics.
I took this course with Professor Jasmina Savic and examined how the vampire figure evolved over time, starting with Slavic literature, going through Dracula and Twilight, and ending with “vampire” political figures. I realized what the portrayal of vampires could tell me about the thoughts of that society, including the fact that the early notions of vampirism are akin to modern-day diseases. For my final project, I wrote a research paper comparing the gumiho (the Korean nine-tailed fox) to several Western vampires.
SummerNew York City, New York
I had the opportunity to visit New York City for the summer! I met up with a good friend of mine, explored the city itself, and went to a networking event with other college students.
ECON 10 is one of the required courses for the Economics major. Based on my stellar experience with Professor Ha Yan Lee during ECON 1, when I saw that she was teaching ECON 10 this term, I immediately jumped at the chance to take the course with her. Once again, Professor Lee did an amazing job of breaking down concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. (The fact that her slideshows were colorful and featured various pictures of cats helped.)
One of the best parts about living on Dartmouth's campus is how convenient everything is. Here at Dartmouth, you're never more than a short walk away from anything that you need, whether it be your next class, a friend's dorm, a dining hall, or a cozy study spot.
Location:Dartmouth is a small college with a small campus, meaning you can get to anywhere in 5 to 15 minutes. Even the farthest buildings are only about a 20-minute walk, and you may not even have an occasion to visit them! This makes getting to class, the library, or even grabbing a quick meal extremely easy. There's no need to have access to a car, bike, bus, or scooter—you can just use your own two feet!
Sense of community:Because most students live on campus, it is easy to participate in spontaneous hangouts, fun events, or impromptu study sessions. There is no need to coordinate rides or factor in travel time, as even Dartmouth's beloved traditions, like the homecoming bonfire or the snowball fight, are centrally located on campus.
Study spaces:Living and studying on campus means you get access to a wide variety of spaces, each of them with its unique atmosphere. Whether you prefer the you-could-hear-a-pin-drop silence of 4FB, the energy of Novack Cafe, an empty classroom, or even your dorm's common room, the options are almost endless. And because everything is so close together, you can easily switch up study spaces throughout the day, depending on what you are working on.
Forgot something?Did you accidentally leave your charger in your dorm? Need to grab an extra jacket? Want to squeeze in a mid-afternoon nap? You can always pop in and out of your dorm as often as you need without disrupting your day. There's no need to carry a day's worth of stuff in your bag.
S(n)o(w) efficient!Hanover winters are no joke, but Dartmouth does an incredible job of keeping paths clear of snow. While driving in the snow may be tricky, walking short distances with the right gear is much more manageable. The mud may be everywhere, but at least you won't have to trek too far in the cold!
This past December, I traveled to Vietnam as part of the "Developing Vietnam" study abroad program! Here is a—little overdue—photo journal of my three weeks in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
When I arrived at Dartmouth, I assumed dorms were the only housing option. It wasn't until sophomore year that I discovered Max Kade House, a German-themed Living Learning Community, and realized what I had been missing.
Oftentimes, life can be stressful. Though it's easy for me to feel anxious, I have found that identifying the things I am grateful for can be rather helpful. Read on to hear about what I appreciate.
