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!
Getting involved in the performing arts as a student is easy, and you don't need any experience!
Auditions for a variety of performing arts groups, ranging from theatre companies to a cappella and anything in between, are open to everyone during the first 2-3 weeks of classes in the fall. I would not have thought of myself as a theatre kid, but I decided to audition for a staged reading the day after the first day of classes. The audition process was really simple: I had to read for a character I wanted to audition for, and then I was asked to read for a few other characters.
We had a month to rehearse. So, how did rehearsals work?
There were three different types of rehearsals: group readings, in which people in a certain scene gathered together to read a specific scene of a play; character work, in which every cast member met with the directors one-on-one to work on monologues; and choreography. Because our play was about a group of dancers, there was some choreography involved.
Choreography rehearsal!
As someone who has never danced before, I was initially nervous about the amount of dance experience required, since the play consisted of characters with a significant amount of dance experience. However, the movement director ensured that the choreography was simple, easy to learn, and comfortable for everyone.
All of our hard work paid off during our performance. Our initial performance date was completely sold out, so we ended up opening our dress rehearsal to audience members as well! I personally had a blast throughout the whole process.
Dress rehearsal!
I was initially surprised when I got a character other than the one I had chosen to audition for. Looking back, however, I am glad I got the character I did. Playing her was honestly extremely empowering.
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!
Here is my list of the restaurants in Hanover within walking distance of Dartmouth. Whether you're touring campus for the first time or are a Dartmouth student in need of a new place to eat, feel free to reference this list!
As I approach the end of my first year at Dartmouth, I would like to reflect on some of the experiences and lessons I've learned throughout this school year.
