Chidera Duru
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Chidera's D-Plan
What's a D-Plan?-
FallHanover
Favorite Class: Introduction to Biological AnthropologyTaking this class was a random and unexpected decision that I am so happy I made. This class was about the intersection between human and primate evolution and our social behaviors. It really opened my eyes to how unique and beautifully diverse different societies are, and how this uniqueness influences our biology in interesting ways.
WinterHanover
Favorite Class: Essential Mathematics for Economic AnalysisTaught by Professor Doyle, this has been my favorite class at Dartmouth so far. It was a calculus integrated with economic applications of the concepts we learned. It was the first time this class was offered at Dartmouth, and Professor Doyle made sure we all had a thorough understanding of the material. The fact that we were also able to see the real-world applications of the calculus concepts also made the class uniquely interesting.
SpringHanover
Favorite Class: Paris in the 19th CenturyI took this class to fulfill Dartmouth's first-year seminar requirement. In selecting a first-year seminar class, I sought out a department that I would not have taken a class in otherwise. It was an incredibly fulfilling experience and I learnt so much about Parisian Impressionist painters in the late 19th century like Monet, Manet, Degas, Morisot and Renoir. It also taught me about the political, social and economic conditions that typically inspire pivotal art movements.
SummerWashington D.C.
This summer, I interned at the International Finance Corporation in DC, through the Rockefeller Center's First-Year Fellows program which gives first-year students the opportunity to engage in public policy early in their Dartmouth careers. I lived with about twenty other members of Dartmouth's Class of 2025 and got to experience life in a vibrant city while gaining professional work experience.
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FallAccra, Ghana
Favorite Class: Globalization and the African ContinentI spent this term in Accra, Ghana for the African and African American Studies department's Foreign Study Program (FSP). I'm so glad I was able to take advantage of one of Dartmouth's study-abroad programs. During this FSP, I got to explore a new country and city while taking classes taught by the amazing professors at the University of Ghana.
WinterHanover
After being away from campus for six months, I decided to start working towards fulfilling my distributive requirements. To fulfill my ART distrib, I took a Russian film class with a friend. It was an amazing experience and a testament to the ways a liberal arts education encourages you to approach each class through an interdisciplinary lens. For my final essay in this class, I explored the ways that government and political culture affect the nature of the film industry in different countries.
SpringHanover
Favorite Class: International TradeThis class is one of the prerequisites for the international economics track's culminating experience. Dartmouth's economics major allows you to focus on a specific field that you're interested in, while also having the opportunity to take a couple of classes in other fields. Before taking this class, I had always been interested in international economics and this class definitely cemented my interests in the field.
SummerHanover
Favorite Class: Economics ResearchI used my sophomore summer off term to conduct research with the economics department through the Dartmouth Economics Research Scholars and with the funding of the James O. Freedman Presidential Scholarship. My research project, which was mentored and advised by a faculty member, focused on the effects of European Union climate policy on the economy of my home country, Nigeria. It gave me the opportunity to apply and better understand several concepts I learnt in economics classes at Dartmouth.
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FallHanover
Favorite Class: Gender Identities and Politics in AfricaThis was the most enjoyable and impactful class I have ever taken at Dartmouth! Each assigned reading and class discussion was more enthralling and thought-provoking than the last. This class taught me how to think outside the box, write academic articles in the field of the humanities and how to intellectualise and synthesise my own lived experiences in a way that contributes meaningfully to existing literature in African Studies. Lastly, it taught me to think critically about pressing social issues within the African continent.
Another Term of Research at Dartmouth
Aside from taking classes this term, I will also be completing my second term of the Presidential Scholars Program.
Congrats '28s!
Congratulations to all the amazing, intelligent, passionate and outstanding members of Dartmouth's Class of 2028.
Seminar Classes at Dartmouth
Many small classes at Dartmouth are seminar-style and are the cornerstone of the intellectual exploration and intentionality that define the learning experience at Dartmouth.
Highlights of my Junior Winter
However, as I conclude my junior winter and prepare for my last few terms at Dartmouth, I've realized that this has been one of my most fulfilling and gratifying terms at Dartmouth.
Rediscovering Hanover Over Spring Break
Although winter term ended a week ago and the first day of spring term is still several days away, I've been spending my spring break in Hanover.
Spring Break in Hanover
Breaks between terms offer a welcome opportunity to relax, unwind, have fun and catch up on those projects you haven't had time for during the term.
Looking Back on my Study Abroad Experience
I was excited to hear that two of my friends will be studying abroad in Ghana. Talking with them about what to expect from the program made me remember all the great memories and lessons I made and learned from my study abroad experience there.
Handling Academic Difficulties At Dartmouth
While conducting interviews, applicants have asked how I navigate academic stress and difficulties at Dartmouth. Answering this has made me appreciate the various resources available at Dartmouth that help students manage academic challenges.
Building Community through Residential Life
In the past month, I've been conducting interviews for Dartmouth's Regular Decision applicants and during one of these interviews, I talked about how every aspect of Dartmouth residential life fosters and enables such a close-knit community.
Academic Journeys at Dartmouth
Over the past few terms, I've realized just how much space Dartmouth's academic system gives students to customize their academic and intellectual journeys while preserving the comprehensiveness, breadth and depth of each academic discipline.