Hi guys! I'm Chidera and I'm a '25 from Lagos, Nigeria. I've lived in a big city for nearly half of my life, so it's great to experience the scenic outdoor spaces surrounding Dartmouth. Outside of the classroom, I conduct research with the economics department, I'm a peer tutor for the Academic Skills Center and I'm also involved with the Dartmouth Energy Alliance.
Taking 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.
Taught 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.
I 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.
I 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.
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.
This 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.
I 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.
This 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.
One of my absolute favorite things about Dartmouth is how supportive the entire community is. From fellow students, faculty, counselors, and other staff, there is always someone to help you navigate the academic, social, and emotional challenges of college life. However, as an international student, I sometimes face some unique challenges that most of the Dartmouth community does not experience. Thankfully, Dartmouth has a helpful, knowledgeable, and dedicated Office of Visa and Immigration Services (OVIS) to help Dartmouth's international community adjust to living and studying in the US. Several of OVIS's programs have been incredibly helpful to me in settling into life in the US
Firstly, the community of international students that I met during International Students Pre-Orientation Program (ISPOP) last September was amazing. I got to meet kind and interesting people from all over the world; we bonded over our shared anticipation, occasional anxiety, and excitement about studying in the US. I met so many of my closest friends during ISPOP. Additionally, this community has also been so helpful in navigating the complexities of moving to a new country.
Me and my friend Milly, who I met during ISPOP
One of the most important things to do when you move to a new country is setting up a new phone number for easy communication and a bank account to manage your finances. Thankfully, during international students' orientation week, OVIS invited various banks and phone carriers to campus to help first-year internationals set up these vital services. This program made it so much easier to get a phone number and a bank account.
OVIS also made it easy for me to get a social security number for my on-campus job. Throughout fall term, OVIS sponsored buses to the social security office in Concord (about an hour drive from Dartmouth) for international students who needed to get social security numbers. With my on-campus job, I also had to pay taxes for the first time, and OVIS made this process seamless. OVIS partners with "Sprintax", an easy-to-use software to help you prepare your tax return and pay your taxes. Although there is usually a fee to use the software, OVIS provides it to Dartmouth's international students for free!
Aside from these valuable services, OVIS has several staff, officers, advisors, and immigration experts who are always willing and ready to answer any questions and navigate any challenges you may have.
As a Digital Media Student Director for Dartmouth's First-Generation Office, it is my role on campus to amplify first-gen voices, foster community, and create meaningful connections through creative outreach.
This fall, Dartmouth provided me with incredible opportunities to get involved in politics. I registered as a New Hampshire voter, joined civic organizations, canvassed, and more! Read on to follow my journey leading up to Election Day!
