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.
Congrats to Dartmouth's Class of 2027!! The entire campus community is so excited to welcome you to Hanover in the fall. Getting accepted into college is extremely exciting, but it can be overwhelming to envision yourself in such a new and different environment, especially for students who may not be able to visit Dartmouth before officially enrolling. However, there are so many amazing aspects about Dartmouth to look forward to as you make your decision to enroll.
1. You will explore and discover your academic interests.
Dartmouth gives its students countless opportunities to delve into those academic fields that inspire and motivate them. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to discover other disciplines that you may be interested in. For example, in my freshman year, I took a first-year seminar class in art history, an area I never envisioned myself taking a class in. Although I haven't taken any additional art history classes (yet!), the class still offered great insights and learning experiences. At Dartmouth, the opportunity to grow academically does not end in the classroom. Dartmouth students, as early as their freshman year, do research with expert professors to produce new knowledge in different fields. I always wondered how Dartmouth undergraduate students could possibly do research with top-notch professors with as many as 40 years of experience in their respective fields. However, Dartmouth professors are always willing to work with undergraduates, benefit from the skills and insights we bring as students and teach us how to produce new and relevant research and knowledge.
2. You will develop a home away from home.
As an international student, I initially found it quite difficult seeing myself in a small liberal arts college in the New England area, much less one day calling it home. However, the Dartmouth community truly fosters a unique sense of community through kindness, collaboration and tradition. In your first few weeks on campus, you will engage in a variety of activities that make you feel a strong sense of belonging and connection to the community such as First-Year Trips and Homecoming Weekend. There will also be many other opportunities to form close relationships with Dartmouth students you live and learn with through the house system, living communities, student organizations and extracurricular activities. These connections are not limited to the Dartmouth campus community. Dartmouth alumni are always willing to share advice and information to help other Dartmouth students develop professionally and personally. Several extracurricular activities, internships and fellowships rely on alumni mentorships and close connections between current and former students.
3. You will take advantage of your new environment.
Hanover is a truly unique college town and this uniqueness only enhances the Dartmouth experience. As someone from a large metropolitan area, being in Hanover has been a welcome change to the faster pace of life in big cities. I've been able to engage in many quintessential New England activities, while still having access to bigger towns and cities nearby. It truly is the best of both worlds. Things like skiing, sledding, canoeing and hiking are just a few of the outdoor pursuits I've come to enjoy that I would have never had the opportunity to do back home. Moreover, I think college is a great time to grow and explore new locations and interests because if not now, when?!
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
