Howdy! My name is Crystal and I'm a '28 from 1899.2 miles away in Fulshear, Texas hoping to study Biology on the pre-health track. Outside of being on the grind in my classes at Dartmouth, I enjoy dancing (poorly and with dance groups on campus), cooking (microwave oatmeal), and taking Buzzfeed quizzes to find out what breakfast food I am. While I'll miss Bucc-ee's and brisket from my native state, I'm beyond excited to explore all that the woods have to offer! Hopefully I'll see y'all around!
Chem 11 is my first pre-health course (and consequently my favorite course thus far); I came into Chem 11 with a bit of apprehension over what to expect since the course takes the place of the two-course alternative Chem 5 and 6 sequence. I’ll admit, there was a bit of a learning curve, especially since I hadn’t taken chemistry since junior year of high school, but Prof. Wenlin Zhang’s office hours have become an excellent way for me to gain a better grasp of the course content and work with other students through new concepts. I’m super glad that I chose this course for my first fall!
My First-Year Seminar, a Dartmouth requirement for all first-year students, concerns poetry that has a unique focus on the visual nature of the work. From pieces that cover an actual description of a work of art, to pieces that form a unique shape, we discuss how form can have a meaningful impact on the interpretation of the poem itself. I originally wasn’t too sure if I would enjoy this class since my experience with poetry is pretty sparse, but I found myself really enjoying the analytical discussions that we have. Features of the class include trips to the Hood Museum of Art and the Book Arts Workshop!
So You Want to Join the Woods: A Tale of Two "Why Dartmouth"s (Part Three)
It's currently 10:27 am and I'm typing this post out from the Hong Kong International Airport while on winterim, Dartmouth's six-week long winter break, as I visit family. About a year ago, I was also writing short essays, albeit under very different circumstances. Of course, I'm referring to my supplemental essays for my college applications, and while I'm glad that I'm on the other side of applications now, I like to reflect on how authentically my essays have translated into my first year in college. Namely, the ever-famous "Why Dartmouth?" essay.
The first picture I took on campus! This was during the opening ceremony for the first years that introduced us to the deans of the college.
When I was trudging through my essays, I found that a particularly helpful resource was the student blogs (how full circle!). In particular, as I was applying, I remember reading Sydney '24's blog about her own "Why Dartmouth" essay that really allowed me to visualize just how life on the Green would look as a future student. As such, I think it might be helpful to come from the opposite end and cover my personal experiences concerning my decision to apply to Dartmouth. So without further ado, let's dive into what I discussed in my "Why Dartmouth" essay and how that's translated into my first term!
Lila and I went to a party wearing our best (or worst) flair! Not what I'd typically wear…but the feather boa really ties together the outfit!
A critical element that drew me to apply to Dartmouth in the first place was the emphasis on just how different the educational journey can look for all students. From the unique D-Plan that would allow me to take on full-time internships during the traditional academic year to the focus on a wide variety of courses offered to students both within and outside of their primary academic concentrations, I highlighted how no Dartmouth student's story was ever the same. Especially since I, much like many of my peers, was still largely unsure of the path I wanted to take during my undergraduate experience, I recognized how Dartmouth's inherent campus and academic culture encouraged students to reach beyond their boundaries both inside and outside of the classroom. Granted, I haven't had the opportunity to take the classes that I wrote about in my essay quite yet (ENGS 35 and LACS 4), but I'm sure that I'll be able to within my four years here!
Don't touch the fire! A Dartmouth homecoming tradition, my friends and I had the chance to walk around the bonfire before the homecoming game the next day.
Needless to say, I've more than followed my "Why Dartmouth?" supplemental essay to a tee. In my short time here, I've had the opportunity to take a variety of classes, some familiar, some not so much–all of which have pushed me outside of my comfort zone and allowed me to grow as a student and as a person. While I work on calculating wave functions in the morning, I meet up with friends to discuss the definition of horror in poetry for lunch. Outside of classes, I have the opportunity to conduct research in a lab at the Thayer School of Engineering while juggling new styles of dance with Sheba, all of which has culminated in a truly fantastic first-year experience!
Shebagiving! In lieu of a classic Thanksgiving dinner while we were all on winterim, Sheba hosted a small Friendsgiving-style dinner that was the perfect way to close out the term!
After experiencing this Dartmouth winter term, I am ready to write an ode to this cold weather! Here is what a weekend in the Hanover winter feels like.
My first week back on campus– full of lots of hugs and an extensive amount of time spent making my Google calendar! Cold days and walking to classes after six weeks at home can be an adjustment, but my friends at Dartmouth make it all the more fun!
