Mucho gusto! Let's get to the fun stuff first. I love journaling, dancing in the gym, and being outside in some sunshine. I am from Tucson, Arizona and a '28. I am a proud first generation and low-income student who comes from a loving Mexican and Native American family. Aspiring law student, an early riser, and bubbly personality are all some ways to describe me. So before you leave, welcome to Dartmouth! I am Dezstany and I hope you join me on this journey into the woods!
Academic Program
Government or Native American and Indigenous Studies
This course was one of the reasons I chose to apply early decision to Dartmouth! I know, how could one course even influence such a big decision? Hearing Professor Duthu describe cases regarding the dispossession of Native tribes, the cultural tensions that many Native youth experience because of the effects of the Doctrine of Discovery, and economic development issues amongst many Native reservations made me edge out of my seat with excitement. The description did not disappoint because although it is one of my earliest classes, I always find myself running to class to learn something new. Professor Duthu presents in a way that wakes you up, makes you laugh, and encourages you to ask some pretty tough questions about tribal regulations. It has been extremely interesting how "bullets of the past are hitting present targets", meaning that many federal policies that happened decades ago still have very noticeable impacts in Indian Country (land in which tribal members own or previously occupied). I love being able to schedule office hours for any leftover questions. Would definitely recommend it!!
A close friend of mine, Pine, caught me studying on the first floor of the Baker-Berry library commonly known as FFB. I appreciate FFB as it is a nice environment to talk with friends and get some work done. I have been meaning to spend some more quality time with her and suggested we go on a run. It was a perfect way to balance out my schedule especially during finals season. Thanks to the placement of Dartmouth in the beautiful outdoors, it makes it a great spot to go running no matter the time of day. We had a nice morning run before classes, as people who are both from much warmer climates than Dartmouth, we talked about how once you find fun activities to do in the winter the cold does not feel as harsh.
Looking back on winter term it truly did go so much quicker than I expected it to. The winter term is typically a little bit shorter compared to other terms because there is a smaller reading period to balance out the school year; thus, I was able to take two smaller classes and one medium sized class.
For my art class, Maid in America: The Politics of Domestic Labor, we often spent a substantial amount of time working in groups. We performed manifestos, acted out newspapers, and so much more. A common comment that many classmates made on the final day of class is how much they appreciated the opportunity the class provided to truly get to know and connect with other people throughout the course. Typically, the performances required groups to meet outside of the classroom which allowed us to get to know each other on a more personal level than simply the automatic introductions of our name and class year. This type of connection is something I really value from Dartmouth as both the small class size and dedicated professors help create an environment where students feel a part of a community.
It is safe to say that I will not forget the baller energy that Autumn had as a chemistry major and a track athlete, the crazy math talent that Joanna has, the jokes that Dejanay made, or the engineering perspective Rahila brought to our projects.
A good friend and I were both taking Economics 01; it was a lot of fun—having the chance to study together. We took this course with Professor Gracic, who was also a first generation college student. At Dartmouth, each professor offers office hours, which are additional hours outside of the classroom to answer questions or provide clarification on previous materials. I loved how open and encouraging Professor Gracic was with her office hours as it allowed me to really solidify my understanding of the lessons we learned during the lectures.
My last final was on the first day of the examination period which worked out great as someone who lives across the country from Dartmouth. The Dartmouth Coach runs every hour out of Dartmouth which allows for quick and efficient travels in and out of campus. My final ended at 10 am, and I needed to be on the Coach by 11:40 am. So, as you can see ,we are running to get a good seat for the exam—got to go!
Entering a new environment miles away from home, knowing little to no people at first, can feel daunting. However, Dartmouth's support systems, particularly through the First Generation Office (FGO), have been nothing short of incredible.
A key part of my Dartmouth experience so far has been my time on Sheba, one of many dance groups on campus! Read on to learn more about dance on campus!
