Hello friends! My name is Diana D'Souza, and I'm pursuing a double major in Government modified with Economics and Chinese. On campus, I'm the Co-President of Women in Business and a Chinese language research assistant. I'm also involved in the Dartmouth Outing Club and recently led a fishing first-year trip at the Boston Lot Lake. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors.
I ended up taking this class for two reasons. First, I needed to fulfill my CI requirement; second, my friend was also taking it. Regardless, it ended up being my favorite class fall term. Professor Washburn is an engaging, spontaneous professor and we studied everything from memes to The Tale of Genji. By the end of the term, I found myself to be a more confident and humbled writer.
This was my second time taking a 9 am class with Chen Laoshi. She is understanding, funny, and always eager to help. Even though this was a fast-paced class with daily quizzes, weekly tests, and new vocabulary sets every other day, I became extremely close with my classmates and more excited about learning the language. We ended the term over a feast of dumplings Laoshi prepared!
Because this term was online, I used my extra time to study a subject that has always fascinated me. Professor Ayubi was incredibly accommodating by allowing us to complete work at our own pace. The most memorable parts of the class were examining anti-Muslim materials during a virtual tour to Rauner Library and exploring Muslim punk rock through the movie Taqwacores.
SummerEdison, NJ - Remote Internship
My summer plans were derailed due to the pandemic, but Mr. Forbes, a Dartmouth alum, graciously allowed me to intern at his consulting firm. Over the course of two months, I became a master at navigating Microsoft Visio and writing grant narratives. I also lifeguarded the 5am shift (pain) at my local community pool.
Students at Dartmouth say ENGS 12 will change your life, and I'm one to agree. Professor Robbie helped me rethink and redefine my approach to creativity and radical collaboration. After the class, I became involved in the design community, participating in the Designation, 3 Day Start Up, and Tuck's entrepreneurship program, TuckLAB. I'm even a TA for the class now—oh, how the tables have turned!
WinterEdison, NJ - Remote Internship
In hopes of studying abroad, I declared a five-year D-Plan. I'm still a '23 at heart, but I'll be graduating with the '24's. I ended up working at my local newspaper, TAPinto News, and continuing my linguistics research with Professor Donahue.
SpringEdison, NJ - Remote Internship
With the help of the Magnuson Center, I landed an internship at Q30 Innovations, a medical device company. As a law development intern for Mr. Greene, a Dartmouth alum, I compiled a 20-page patent portfolio and provided recommendations for FDA clearance. I also took part in two Rocky programs, RGLP and MLDP.
Professor Dorsey is by far my favorite Dartmouth professor. He hosted in-person office hours every Friday, where we talked about anything from Japanese healthcare to craft beer to our personal lives. The class was an absolute blast, in which we dissected comics and listened to Japanese folklore. Class highlights included a field trip to a nearby Japanese Zen garden and a zoom call with Japanese folklorist Nakagawa Goro.
This was my hardest academic term to date, but I’m extremely proud of my work in this class.
Over ten weeks, Professor Samwick challenged us to design a financially viable social
enterprise. My team ended up creating BayStay, a one-stop service for homeless individuals in
the Bay area to locate a new roommate and temporary communal housing. The best part of the
experience was getting to interview leading experts on homelessness and pitching our business
model to an angel investor!
Given my areas of study at Dartmouth, it’s no surprise that I loved my introductory international
relations course with Professor Powers. She did a great job helping the class transition to in-
person learning by providing us with reading guides and laying out clear expectations in her
memos. We used high-level theory to explain the motivations of terrorists and the likelihood of
nuclear war. In my final paper, I presented my own analysis of why the United Nations was
powerless to prevent Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In this upper-level government seminar, my classmates and I met once a week for three hours.
Although it was sometimes tough to focus, I appreciated having the rest of the week to prepare
and complete readings. During the term, we debated a range of topics, including whether the
government should regulate marriage or whether having a nanny was inherently anti-feminist.
Another cool aspect of the course was that the class was entirely driven by student discussion
and debate. Professor Rose pushed each student to flesh out her thoughts through open office
hours and writing workshops. Looking back at my final paper, I’m really proud of my newfound
ability to argue complex philosophical topics in a clear manner.
SummerHanover, NH - On Campus
While most of the ‘23s are off campus, I’m spending my junior summer in Hanover because I
took a gap year! I’m spending most of my time this term as a Paganucci Fellow at the Tuck
School of Business. I’m also working for Dartmouth Admissions and serving as Co-President of
Dartmouth Women in Business. Even though I’m not taking classes, I’m definitely keeping
myself busy!
FallWashington, D.C. - Internship
I spent my off-term interning on the China desk at the U.S. Department of State (DOS). I loved
being able to apply what I learned in class in a professional setting and getting to see diplomacy
and foreign policy in action. Some of my internship highlights included volunteering for the first,
historic Indo-Pacific Summit and meeting North Korean defectors. Still, I’m excited to be back
at Dartmouth, taking classes again, after six months off!
I took this class because it was the final culminating experience for my Chinese language major. Professor Ericson gave really engaging lectures that made it feel like he was reading us a story. As a capstone project, I wrote a 20-page paper about imperial Japan's use of visual propaganda in Manchukuo, analyzing primary texts in Chinese and Japanese.
This class explored the economics behind the gender gap, child penalty, and labor market discrimination. My favorite part was the MBA-style class study, which focused on the rationale behind Patagonia’s generous parental leave policies. Professor Olivetti was so helpful and held frequent office hours. Definitely take this class, even if you aren’t an economics major.
When applying to college, I considered the usual factors like academics, location, financial aid, and campus life. Despite my growing list of factors, I sometimes forgot the most important questions, "Would I be happy here? Does the school look out for me?" These weren't questions I really reflected on until I came to Dartmouth.
As I'm about to graduate, I think student happiness is one of the most critical aspects to consider. Many senior officials at Dartmouth will tell you that they don't just care about the intellectual state of student minds but also their health and happiness. Personally, I'm proud that the college is committed to mental health. College is stressful, so students need the proper social support to succeed academically. I've used several free on-campus mental health resources, from massage chairs in the Student Wellness Center to counseling at Dick's House. When I learned that Dartmouth would be bringing monastics from Deer Park Monastery in California and Magnolia Grove Monastery in Mississippi for "A Week of Monastic Wisdom," I prioritized attending as many events as possible!
Let me take you on a week of mindfulness on campus and share what I have learned.
Monday, April 22
My mindfulness journey started with an hour-long "Mindfulness Orientation Talk" at Rollins Chapel. The monastics invited students to sit on cushions on the floor and walked the audience through some techniques to center ourselves, including deep breathing exercises and listening to the sound of a bell. It's sometimes hard to get into meditation because people believe your mind needs to be entirely blank for five to ten minutes. The monastics pushed for a more approachable strategy, encouraging students to rest their minds for just a minute. They stressed that it was okay for thoughts to enter our mind, as long as we acknowledged them and then recentered ourselves. Personal highlights of this session included hearing from Brother Pháp Lưu ("Brother Stream"), a Dartmouth '97, and singing a short song about human strength and resilience with the community.
Tuesday, April 23
I checked out a "Qigong Session" with my friend Amanda '23. The weather was beautiful and sunny outside, so the session was held in front of Baker Library. A brother walked us through a series of movements that let us feel the flow of energy coursing through our bodies. Many movements involved balance and fast, sweeping motions meant to elevate our heart rate. One notable exercise the brother showed us was holding our arms out like we were squeezing a balloon. Then, he asked us to pulse our fingers together to about one inch apart so we could feel a magnetic energy forcing our hands together. I'm not a master quite yet, but I hope to improve my energy flow so I can feel that magnetic force more strongly in the future.
Wednesday, April 24
A small group of students gathered in front of Moore Hall to attend a "Mindful Walk." The monastics pointed out that many students on campus walked very quickly with headphones in and with little attention to their surroundings. They urged us to walk slowly and in complete silence to enjoy the sun shining on our faces and the birds chirping in the background. I have found that my mind and body are often not aligned, with my mind wandering to an assignment I must do as my feet carry me to the dining hall. As I participated in the mindful walk, I found my body-mind connection to be in sync, as my sole purpose was to enjoy the walk and appreciate my body for caring for me.
Thursday, April 25
I attended the "Sustainability Dinner" hosted at Dartmouth Engineering. When I arrived, the monastics provided a brief overview of their approach to eating. After waiting for each person to self-serve their meal, we would chant the "Five Contemplations for Eating" at the sound of the bell. Then, we would eat slowly in silence for 15 minutes. One brother advised us to put down our fork after each bite and to chew our food thoroughly before eating again. The initial silence was overwhelming initially, but I found the vegetarian meal even more delicious when I slowed down to savor each bite. While I originally planned to stay for just an hour, I stayed for 2.5 hours! The event also stayed true to sustainable ideals, as the monks emphasized that we should only take what we could eat.
Friday, April 26
I put everything I had learned this week into practice with a four-hour "Mindfulness Retreat" in Rollins Chapel. The session included mindful sitting, meditation, walking, and eating. I also unlocked a new "mindful sharing" skill: we were invited to make a lotus flower with our hands when we felt compelled to share a learning with our small group. My group navigated complex topics like emotional repression and depression but concluded on a positive note as we talked about how to incorporate mindfulness into everyday life. I walked out of the session proud of myself for making my mental health a priority for this week.
The "Week of Monastic Wisdom" is just a smaller programming subset meant to kick off "Mindful May." For May, Dartmouth has organized a mindful tip, workshop, or webinar each day to encourage the community to make small changes to navigate challenges. I already have some events I plan to attend, like "Gentle Yoga" and "Breathing Techniques to Alleviate Stress." I came into college thinking that I would never need mindfulness or meditation. But everyone goes through a challenging period, whether in college or not. Still, I'm grateful that Dartmouth has the structure in place for students to access many resources if they find it calls to them.
An excursion on our German-Engineering FSP brought us to Hamburg, a major port city in the Northern part of the country! We explored the bustling port city for three days, completely sponsored by the Foreign Study Program.
This week at Dartmouth, I had an amazing time performing with Ujimelt. I also enjoyed making delicious Japanese curry with my roommate. To top it off, I had a relaxing movie night at Nugget Theaters, watching Despicable Me 4.
Welcome to the first part of Dartmouth Debunked, a series of comprehensive blog posts answering common questions first-years have prior to their arrival at Dartmouth. This post will cover all the housing options for a first-year student.
In the summer, prospective students might take the time to visit potential colleges and universities to apply to. But what are some things to look for as you peruse campuses and take in the view, especially during the summer? Here are some ideas!
My first-year at Dartmouth has been a period of profound growth and self-discovery. It has challenged me to push beyond my limits, embrace my strengths and weaknesses, and navigate the complex web of opportunities that define college life.
