Hello, Eda here: full-time learner, part-time writer, and pretty much a happy amateur at everything else. My hobbies include reading, discovering new movies, and looking at the pictures of my cat. On campus, you can find me peer supporting for the Mental Health Union and SAPA, writing for Spare Rib, doing research in psychology, or listening to Turkish & English alt-rock. Feel free to ask me about taking a gap year, transitioning to a new cultural space, or college in general!
This class discusses the concepts of sex and gender in the broader context of issues related to race, class, national identity, and more. I loved this class because it helped me better understand how systemic inequality affects individual lives and made me think about ways to change it. Professor A'Ness is such an inspiring prof!
In this first-year writing seminar, we discussed how avant-garde movements from futurism to punk rock have constituted a rebellion against the status quo. I loved all the readings for this class and Professor McCann inspired me to take more courses in the English department!
In this course, we learned all the basics of fiction: character, plot, setting, etc. My favorite parts of the course were receiving feedback from other students, reading my peers' work, and having fiction readings as assigned course work! I also appreciated all the guest speakers we had, who were experienced writers in their respective genres.
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this course has been one of the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth so far. The class focused on the etiology, diagnosis, characteristics and treatment of various mental disorders. Professor Hudenko has been one of the greatest lectures I had the pleasure of meeting. As a clinical psychologist himself, he had extensive knowledge in not only the theory, but also the practice of clinical psychology. He also succeeded in making a lecture-based class feel interactive and dynamic.
We covered the complex neural and biological mechanisms of multiple mental health disorders ranging from common conditions like anxiety to more complicated illnesses such as schizophrenia. In addition to reading about the cutting-edge research in this area, we also read memoirs and watched documentaries about the mental illnesses to focus on how these conditions are affecting people in real life. Professor Funnell is one of the best profs I had!
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this has been one of my favorite classes at Dartmouth. We learned about different therapy methods, how and when to use them, their advantages, and shortcomings. The class was incredibly engaging with Professor Hudenko's frequent demonstrations of methods, therapy videos, and guest speakers. I would recommend this class to every psychology major.
I worked at Dimock Health Center as part of my community health internship. I was part of a team of summer interns who were college students like myself. We worked as patient advocates that helped people reach out to resources regarding housing, food, utilities, etc. Most of our work involved calling patients, helping them fill out forms, and researching resources. I learned so much about community health resources and how to communicate with a diverse set of patients. It was an invaluable experience!
I took classes in the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary University of London. My favorite class of the term was called London Performance Now, which involved going to different performance events in London and discussing them in class. It was the perfect opportunity to explore the cultural landscape of London.
As the title of the course suggests, this class was about food: its history, economics, and cultural practices. I learned a lot through this course thanks to guest speakers, thought-provoking readings, and engaging assignments. My favorite assignment in this course was writing about a family recipe; I learned so much about my family's history as well as the cultural conflicts in my home country. Overall, it was among the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth. Plus, we even got to eat delicious food cooked by our classmates!
During intense weeks filled with endless assignments and academic stress, I find it helpful to think about all the times I was genuinely happy on this campus. Here are a few of my favorite moments at Dartmouth so far!
International Student Dinner at Moosilauke
Towards the end of the last term, OPAL (Office of Leadership and Pluralism) organized a dinner for first-year international students at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. Before attending the dinner, I had heard great things about the lodge from my friends who attended housing community dinners at Moosilauke, so needless to say, my expectations were high. And I was not disappointed. Not only was Moosilauke absolutely gorgeous, but it also had such a welcoming atmosphere with soft lights, a wide range of board games, a nice piano, and a bunch of old books… Not to mention the food! It was undoubtedly the most satisfying meal I've enjoyed since I have arrived in Hanover. But the best part of it was definitely spending the evening with the international student community. I not only caught up with people I haven't seen since international pre-orientation, but I have also made new connections with people from diverse backgrounds. The evening at Moosilauke was definitely the highlight of my fall term at Dartmouth.
International student dinner at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge.
The Force of Things at the Hop
This term, me and my friend Jamie went to see the Force of Things at Hopkins Center for the Arts. It was a sonic art installation performed by the International Contemporary Ensemble and designed by the architect/composer sibling duo Ash and Adam Fure. It was very unique: an interdisciplinary work evoking the gravity of ecological collapse and climate change. It was eerie, mind-boggling, and incredibly inspiring.
Tubing!
After my friend finished carving an ice sculpture for the Winter Carnival, we decided to go on a walk around the Occom Pond, which is also called a Woccom in Dartmouth lingo. When we reached the golf course near the Occom Pond and caught sight of the Dartmouth Outing Club's ski rental center, we felt the sudden urge to go tubing even though none of us had done it before. Though I knew I had to get back to studying, I could not resist the temptation to sling myself off a snowy cliff. It was the second-best decision I have made in my life. There's nothing like a refreshing adrenaline rush to destress amidst midterm season.
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!
