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!
I find most places on campus to be gorgeous, but there are a few places that hold a special place in my heart. Here's a list of my happy places and what I discovered in them.
Greenhouse
I first visited the greenhouse thanks to my friend and floormate Grace Hillery, who is an environmental activist in the Sunrise Movement and "outdoorsiness" personified. Sitting on top of the Life Sciences Center, Dartmouth's greenhouse is a 6,000-square-foot botanical wonder with multiple climate-controlled rooms housing unique collections such as the award-winning Brout Orchid Collection, tropical plants, and a collection of desert plants. My favorite plant was definitely the sensitive plant, which folds its leaves inward when touched. There is also a multi-purpose room where students can come in to study or enjoy some warm summer weather during the cold days of the winter term.
Bema
I didn't get the appeal of Bema, which is a landscaped amphitheater in the College Park until I saw Bema Lights. Sponsored by the Office of Student Life, BemaLights is an interactive sound and light installation. "Winter Wonderland" may sound cliche, but I don't know how else to describe the feeling of watching soft, colorful lights flickering on snow.
Ochir, mesmerized by BemaLights.
BisCo Common Room
I'll be honest, an outside observer might not immediately understand the appeal of BisCo (Bissell & Cohen) common room. It is not exactly as pretty as most places on campus, but it has a certain sense of character and emanates a sense of homeliness. It is mostly my memories of this place that makes it special. I have spent so much time playing the piano, drinking some hot chocolate, walking into someone baking in the kitchen, and having late-night conversations with people.
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!
