My name is Eva, and I'm a '25 Mechanical Engineering BE student from Upstate New York. My time at Dartmouth has been marked by the combination of the arts and engineering on campus and you can often find me working on a new project in either the Dartmouth Engineering Machine Shop or Visual Arts Center. In my free time, I love to work on lego sets and watch the craziest reality tv I can find!
This was a great exploratory class to take as an introduction to Dartmouth. I took it with Professor DeSilva, an extremely passionate individual who made this class incredibly engaging the whole way through! Coming into college I never would have expected my favorite class to have been about monkeys and early humans, but I discovered a deep interest in the evolution of reproduction.
Coming from a background of little chem experience, this class was challenging, but fun! I learned a ton about the foundations of chemistry and their applications in the modern world. My favorite part of this class was the lab where I got to see what I was learning in class in real life. I'll be taking a lot more chemistry in the future and I feel a lot more comfortable with the material as well as how to study effectively.
Design Thinking for Engineering was an incredible class that completely restructured the way I make decisions. With an 100% project based course load, this class develops teamwork, positive attitudes, and an eye for design. Not only did I learn a lot, but it inspired me to pick up a minor in Human Centered Design.
SummerHome
I took my off term in the summer to work at a coffee shop close to home as a Barista. Ask me about where to get the best coffee on campus!
My first art class and my favorite class yet! Under the instruction of a fantastic artist, I learned about many kinds of printing and made some incredible art to add to my portfolio. This is a great class for beginning artists and stood as a great start to my arts career at Dartmouth. The printmaking community within the arts department is incredibly supportive and full of talent.
Imagine taking an engineering project from its ideation to creation all in 10 weeks: stressful, but an awesome experience! Paired with an incredible team of interdisciplinary majors, I worked on the development of an electronic kettlebell to "gamify" the workout experience.
This was an incredible theatre workshop taught by a known August Wilson scholar. We read all of August Wilson's plays over the course of this class and engaged in meaningful discussion about their meaning and significance.
The summer theater workshop is an experiential class that brings students and current artists together to work on collaborative projects. This class allowed me to expand greatly as an artist and create meaningful connections with people who are currently pursuing theater full time.
FallCincinnati, Ohio
During my off term, I pursued an engineering internship at Johnson and Johnson in their surgical devices department.
My most used item on campus by far is my L.L. Bean Quad Pack. Because I don't go anywhere without it, I've perfected its contents to perfectly accommodate my day-to-day life.
The sizes and shapes of backpacks on the Dartmouth campus vary greatly. Some carry tote bags with nothing but a laptop and pen or two, while others lug massive packs that look like they're prepared for a two-day trek through the woods. My preference falls more towards the latter end of the spectrum as I tend not to go back to my dorm until bedtime once I've left in the morning. Though I've had to grow used to the chronic shoulder pain, I always feel prepared for anything!
I love the Quad Pack from L.L. Bean because of how many sections it has. I'm able to fit all the books and paper I need for class, but also smaller amenities that may come in handy throughout the day.
The Main Section
In the large section of my backpack, I keep my notebooks, folders, and textbooks. Thankfully for my back, all of my textbooks are currently online so I only have my chemistry notebook, lab notebook, and miscellaneous folder in here. Depending on the day, I add my design log for my design thinking in engineering class as well as the research notebook I use for my WISP laboratory.
The (Sub) Main Section
Within the main section of my backpack is a laptop sleeve where I like to keep all of my electronic items. I always keep chargers for my phone and computer on me as well as my AirPods so I'm not left doing a problem set without music to jam to.
Two Small Front Sections
Here I keep the items I might need in case of emergency. In one of the front pouches of my backpack, I keep a green nylon bag with a first aid kit, stain remover, pain medication, and other miscellaneous conveniences. This has come in handy incredibly often, especially the stain remover, as college life leads to a lot more random mishaps than you might anticipate. The amount of times I've spilled dining hall coffee on a pair of pants is countless!
Top Section
The top of my bag is the most accessible, thus the place where I keep my most used items: writing utensils. I'm not huge on stationary, so I only keep a black pen, two colored pens, two highlighters, and a dry erase marker. Sometimes a pencil finds its way in there, but I don't keep one on me consistently. Two other items I keep in here are my dorm keys and chapstick.
Side Pockets
New Hampshire weather is always unpredictable, especially in the Spring, thus I always have an extra layer and an umbrella on me. I'd hate to be stuck in the library and have to walk all the way home in an unexpected rain storm!
My backpack is a consistent entity in my life on campus, but it's also an ever-changing item that adapts itself as my needs change. Who knows, maybe I'll reduce my pack to a slim shoulder bag by next term!
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!
