Hello! My name's Griselda Chavez & I am a second-year student from Southern California. I am majoring in Economics modified with Public Policy and double minoring in Human-Centered Design and Environmental Science. At Dartmouth, I have been involved with Dartmouth's Center for Social Impact, the Rockefeller Center, the Dartmouth, and People of Color Outdoors (POCO). Stay tuned to learn more about what Dartmouth has to offer and how as a first-generation college student I have navigated college.
Academic Program
Economics Modified w/ Public Policy, Human-Centered Design, Environmental Science
Although the topic and issues were not completely new to me, I was able to learn more about why current immigration policies existed and the history behind several immigration policies. I absolutely loved the class because Professor Kim was passionate about the course, and the numerous readings we were assigned were very insightful and encouraged class discussions.
The course centers on the educational issues of public school systems and how by creating certain policies or programs we can improve schools and use them as a tool to promote social mobility and equity. The students who took the class were always very passionate to discuss and came from a variety of majors and educational backgrounds, thus enriching class discussions. Furthermore, I loved that Professor Wheelan encouraged us throughout the entire term to "think outside of the box" and inspired us to continue pushing for more change.
During the spring term, I was very confused as to what major I wanted to pursue and decided to give economics an opportunity, never expecting that I would enjoy it. Professor Petre did an amazing job of demonstrating how economics could and is used for social issues like environmentalism, minimum wage, and discrimination. Learning about the concepts and employing them was very important to me because I felt like I could learn how to best help communities.
With the iconic Barbie premiere, Dartmouth was not left behind in celebrations! This weekend was one full of pink outfits all around. Life in the dreamhouse? More like life in the dream college! (so cheesy, please stop me.) To celebrate, we went to the Nugget Theater which has a long and 100-year-old, interesting history in Hanover. The Nugget Theater is a small quaint theater that has several mainstream movies showcased in Hanover. It's not like the large AMC or Cinemark theaters you may imagine, but has more of a comforting/homey atmosphere. It kind of reminds me of what it would have been like to watch the movies in Stars Hollows (Gilmore Girls).
It's a bit hard to tell from this picture, but this is the size of the screening rooms at The Nugget! We were running a bit late and it was a sold-out show so we didn't get the best seats, but still a pretty decent view!
Fortunately, it is also really close to campus as it is on Main Street. Therefore, if you are walking from the center of campus (the Green) then you can walk to the theater and get there in five minutes. Tickets cost $9.50 for students and they also offer several types of snacks. We had purchased tickets for the Saturday screening; however, the Programming Board had collaborated with the Class Council for '25s and Collis After Dark to rent out two theaters for a late, free screening with a complimentary beverage and small popcorn. This is one of several examples of how students get things done at Dartmouth! The Programming Board is a student-run organization that works to create events on campus like Green Key (our spring concert) and Fallapalooza (our fall concert). Collis After Dark is another group of students with the Program Coordinator for Student Involvement that plan late-night social and entertainment events for the Dartmouth community like Rainbow Roller Skate, Brews & Bands, Karaoke Night, and lots of other cool stuff! Amongst the three groups, this free screening was possible! Unfortunately, because we had already purchased tickets we were unable to join but it was a really cool initiative and something specifically for Dartmouth students.
Besides The Nugget, the Hopkins Center for the Arts (kindly known as The Hop) is another alternative for movie-watching, but it is also so much more than only movie screenings! The Hop does screenings for several movies throughout the year which are open to students and the greater community. Tickets vary but are $5 for students. One of the drawbacks is that films are only shown on certain days, so if you cannot attend, you miss your opportunity to watch that specific film. Moreover, the movies that are shown will not always be the same ones that have just recently been released or are about to release. There has always been a variety of movies from blockbusters to horror and documentaries. Therefore, it can also be really fun to see what new movies The Hop is offering and be exposed to a greater selection than what is currently playing in theaters. Here is a sample list for the summer.
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!
Homecoming—a time when current students and alumni gather to relive cherished memories and exhibit large amounts of school spirit. Find out how I spent my second Homecoming Weekend at Dartmouth!
