Welcome to the transition diary from a big, cold Brazilian city to a small, very cold American town! I fell in love with Dartmouth, and I'm sure my first term will expand my love, as there is a lot to enjoy here in the woods: majors and minors, extracurriculars and clubs, many new open doors to a curious mind like mine! This was written to lofi hiphop, which I could listen to all day if I could, so come to me if you want some nice music to study or relax to. Hope you guys like the content!
Two months before the Early Decision deadline, I had no idea what the Ivy League was, and "Dartmouth" sounded like a funky word. Imagine my surprise when Greg Manne, the admissions officer for this 'Dartmouth College,' came to my town and made me fall in love with this small institution in just 20 minutes. There and then, I decided to include Dartmouth in my college list. But it was during my own research on the College that I discovered the thing that made my apply early: it has one of the best liberal arts programs out there.
Liberal Arts is a teaching style that has its roots in Hellenic Greece. Back then, students had to master all areas of knowledge (albeit only seven disciplines were studied back then), in order to have a broad perspective of existence, in an attempt to discover the principles of the universe. Many would say this style of education has long passed us by: today we have infinitely more subjects than we had back then, and the complexity of the modern world warrants focused study, they say. I could not disagree more. Technical knowledge will only get you so far; after all, we are human, and we were not built to simply keep things running. We were born to innovate, to create, not to simply stand by. I might be a dreamer, but I recall the great thinkers, like Da Vinci, Newton, Ben Franklin, and so many others that showed expertise in many fields. Crossing information from one science to another, they were able to think further than anyone ever had. And when you think about it, doesn't it make sense? All subjects verse over the real world, therefore isn't it obvious they would all be connected? This is the kind of thought liberal arts fosters inside its students, and that makes Liberal Arts students stand out.
The original liberal arts, philosophy at their core. This is what inspired Dartmouth. Image from the Hortus Deliciarum, 12th century.
Okay, the system is incredible in concept. Why do I think Dartmouth excels in it? Because this College truly allows you to pursue knowledge in as broad a way as you desire. You can focus on somehting and major in it, you can double major, you can acquire minors or even take classes just for the fun of learning. There is no barrier stopping a Math major from taking an arts or history course, for example. The opportunities do not stop with courses, however, international programs, artistic presentations, clubs, renowed speakers, a whole structure built around allowing students to develop a broad sense of the world so they can innovate in the field they choose, while keeping ethics, politics, social issues, ecology, and so many other facets of our complex world in mind. Dartmouth's Liberal Arts is an invitation to world changers, and I say: world changers of the world, attend to the call!
Maybe because I literally have a tattoo of a mountain, or just because I like the outdoors, I find myself going on lots of hikes and really liking to explore the wilderness around campus.
During my time in Edinburgh, I am able to take six weekend trips to visit different countries (seven, if you count my trip back to Hanover for Homecoming).
At Dartmouth, I am experiencing a lot of “firsts” that includes my first-time tasting the deliciousness of a King Arthur Flour (KAF) caramel chai tea to surviving my first “cold” day.
A sizable portion of student body is involved in Greek Life (sorority/fraternity life) at Dartmouth. So you might wonder: is being unaffiliated "social suicide?"
