Hi everyone! I'm Kabir, an international member of the class of '26, from New Delhi, India. I'm thinking of majoring in Psychology and Film & Media Studies. Outside the classroom, I enjoy watching movies, going on hikes, hanging out with my friends, and going on runs (if you see me on the streets of Hanover, say hi!) In the short while I've been here, I've come to love Dartmouth, so if you're interested in what I have to say, stick around! This should (hopefully) be fun :)
My Writing 5 class was definitely my favorite class this term — it opened my eyes to the realities of the food industry, strengthened my skills as a writer, and helped me make a ton of new friends.
My seminar was possibly the best class I've taken so far at Dartmouth. I learned about the importance of free speech and journalists in a democratic society, and how those rights to freedom are being stripped everywhere, all the time.
I've loved Cognitive Psychology as a class so far, especially because of the cool demos that the professor uses to illustrate every type of phenomena we learn about. From illusions to memory tests, it's so cool to see how the human psyche can be tricked so very easily.
As I talked about in my last post, I'm currently in (mostly) sunny Los Angeles, California for my domestic study program (DSP for short!) with Dartmouth's Film & Media Studies program. While I do really miss Hanover and my friends (what's not to miss about sub-zero temperatures?!), I'm having a great time on the West Coast. Here are 5 super cool things I've done this week:
Gone to the Getty Museum — The group of 15 students that are on the DSP and I got to go to the legendary Getty Museum in Brentwood, Los Angeles. The Getty is possibly one of the most stunning art museums I've been to, and the campus is nothing short of breathtaking. We spent the whole day seeing the most exquisite art and relaxing in the beautiful gardens that overlook the entire city of Los Angeles.
Taken a tour of Warner Bros.! — Potentially the most important event of this term (yet) and my life (so far) was seeing where great shows like FRIENDS, The Big Bang Theory and many others were filmed. I also got to take pictures on the iconic couches from both those TV shows—too bad that each photograph was $25 a pop; otherwise, I would've shared it!
Seen the best sunset in Santa Monica — To end our DSP orientation week, we got to go to the beautiful Santa Monica pier to watch the sunset. To say that it was beautiful is a gross understatement—it was jaw-dropping. I almost didn't want to take a picture; I just wanted to enjoy the moment for what it was (I couldn't resist, though!).
Tried to learn how to 'adult' (kind of!) — One of the great things about Dartmouth's study programs is that, more often than not, you live in apartments/houses where you're responsible for yourself, which is a great preview into the life of an adult. I've been grocery shopping, doing my own dishes, and learning how to run a household with my roommates! (It's expensive but a great learning experience).
Learned so much — I've genuinely learned more about the film industry and its inner workings in my last ten days of being in Hollywood than all the years I've spent reading up about it. I genuinely feel excited for what's to come and how much more I have to learn.
Dartmouth College is known for its small, tight-knit community and town, which takes some adjustment for some who didn't grow up in rural areas. So, what is Dartmouth like for those of us who grew up in small communities? Let me share my experience!
If someone claimed they hitchhiked 600 miles in two days without spending a dime on transportation, would you believe them? You might wonder why anyone would do that. My answer: Dartmouth connections and sustainability.
