Hello there, friend! My name is Love and I am a '23. Aside from being on the pre-med track, I'm currently interested in studying math and public policy. I have a penchant for old things, learning languages, and the arts. I also love personality tests, irrespective of their actual validity—in case you're curious, I'm an INFJ, Scorpio, dragon, and type 2w1.
BIOL 11.07 (Major Events in the History of Life and the Human Genome) is a very unique class. We learn topics such as oxidative phosphorylation in conjunction with evolution and paleontology. In other words, where and when did ETC come from, and how can we support our hypothesis? Though not an easy class by far, every day the material I learn amazes me with the wonder of life, which is how biology should be!
MES 7.03 (Jerusalem: Vision and Reality) was my First-Year Seminar and such an interesting class to take! We explored Jerusalem through three main viewpoints (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). The class had a bit of religion, literature, anthropology, sociology, and even geography—all things I love to study but don't necessarily have the space for with our three-class quarters. I often found myself going to office hours just to talk with my professor about questions I had outside of the reading!
COSC 10 (Problem Solving with Object-Oriented Programming) is a data structures course and the last pre-requisite for the computer science major. Though I added it as a fourth class on a whim because of COVID-19 and remote learning, it quickly became my favorite class this term because I loved the problem solving that CS has to offer. It is a difficult class but the emotional and academic rewards make it all worth it!
This was one of four classes I took during fall term and it was super interesting! We learned about healthcare systems and innovations from around 4 guest lecturers per week, and were able to do research on our own and propose a new system at the end of the term. Students came from all over campus and the course was very enlightening for me in terms of understanding how care is dispensed in the U.S. and how we can improve it.
Though this was my first "foundation" course in the Biology department and I still found it challenging, I really enjoyed learning the material and found it all super exciting! We learned about DNA replication, mRNA transcription and protein translation, genetics, and had the opportunity to do a literature review at the end of the term.
The dreaded Organic Chemistry sequence of my pre-med track came upon me faster than I thought it would, but it surprised me by being one of my favorite classes to date! I found it intellectually interesting (even though it was time-consuming), probably because I treated it like a STEM-and-logic puzzle instead of pure STEM or pure memorization. Am I great at it? Not necessarily. Do I remember everything I've learned? I'm not too sure! Am I mentally ready for Organic Chemistry 2 next term? Not at all! But I had a lot of fun doing this class and surprised even myself with how I tackled it.
I love dancing, story-telling, and learning about different cultures so I knew going into this course that I would enjoy it. Cross-listed in the theater and AAAS departments, this course let students have the privilege of working with Dance Theatre of Harlem members who were in Hanover for a summer residency. As a group, we analyzed a play ("The Purple Flower" by Marita Bonner) and transformed the text into a physical movement piece. Each student also had complete ownership of a personal final project, and I opted to do a self-choreographed dance. Overall, I loved getting the chance to work creatively in my academics this term and I also was able to broaden my perspective and knowledge of the African-American story in the process!
As a pre-med, I am constantly trying to learn more about the U.S medical system. This course was extremely engaging in all aspects, taking students through all of American history through the lens of healthcare within the span of 10 weeks. I particularly liked having a discussion session that replaced a lecture, since we were able to talk about the issues with the professor and think out loud about our readings. The course was definitely challenging and required a lot of synthesis across different time periods and topics, but I feel like I came out of it with a deeper and more profound understanding of our healthcare system and why it functions the way it does today.
WinterDetroit, MI
For my junior winter, I did an internship in clinical research! With COVID affecting so much of my college experience, this practical, in-person work internship was very important for me to not only hone my employable skills but also see what having a 8am - 5pm job looks like and how it could fit into my future.
Much like my other pre-med courses here at Dartmouth, Biochemistry was quite rigorous and fast-paced. It was certainly challenging, but I found the work extremely rewarding and I enjoyed learning about all the different mechanisms that happen inside of our bodies. Additionally, many of my friends were also in this class as well, rounding out final prerequisites for graduate school, and this fact made it all the more fun.
SummerDresden, Germany
For my junior summer, I had a research internship in Eastern Germany, working at the intersection between math, computer science, and biology! The learning curve was very steep since my project focus changed once I arrived in Europe, but I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about the content and myself. I am extremely thankful for all the support that Dartmouth has given me throughout my time here, without which I wouldn't have been able to do a 12-week European adventure!
As a pre-med student interested in health disparities, SOCY 75 was an amazing class to take! We covered numerous topics concerning how where one lives can impact their health outcomes. At the end of the course, students were also able to complete a final project of their choosing and I loved being able to tie my personal experiences into an academic course.
Throughout college, most of my science courses have been at the introductory level: one term of genetics, one term of cell structure, etc. Rarely have I had the chance to engage with something on a deeper level or connect the pre-med courses to human biology. This course was super interesting because I could finally connect everything I've learned throughout college into one cohesive course that connects to something I want to do post-Dartmouth.
Before coming to Dartmouth, I had only ever been to the East Coast once. I didn't know the culture of New Hampshire, nor anybody else going to Dartmouth because it simply wasn't a part of my everyday life. My existence, up until that point, was firmly rooted in my place in the mitten state.
In some ways, it still is. Once you get to Dartmouth, you'll quickly feel that around 50% of the student population comes from California, and the other 50% is split between New York City and "just outside Boston." Disclosing the fact that you are from neither place automatically makes you somewhat of an anomaly, and it does feel a little lonely at times. College, for me, was the big unknown. For (what seemed like) everyone else, college at a prestigious university on the East Coast was a given. While I was doing everything by myself for the first time with little guidance, it felt like everyone else had a handbook that told them who to meet, where to be, and what to do. My friends often talked about meeting up during break or how they were going to visit other friends at nearby schools when that simply wasn't an option for me.
Other aspects of my identity exacerbated this feeling: I am a first-generation American, whose parents know even less about the American school system or professional networking. I am also a Questbridge student, relying heavily on school funds and gracious opportunities to get by as other people got internships through connections or simply volunteered at an organization and paid their own way. And lastly, I was homeschooled from middle school until high school in Metro-Detroit. Whether because of where I lived or the ways in which my parents decided to educate me, my experiences are just so vastly different from my peers that it felt like I was doing everything alone, failing at times.
If you're worried about this, here is my advice as a happy, rising sophomore! I'm worked through these issues quite a lot my first year here and have some pointers.
Know that this "isolation" will happen, in small doses or large ones. No matter what school you go to in the future, Dartmouth or otherwise, various aspects of your identity will make you different from the average student. For you, it may be that you're from a small town. For others, it may be that they are the first in their town to leave the state for college. Be proud of your history and how far you've come, but also don't feel discouraged when these little doubts start to come your way. Just remember: the fact that you feel a little uncomfortable or lonely means that you are breaching the unknown, making your way in the world, and growing in ways that other people aren't even possible of doing.
Also know that you are capable of doing it and taking this loneliness and turning it into something great. Dartmouth chose you for a reason—because it sees a spark and potential in you. Rely on this, rely on your instincts, rely on what you are capable of. Call your friends and family back home for reassurance.
Lastly, find places on campus where you do feel at home. If there aren't any, create them. Make Dartmouth the place where you feel safe and where people like you can feel loved and appreciated in the future. In addition, create dialogue and growth in places where you may not feel as welcome. If there's anything that I've learned this past year, it is that Dartmouth students are hungry for a better school and better environment. If you see change that you want to make, there will always be a person who will hear you out (even if it is just me!). Behind one person is always a support group and cheerleaders, so find them here. I promise you that although it may be scary, it is always worth it.
I haven't completely done away with my imposter syndrome or my issues "entering the big leagues" alone yet, but these tips have helped me to stay grounded. Today, I have many lovely friends and people I can trust who work at Dartmouth, and I sincerely believe that I belong at Dartmouth and can make it a better place. Choose not to see this as an obstacle but as a stepping stone into your future. After all, the best memoirs and success stories always have a little trouble in the beginning.
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience.
This is my final term before senior year, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. One thing I am excited about is the classes I am taking this term, so let me tell you more!
This is part two of me "nerding out" about my honors thesis! If you want to learn more about independent projects, theses, or the humanities at Dartmouth, check it out!
