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.
I am currently in my first ever spring at Dartmouth and as a junior, I feel very motivated to make the most of my 10 weeks.
Spring is a busy time here on-campus, with events such as Caribbean Carnival, Green Key, and graduation for the seniors. With warm weather on the way, people spend more time outside playing spikeball, going on walks, and skateboarding.
Even though I haven't spent that much time here yet, I'm sure that spring term will be one of my favorites.
With all that in mind, I've decided to make a bucket list to keep track of everything that I want to do this term. I'm taking four courses this term (three regular courses and one reading course), which means that I'm stretched pretty thin and will need to have good time management to get everything done. COVID-19 is also still a very real thing and I'll need to take care of myself to make sure that I don't get sick, so the bucket list is modified for that aspect.
Go on a hike with the DOC.
DOC-led events like hiking are some of the easiest ways to get into nature since all you have to do as a student is sign up on the website and show up at the meeting place. I'd never spent much time in nature before Dartmouth, so having the ability to follow someone else's lead is great and very reassuring.
Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with OPAL programming.
AAPI Heritage Month is in May, right towards the end of spring term. I have heard that the Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL) usually helps hold events throughout the month that celebrate different aspects of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander experience, so I am excited to be a part of that and connect with the broader AAPI community here at Dartmouth.
See one show at the Hop.
The Hopkins Center for the Arts is a fantastic venue that hosts events throughout the term. I love seeing live performances in particular, so having student prices and even free tickets through the school is a definite plus.
Go on a trip outside the Upper Valley.
The "Dartmouth Bubble" is a very real thing—I think I never left Hanover during my first two terms on-campus as a freshman. However, especially during remote learning, I've become very attached to the idea of spending time in more diverse spaces in terms of age, race, socioeconomic background, and occupation. I am living in the Chinese Language House (CLH) this term, and we get to plan a trip to Boston. My housing community also has a termly event to New York City that should be fun!
Make one new dish.
As I stated above, I live in the CLH this term which has a full, functioning kitchen complete with refrigerators and pots and pans. I hope to use the space to cook one new dish this term.
Try studying in a new place.
I usually study in my room, but studying in public areas can also be a great way to try new things and meet others. The Engineering and Computer Science building just opened on West Campus, so I hope to swing by sometime to check it out!
Attend a sports game.
Prior to Dartmouth, I knew very little about sports. I still don't know much, but I find games more interesting now and would like to attend one just for the experience. Is anyone up for a trip to the ballgame?
Attend a guest lecture / seminar.
A fantastic aspect about going to a school like Dartmouth is the ability to learn from experts in their fields and attend free seminars. The school calendar advertises events open to campus, and I hope to go to at least one this term.
Celebrate and observe Easter.
With how busy school is, I sometimes find it difficult to make time for my religious observances. However, Easter is right at the beginning of the term this year and I hope to go to different services and observe the holiday with some friends.
Visit the Hood Museum.
And lastly, I hope to visit the Hood Art Museum at some point this term! Before college, I was quite involved with both visual and the performing arts. Although I don't have as much time for it anymore, being able to see what the art community is up to on-campus through events at the Hood is super fun and a great way for me to continue growing that part of myself even while life gets busy.
Thanks for reading my junior spring bucket list for things to do at Dartmouth! What are you up to this year?
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!
