Olá! I'm Luana from Brasília, the capital of Brazil. A couple of years ago I was, just like you, looking through this blog hoping to get to know Dartmouth. But now, I get to tell you why I love being a Dartmouth student! From the academic opportunities to the community, I'll show you how grateful I am to have chosen the College on the Hill. So, consider this an invitation to accompany me as this blog becomes your looking glass into life in Hanover.
As a bookworm who loved dissecting and analyzing novels or philosophical works, a writing class focused on classical literature with weekly discussions was the right fit for me. Between reading Sophocles, Nietzsche, and Rawls, I had the opportunity to reassess my approach to reading, deepen my interpretations, and improve my public speaking skills while broadening my recognition of the significance of critical thinking.
I'll be honest: Physics has never been my favorite subject, until now. This term I am taking Introduction to Physics, a course that has shown me new horizons of what science can do. This class wasn't about calculating the movements of falling objects, it was about mathematically comprehending natural phenomena. The grandeur of that became evident as my professor, an accomplished experimental physicist, would passionately lecture on kinematics, waves, thermodynamics, and more.
I went into the woods and explored the fantastical worlds of the Brothers Grimm tales. It was definitely a thrilling and meaningful experience to analyse Snow White's virtues and Little Red Riding Hood's morals as important pieces of European culture. In other words, I got to study my childhood fairy tales, journeying through their real-world impact on a sociological, psychological, anthropological, and historical perspective.
For this summer, I decided to go home! Along with enjoying family and friends, I had the opportunity to learn a great deal during an internship at one of Brazil's top financial services institutions. There, I supported strategic growth and market positioning initiatives, delivered analysis and recommendations directly to senior stakeholders, and designed and executed internal engagement strategies to enhance organizational alignment and employee experience across business units. I also used this time to travel a little bit, exploring some of Japan. All in all, it's been a wonderful summer!
While many Dartmouth students scatter across the globe each summer—studying abroad, working in big cities, or hiking national parks—I chose a different kind of adventure: I went home (Brasília, Brazil).
Returning to Brazil for the summer wasn't just about reconnecting with family and old friends (though I definitely did plenty of that). It was also about putting my Dartmouth experience into action, right at home. I had the opportunity to intern for one of Brazil's largest investment banks, where I dove headfirst into projects that challenged and inspired me every day.
My work was focused on strategic growth and market position. These are big words that, in practice, amount to daily optimization of the company's marketing strategy, client acquisition, and internal structure. I had the chance to support and coordinate a range of projects that involved every single aspect of the company. Between producing marketing content, coordinating a revision of the company's onboarding structure, delivering monthly market analysis to senior stakeholders, and designing internal engagement strategies across business units, I was mentored and grew into a better professional.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the internship was being given real responsibility. I wasn't just watching from the sidelines; I was writing strategy briefs, facilitating workshops, translating complex challenges into actionable steps, and coordinating my own projects. As a college freshman, to be regarded with so much trust and reliability was certainly daunting at first, but mostly empowering. I realized just how much Dartmouth helped me grow within that one year and how it had prepared me for this experience—something my superiors clearly valued.
Of course, the experience wasn't only professional. Working in Brazil reminded me how much cultural context matters. From navigating communication styles to understanding decision-making rhythms, I learned to read the room differently than I might in the US, accepting the cultural differences that accompany the workplace. While I was leading initiatives in my internship, I was also relearning the joy of slow Sunday mornings with my family, cooking for my parents, and walking familiar streets with a fresh perspective. It was quite special to live this dual life of business attire and homie pajamas. I was constantly shifting roles between my professional life and my role as a daughter, sister, and friend. Finding that balance was sometimes difficult, but certainly grounding.
As I make my way back to Dartmouth, I bring with me much more than extra lines on my resume. With new ideas, new goals, and a deeper appreciation for the place I call home, I am ready to live my second year as a part of the Dartmouth family. Always assured of what this incredible college has given me: the tools to grow wherever I land.
I expected Japan to be unlike anything I'd ever known—and in many ways, it was. But, somewhere between sipping matcha in Kyoto and wandering temple gardens in Tokyo, I realized something strange: I kept finding little pieces of Dartmouth.
