Hi! I'm Memo, a rising junior from Bangkok, Thailand. On campus, I'm involved in undergraduate research, the Women in Computer Science Club, the Thai Student Association, and the introduction-CS-course TA team! I'm currently in Ujimelt, a summer dance group, and TA-ing for a Dartmouth Summer Scholars class. When I'm not too busy with classes and extracurriculars, I love to cook, paddle board, drink matcha, and, of course, blog!
Academic Program
Computer Science modified with Digital Arts Major + Human-Centered Design Minor
Coming in with some Python background, I still find this class challenging. Yet, I always enjoy going to Vasanta's lectures and working on the short assignments with the help of the TAs. Awesome experience.
Professor Pierson taught the class really well—his lectures always start with a hook that keeps me engaged. Although the material is definitely more challenging than the prior class, I learned a whole lot more. My CS1 professor suggested we learn Java before taking CS10 (she even sent us resources for it!), but of course, I didn't. It was a language I continued picking up as I did my short assignments and PSETs with my partner. The workload is not light; however, I felt like everything was worth learning!
Initially, I felt daunted by the thought of taking Data Visualization due to its rigorous materials and challenging projects. The course is structured as a flipped classroom, encouraging us to read textbooks before class and complete assignments with guidance from Professor Horiuchi. This approach was incredibly beneficial; he allowed us to solve problems independently, answered our questions, and provided valuable insights at the end of each session. Although the exams were tough, they directly reflected our in-class practice. Additionally, I applied what I learned during my first summer internship!
Professor Beaudoin is one of my favorite professors and lecturers at Dartmouth! I have always been interested in classical music, and this class allowed me to completely immerse myself into it. Early Classical Music was vastly different from traditional college classes – we listened to pieces from ancient civilizations, flipped through preserved music scripts written on cattle skin, copied down old music notations, and attended a Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra performance. For our final essay, I read extensively about Élisabeth Claude Jacquet de La Guerre, a French harpsichordist from the 1600s. This experience not only enhanced my knowledge of Jacquet de La Guerre but also taught me how to efficiently navigate the library and utilize its resources.
Taking ENGS 012: Design Thinking with Professor Steinhauer (Rafe) was one of my best decisions. The class significantly enhanced my creative thinking and collaboration skills. We worked on various projects, each with different groups. My favorite project involved building a foamcore rollercoaster for a ping pong ball. The class became really close and it felt like high school all over again!
In this course, my team and I built a motorized gutter system! The class focuses on applying design thinking principles from ENGS 012 to create need-based solutions for specific user groups. With the theme of 'rural living' this term, my group targeted homeowners in snowy areas with gutter systems. Our motorized gutter system aimed to prevent ice dams and gutter damage during winter.
Exactly a year ago, I graduated from a place that has been my second home for over half my life. Parents, friends, underclassmen, the beloved Class of 2021, alumni, teachers, and staff were all there to congratulate us. Of course, I took a million photos with my classmates and reminisced about our time together throughout the years. I realized how much I've grown since I was a clueless freshman, and how the Class of '22 has helped (and tolerated) each other since day one. Although graduating was a result of our hard work, we also realized that it wouldn't be possible without the classes that came before us. Some things are just not taught in school. They're just passed down from class to class. Now, as I'm wrapping up the last days of my freshman year in college (UNBELIEVABLE), I want to share some things that I learned throughout my first year here as well.
Graduated!
I signed my name on something in the beginning of the year. It was definitely something cool, but I forget...
Let's start with life in the dorm. I live in the McLaughlin Cluster (North Park House), and we have 7 washers and dryers. Avoid doing laundry on Sundays. They are almost always unavailable, even at McLaughlin! Also, be there to take out your clothes when it's done, because it's really likely that someone else will do that for you (and you may risk losing 2 socks from different pairs). Shower shoes are recommended since most showers are communal. It's also helpful to have a microwavable bowl and some utensils in case you want to warm up some food or make ramen. A helpful tip is to wash the bowls instantly after you're done eating, as it prevents you from having a dirty bowl sitting in your room for a whole month (not fun).
Have fun in the snow too. :D
Here's a more random list: If you live far away or you don't want to walk, use the Campus Connector. There's a live map on the website too! When you're grabbing a meal, avoid the times when classes end. This also depends on where you go to. Speaking of meals, Foco, Collis Café and Novack Café are the only places that take meal swipes; other places take DBA (Dining Dollars). If you don't feel like going out, please don't! The events are repeated a lot in all terms. If you do go out, however, please be responsible. Now, if you're clumsy during mud season and somehow get mud on your white pants, let them dry and then wash them. As for academics, please don't start your Dartmouth career with a 4-course term. If a course is NRO-eligible, this means that you can set a certain grade for that class. If your final grade is lower than that grade, then your GPA won't be affected! However, you won't get the distribution requirements for that class, and you only have 3 NROs to spend. When it's time to select courses, there are 2 rounds. The second round is first-come-first-serve, and somehow the portal always crashes (try connecting to the ethernet). It's important to take note of which classes you plan to take. Some classes are really hard to get into, and you should get on the waitlist early (email the professors)! You can also book a study room on Dartmouth's website if you need to work on a group project or prepare for a presentation. Lastly, a huge amount of emails are sent to you every day. It's helpful if you know what opportunities you're looking for, and are attentive when the applications or details are sent out.
I hope my last blog as a freshman will be helpful to you all '27s and prospies!
Academics can be challenging at Dartmouth. But there are lots of groups across campus here to support you through your academic journey. Read on for my experience asking for help and a few organizations that might be helpful to you!
Every Dartmouth student is required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Here's my experience navigating the language requirement!
