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.
This summer, I had the opportunity to join a dance group called Ujimelt! Summer dance groups are subgroups of year-long dance groups, providing students who are "on" (taking classes) in the summer with a chance to join a lower-stakes but equally fantastic dance community. Ujimelt is a sub-group of Ujima, Dartmouth's oldest dance organization. Summer dance groups like Ujimelt bring together people from various friend groups and communities, creating a diverse and vibrant atmosphere. Between the busy dance practices, rehearsals, and shows, I've made wonderful new friends and grown even closer to the people I already knew.
After five weeks of intense practice, Ujimelt, other summer dance, and a cappella groups showcased their talents at the Summer StreetFest. Our "stage" was literally on the street. Since it was Parents' Weekend, the audience was packed with parents and siblings. The event was filled with fun activities, including bake sales and face painting hosted by Greek organizations to raise money for Alzheimer's research. Ujimelt's 10-minute performance was thrilling, and I was beyond nervous yet exhilarated to kick off our show!
Japanese Curry
This term, I'm living in the Summit on Juniper apartments. These off-campus apartments have a unique layout. I share a living room, kitchen, and laundry room with my roommate, and we each have our own bedrooms and bathrooms. To celebrate the end of a long week, my roommate and I decided to make Japanese curry. Initially, we just used Golden Curry cubes, but once the aroma of the curry filled our kitchen, we got creative and added omelets and a creamy mushroom sauce! It turned out to be the best meal we've had in a while.
Additionally, most of the ingredients we used were from Dick's House Health Service Food Shelf, which is open 24/365. This wonderful resource ensures that those who may face food insecurity have access to a variety of staples and nutritious food.
Despicable Me 4
Today, I finally visited the Nugget Theaters for the first time! Just a 3-minute walk from campus, this local movie theater offers the latest releases to the town of Hanover. My friend and I decided to take a study break and watch Despicable Me 4. Tickets were only 9 dollars each, and I treated myself to a small snack set with popcorn, candies, and a drink. It was such a delightful escape from the usual routine, and I enjoyed every minute of the movie.
I applied through Questbridge's National College Match, but did not match. To others who also did not match, this is not the end of your application process! Here's what I did following match decision day.
Unlimited buffets, flavorful drinks, an assortment of breakfast pastries—Dartmouth has so many great food and drink options to choose from! Join me as I rank my favorite ones.
Walking around the Wellelsey campus, it's clear that it was built with intentional incorporation of the surrounding nature. The architecture of many buildings were also mindfully crafted to support Wellesley's unique principles.
