Hi y'all! My name is Natalie and I am a '23 from central Florida majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Biology. I serve as Vice President of my sorority, an opinion editor and columnist for The Dartmouth, a research assistant in the Philosophy department, a Rockefeller Leadership Fellow, Senior Admissions Fellow, and Associate Editor for the Dartmouth Law Journal. Ask me about student activism, fun things to do in the Upper Valley, and what it is like being first-gen, low-income at Dartmouth!
This remains one of the most challenging, yet rewarding classes I have taken at Dartmouth. The professor is amazing, the labs are engaging, and all in all you learn so much information in such a short amount of time.
This class allowed me to better understand how US economic and social inequality functions. Overall I found the topics discussed in this class extremely relevant and well presented. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about inequality in the United States.
As an LGBTQ+ student I was so excited to finally take a class where I could learn more about queer history and media. Not only was this class able to teach me more about my community, but it was also able to teach me a bit about myself as well.
I took this class partially on a whim and partially to fulfill my TLA distributive requirement. Looking back, I am so glad I did as this course made me feel confident not only in my coding abilities but my ability to succeed in STEM at Dartmouth. The professor was also one of the sweetest professors I have ever taken a class with which was a big plus.
Following my experience in my Queer Cinema class, I looked into potentially majoring in film and this was one of the pre-requisite courses. While I thought I would hate this course because I thought silent films couldn't be interesting I couldn't have been more wrong. Not only is this class great at explaining the history of film across the globe, but it is also great at demonstrating just how engaging silent films can be.
WinterDeLand, FL
I spent the term back home in Florida working as a manager at a Converse store to save up some extra money and hanging out with my family. After five terms of taking classes in a row (mostly virtually due to COVID) a break was long overdue.
I took this course for no other reason than to fulfill my INT distributive requirement but was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the class. Not only was the professor extremely knowledgeable, but she also invited numerous guest speakers to the class who were experts at the top of their field. If you have ever wondered how power influences the food we eat and have access to, this class is for you.
Taught by an amazing, fun visiting professor, this class remains one of my favorites that I have taken at Dartmouth. We spent the entire term learning how to curate a film exhibit, watching short film exhibits, and curating our own short film exhibit. All of the final exhibits were so well-done and I think we all really enjoyed having the opportunity to demonstrate all that we had learned. If you are interested in seeing what these exhibits looked like mine is linked in the course name!
This course was taught by the professor who ultimately made me decide to change my major to Philosophy and was just very well executed. While the course subject generally falls within my interests, the discussion-based format ensured students engaged with the course material in a way that led to productive, thought-provoking conversation on some of the most salient issues of our time.
As someone with an interest in both STEM and humanities, I was excited to take this course and it did not disappoint. Although it was a 9L (and I am not a morning person), I thought the course provided a great introduction to logic and made me want to take more classes on the subject going into my senior year.
As you may notice, this is my first post—which is a bit unusual for a rising senior. Although I have worked for admissions as a tour guide and panelist since my freshman spring, I have never blogged before. This year, however, I am working as a Senior Admissions Fellow, which involves a variety of different responsibilities including blogging. Ironically enough, I had applied my freshman year to be a blogger for the admissions office and was rejected. So in some ways, it feels like my Dartmouth experience has come full circle.
Approaching my senior year at Dartmouth feels both exciting and disorienting. I am so proud of all I have been through and accomplished these past three years, but at the same time a part of me can't fathom that my time at Dartmouth will be coming to an end so soon. This chapter of my life has evolved so much differently than I imagined it would—from having spent the better half of a year completing my studies through a computer screen far away from Hanover, struggling to figure out what I wanted to study and do with my life, and most importantly, experiencing a mental health crisis that placed into perspective the importance of self-care and self-love—yet, as I settle into my senior year I am content with my Dartmouth experience and all of the ups and downs that have accompanied it. The road to obtaining this sense of peace hasn't been easy, but it has taught me important lessons that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life.
For starters, being patient and kind to yourself isn't allowing yourself to be lazy, but allowing yourself the space to be human. What's more, extending that same grace and compassion to others is crucial to being a good leader, friend, and person. While this lesson may seem straightforward, students who have the ambition and drive to get into schools like Dartmouth often forget that they are allowed to make mistakes, fail, get sick, and even, grieve without apologizing for it. While sure, there are plenty of people who may disagree with this philosophy, your physical and mental well-being is always more important than an assignment or grade.
Additionally, find what you enjoy, and success and fulfillment will follow. I spent much of high school joining extracurricular activities and taking extra classes not always because I enjoyed them, but because I felt like I had to in order to get into Dartmouth. While one could argue that it worked given that I am now at Dartmouth writing this blog post, it came at the cost of my social life, health, and identity. I am so much happier now, studying things I enjoy, participating in organizations I genuinely enjoy, and doing work I find important and fulfilling than I ever was doing things simply to add them to my resume.
In short, Dartmouth has taught me a lot of things, but the most important lessons are those that required a lot of self-reflection, tears, and even failure, to learn. As I reflect on my time at Dartmouth, I can't help but think about the fact that I wouldn't be who I am or where I am today without the people and experiences I encountered at Dartmouth. All of this is to say that when picking a college know that you are not only picking a place to learn about the world, but also about yourself—and Dartmouth is a great place to do just that!
Wellness is super important in college, but especially at Dartmouth – terms move super quick here! Read on to find out more about my perspectives on the topic at Dartmouth.
Now that I am back home after my study abroad, I decided to write about the experiences, people, and places that made me glad that I went on the English & Creative Writing Foreign Study Program in London!
Going back and forth between Dartmouth and Istanbul is a unique dance. Here's how I experience being an international student at Dartmouth when I'm back home.
Even with a small campus, Dartmouth has no shortage of study spots to choose from. But what makes the ideal place to study? What factors impact what truly makes a study space ideal for studying? Here's my analysis!
