Hello everyone! My name is Natasha Raman and I'm a freshman at Dartmouth. Although I'm undecided on my major, I am leaning towards something related to government, economics, and Asian studies. In my free time, I like to watch The Office, keep up with current events, learn new languages, and hang out with my friends. I am excited to explore my interests at Dartmouth and take advantage of the amazing opportunities offered here!
One of the most interesting classes I have taken so far at Dartmouth has been PBPL 5: Introduction to Public Policy, which is taught by Professor Charles Wheelan. Although I didn't know a lot about public policy coming into the class, I finished the course with a greater understanding of how public policy is created and implemented in government. And even more importantly, I realized the influence of public policy on my everyday life.
The main reason why I enjoyed this class was because of Professor Wheelan's teaching style. Whenever I would tell an upperclassman that I was taking Public Policy 5 with Professor Wheelan, the first thing they'd tell me would be about how amazing of a professor he is. After taking the class, I can confidently say he certainly lives up to the hype. Professor Wheelan always related what he taught to current events, which made me appreciate the relevancy of public policy in my life. In addition, he is hilarious. There was not a single day of class where I didn't laugh at one of his (albeit sometimes corny) jokes!
Alongside being a great lecturer in the classroom, Professor Wheelan was a wonderful person to talk to outside of class. Besides his regularly scheduled office hours (which he held every Monday and Thursday), Professor Wheelan was very accommodating and would meet with students by appointment anytime during the week. Whenever I had a question, whether it be about what we learned in class or about something I read on the news, Professor Wheelan was always available to talk to.
Another reason why I liked my Public Policy 5 class was because of the numerous guest lecturers who came to speak to us. Some of the guest lecturers included Judd Gregg, who is a former governor and senator from New Hampshire, and Kyle Bailey, the campaign manager for the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting. It was truly inspirational to hear from such accomplished people who work in the field of public policy.
Overall, Public Policy 5 was an unforgettable class that I'd take again in a heartbeat. My professor was amazing, and I made some great friends in the course as well. Although it was a lot of work, I learned so much about public policy and the role it plays in society. I am definitely looking forward to taking more public policy classes in the future!
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