Hi there! I'm Nathan, a '27 from Lynn, MA (just outside Boston). I'm an intended Engineering Sciences Major and Studio Art Minor—I like to understand, design, and create things. I also love reading about history, writing, and photography (hence this blog). On-campus, I'm involved in the Triathlon Team, French Living Learning Community (LLC), and Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship. Explore my posts for an inside perspective of everything Dartmouth has to offer!
I took this class to explore the Biology Department and it ended up defining my freshman Fall. I grew close with other biology-minded students and together we delved deep into cellular mechanisms and processes in a fast-paced environment. The labs were long but rewarding and everything about this class made me a better scientist—Professor Bezanilla is an amazing teacher! I would recommend this class to anyone with a passion for biology and research.
“Who do I want to be?” is a question that I frequently ask myself as an undergraduate (and I’m sure you will as well). A good place to begin answering this question, however, is “Who am I ?” Taking Investigative Memoir as my first-year seminar allowed me to explore this question via personal reflection and expressive writing—something that has helped me frame my identity at Dartmouth with the rest of my life. College can be a surreal experience, but Professor Sharlet’s introduction to the world of creative nonfiction has given me the ability to transform my own perceptions into tangible, recorded stories.
As a kid I drew a lot; I was inspired by architectural books like “Pyramid” and “Castle” and fascinated by illustrations in “The Way Things Work.” All of these books are by the author David Macaulay—and I had the opportunity to take this very class with him! I completed weekly sketchbook exercises, worked on visually communicating inventions, and was able to receive personal feedback. The theme of visual illustration as a tool in engineering resonated strongly with me, inspiring my interest in an engineering major modified with studio art. Given my long relationship with his work, this class was truly a dream come true.
SummerAmherst, Massachusetts
I interned at a running biomechanics research lab in Amherst, MA, to explore my interests in kinesiology and running shoe design! I was able to self-fund the internship through a grant from the Dartmouth Center for Professional Development (CPD). I spent the rest of my summer reading, spending time with family, and took a trip to Quebec before returning to campus.
The first of a two-part series on classical mechanics, this class made physics refreshing and enjoyable. The content came primarily through lectures given by Professor Caldwell, who was extremely clear and made each class memorable with demonstrations, jokes, or historical tangents. The lab section, which involved hands-on physics experiments, reinforced my understanding of the material in a practical sense. I took this course as an engineering requirement, and I found it to be my favorite quantitative course thus far.
While classes offer opportunities to explore content and deeply engage with a topic, I've found they aren't the be-all and end-all of college learning. During my first few terms at Dartmouth, I felt overwhelmed by the array of courses available. I envisioned myself pursuing a dozen different career paths, and each course seemed like a gateway to one of them. Furthermore, many of the most interesting courses felt like unique opportunities to study something I might never encounter in the long term (such as taking a classical archaeology or philosophy course as a non-major).
Luckily, Dartmouth has "distributive" requirementsthat prompt students to take courses outside of their major—but as a first-year student, it wasn't immediately clear to me how to balance breadth and depth.
What I've since realized is that, while academics form the core of learning at Dartmouth, the effort I put into my engagements outside the classroom can be just as important (and sometimes even more important) than the time spent inside it. I've found several programs and opportunities that offer a greater depth of immersion and personal growth than what's outlined in the syllabus of any given course.
Co-curricular opportunities at Dartmouth provide myriad ways to sharpen your mind and practical skills beyond the classroom. Last year, I completed theGreat Issues Scholars (GIS) Program, which introduced me to guest speakers in international security, climate change, and global health. Despite being STEM-focused and taking completely unrelated classes, I was able to participate and glean insights from leaders tackling global challenges. This term, I participated in a Venture Capital (VC) Workshop Series, which exposed me to the world of VC investing (read all about ithere). I've also completed theTuckLab Entrepreneurship Program, which sparked my interest in startups, and I plan to complete theTuck Business Bridge Programlater this year. If I tallied up all the programming I've accessed and completed alongside my course load, it would likely amount to an additional three classes or so! (without the added strain).
During a lecture in TuckLab: Entrepreneurship
Beyond these more structured forms of non-classroom learning, I've also discovered more fun and low-commitment ways to engage with new ideas: checking out random interesting books from Baker-Berry Library, visiting the Cable Maker Space to try new tools, completing a book arts workshop, and even attending public guest lectures hosted by the Rockefeller Centeror presentations by resident artists in the Studio Art Department.
Lastly, I'd like to note that pursuing these additional opportunities has taught me how to organize my priorities and manage my time. The possibilities at Dartmouth can genuinely feel endless, and the path is no longer clearly laid out. With each term flying by in only 10 weeks, it can be challenging to explore everything you want to—but I've learned that what truly gets done is what you make time for. If no time is set aside, something else will inevitably take its place. This has prompted me to reflect more deeply on my priorities, helping me grow into someone more intentional with their short-term and long-term decisions.
So yes, classes are important, but the learning environment at Dartmouth offers so much more!
