Hi there! I'm Nathan, a '27 from Lynn, MA (just outside Boston). I'm majoring in Engineering Sciences modified with Studio Art—I like to understand, design, and create things. I also love writing, photography, and being outside (hence this blog). On-campus, I'm involved in the startup scene through the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as the Triathlon and Cycling Teams. Outside of class, you'll probably catch me drinking coffee somewhere or out on my bike.
So… you're not sure what you want to do, or maybe who exactly you are?
Great!
Me too, and I'm sure most of my friends here at Dartmouth would agree too. It's hard to think that you might know exactly what you want to major in right after high school, never mind determine what you want to do for the rest of your life. Sure, many students arrive with a strong interest already in mind, but that's natural at a place like Dartmouth where everyone tends to be focused and full of enthusiasm for the future.
As I start building momentum into my freshman year (aka as I successfully not get lost and find the ultimate study spots on campus), I'm going to make an effort to find myself, and realize what I truly find important.
(That sounds pretty abstract, and easier said than done… but here's how I hope to do it, and how you can do it too
Explore classes
Environmental science, biology, and STEM in general are what I oriented myself towards in high school, but at Dartmouth, I'm able to explore classes that include multiple departments. This fall term, I'm taking Humanities 1, which fulfills my first-year writing requirement (a graduation requirement). I'm absolutely loving this class because it isn't just a product of the English department—it features guest speakers and professors from Dartmouth's philosophy, art history, classics, theater, and language departments! Any one of these study areas could end up changing my academic trajectory, so we shall see what happens by the end of the term (so far philosophy seems like my jam).
I should also mention that Dartmouth students don't declare their major until Sophomore year, which means freshman year can be spent taking a variety of courses. Since I have an interest in pursuing the engineering track, I'm planning on taking some prerequisite courses and filling the remainder with classes that touch on interests I'm genuinely curious about.
I read the first text for my Humanities 1 class while tucked away on an upper floor of Bakery-Berry Library—the epic view definitely prompted some further reflection.
Co-curricular opportunities
"Extracurricular" might sound familiar, but "co-curricular" actually refers to activities or programs that align with an academic or career interest you might have. What I find especially nice about these opportunities is that they allow you to explore a new topic—and part of yourself—without having to take an actual class.
For this full upcoming year, I'm going to be a part of the Great Issues Scholars (GIS) program. GIS is a series of weekly events hosted by the Dickey Center for International Understanding (A hub for international relations/global opportunities) that cover areas of sustainability, security, and public health. I'm excited to be able to get a feel for international relations at Dartmouth while still staying on track with my classes!
The student club fair in Leverone Field House (our indoor track arena) offered nearly anything I could think of. There's no shortage of opportunities to enrich, enhance, and elevate your Dartmouth experience.
The Dartmouth Community
Eventually, you realize that there's simply not enough time to explore everything you ever wanted to. What you can do, however, is make a lot of awesome friends that can show you a path you never thought existed, and inspire you to try something new. This is where the most important part of Dartmouth comes into play: the people. I've made friends with people from every continent (except probably Antarctica… I think), with published authors, with martial artists, with polyglots, and of course with fellow scientists, coffee devotees, and even sourdough bread enthusiasts. They all allow me to look at the world in a different way, and refine my view of things I thought I already had a pretty darn good idea of. They're helping me find myself...
Dartmouth is helping me find myself.
(And it can help you too!)
A class candle lighting ceremony is a freshman fall tradition, and while my candle may have blown out a few times, it was magical to be surrounded by so many people that I know will shape me in the years to come!
Last September, a friend and I crafted a ten-item bucket list for our final year as undergraduates. It's the end of our senior spring now. These are some of the boxes I've checked.
