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 reading about history, biology, writing, and photography (hence this blog). On-campus, I'm involved in 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.
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.
I delved into the process of using digital design tools—such as the Adobe Suite, Rhino 3D, and Fusion 360—to create projects that used computer driven manufacturing methods like laser cutting and 3D printing. This class was right up my alley as the assignments required a hybrid of creative and technical thinking. My favorite projects included a making my own lamp, decorative tiles, and an architecture miniature. Overall, this class expanded my design skills and further solidified my pursuit of a Studio Art minor.
I learned about the history of New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles through a series of group discussions and presentations. Professor Orleck was an amazing lecturer and guided us through topics like labor reform, corruption, infrastructure, and economics across each city. The final project was an open research paper, and I chose to write about the evolution of culture in Boston's North End. Overall, this class reshaped my perspective of cities and allowed me to fulfill a SOC distributive requirement.
A classic engineering course in which I learned about rigid body statics, the behavior of deformable elastic solids, and how to build a system that can withstand load. The final group project was a truss bridge laser-cut out of wood that involved multiple rounds of simulation and computer-aided-design (CAD). In the end, it held over 20 kN, or about 4,500 pounds! I loved how this class changed the way I interacted with everyday physical objects and think about structures!
Last weekend, I finally did the Fifty—Dartmouth's fifty-four-mile hike from the college-owned Moosilauke Ravine Lodge back to campus. After supporting at student-run aid stations twice, I'd earned decent odds to get a chance to hike the event through a lottery system, and was able to get in with a team of three others.
The whole thing started at 7:45 AM at Robinson Hall, headquarters of the Dartmouth Outdoors. We'd already organized our gear and stashed supply bags at each of the five aid stations spaced roughly every nine miles. I had borrowed a day pack and trekking poles from the Outdoors office for free, which would turn out to be crucial during the long miles ahead.
We left the ravine lodge at 10:45 AM as the last group to begin our journey. The initial climb up Moosilauke felt manageable while we were fresh, and before we knew it, we'd summited the highest point of the entire route. Four more miles brought us to Great Bear Station, where the twenty-minute time limit keeps everyone moving. We grabbed sandwiches, restocked snacks, refilled water, and continued on while still feeling strong.
The summit of Moosilauke!
The next section included Mount Mist and stream crossings before reaching Atwell Hill aid station, a few hours before sunset. The volunteers were dressed as goths and treated us to a dance performance—themes are customary at some stations! We then devoured burritos while starting to feel the first real inklings of fatigue, though the supporters' enthusiasm kept our spirits high.
Mount Cube proved to be the hardest ascent besides Moosilauke. We cranked up the music and powered through to catch a beautiful sunset at the summit. The descent, however, began wearing on my joints. While climbs felt fine, the repeated pressure on my knees was starting to add up. Thankfully, those trekking poles helped redirect some of the stress to my upper body, which made a significant difference
The sunset at the top of Mount Cube
By Jacob's Brook aid station, darkness had set in, and we were facing our last resupply before hiking deep into the night. Grilled cheese and tomato soup provided comfort before tackling Smarts Mountain. Again, it was the descent after the summit that wore me down, and I was starting to feel the lack of sleep.
Our nightly put stop at Jacob's Brook
The final three miles to the Skiway station felt exceptionally long as exhaustion set in. But the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches—plus access to a real bathroom for the first time in over sixteen hours—provided a crucial second wind that made me feel significantly better. We stayed a bit too long, and the aid station captains had to shoo us away.
Two significant climbs remained: Holt's Ledge and Moose Mountain. Holt's felt familiar from previous hikes, and we caught sunrise at the top with a less rocky descent than previous mountains. We also passed another group whose member needed pickup due to a knee injury, checking in to make sure everything was alright. Each team carries a Garmin inReach for emergency communication.
By Moose Mountain, my second wind had worn off, and I was getting more exhausted. The exposed peak created endless false summits, and Moose has two distinct peaks, so you descend halfway through only to climb back up to the second peak.
The Three Mile Road aid station provided our final mac and cheese fuel before the last section through Velvet Rocks. Compared to what we'd previously hiked, it shouldn't have been that difficult, but because of our condition, it felt much harder.
After the final nine miles on the Appalachian Trail, we walked through downtown Hanover and made our way back to the Green. It was utterly surreal to think we'd been dropped off at Mount Moosilauke a little more than twenty-four hours earlier. We crossed the Green, celebrated with friends, and lay on the ground. It was gratifying, though I had a tough time walking up or down stairs afterward. My sleep that night was the best it had been in a long time.
The Fifty represents something special about Dartmouth's outdoor culture. Dozens of students volunteer their weekends to staff aid stations, over thirty fellow students push themselves to finish, and students run the entire event. Where else will you find crowds of people so eager to support a fifty-four-mile hiking challenge? Supporting twice and now completing it has only reinforced my appreciation for this tradition, and I'm already looking forward to cheering on friends as they undertake their own Fifty journeys.
I expected Japan to be unlike anything I'd ever known—and in many ways, it was. But, somewhere between sipping matcha in Kyoto and wandering temple gardens in Tokyo, I realized something strange: I kept finding little pieces of Dartmouth.
If you're like I was—staring at your closet wondering what "essentials" actually means—here is what I packed, what I'm grateful I brought, and what I now know you can leave behind.
