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.
I distinctly remember filling out my first-year housing questionnaire back in June of last year. It was all about who I might want to be housed with—and not necessarily where. For matriculating first-years, the application process centers around randomly placing students in each of Dartmouth's Houses (A system similar to the houses of Hogwarts except there's no sorting hat). So while I knew I could expect to be housed with a similar roommate, I had little idea of where I would actually be staying.
When I received notification that my housing assignment had been released, I checked the online portal and saw my placement was in "North Park House." The blue polar bear logo that stared back at me didn't seem to mean much and I was content with looking up a floor plan of the building. Little did I know that my placement had actually been pretty awesome.
There are six houses at Dartmouth, and these are where the majority of students stay (Allen, East Wheelock, North Park, South, School, and West). I would say the quality of the dorms is pretty consistent overall but where I happened to land—North Park House—is widely known as the most modern and "posh" set of dorms (Read more about the "hotel" here). The buildings are air-conditioned, have common rooms and kitchens on every floor, and there's even a late night snack bar to aid late night study sessions. The housing system also works through "permanent" assignments, meaning I was a guaranteed North Park House member for all four years (I would add that changing houses is difficult, but not impossible).
North park merch!
Within my residence hall, Rauner, there also happened to be a few LLCs, or Living Learning Communities (the Interfaith LLC, Great Issues Scholars LLC, as well as the Asian and Asian American LLC). Placed on their own floor, these LLCs can be thought of as close-knit interest or identity based communities. From conversing with friends in these programs, they seem amazing and can lead to some of your closest connections at Dartmouth.
For my Sophomore year housing, I will be in the French LLC, and I can't wait to be able to immerse myself in another language outside of my classes (Having a French family background, I wanted to find a way to keep engaging with this part of myself). A French resident student will be organizing community events throughout the year and there will be opportunities to connect with the French Department. I'll mention that the application process for Living Learning Communities is in fact separate from the general housing application process (and can be a little competitive), but ultimately the opportunity is there and totally worth applying for. I'll follow up with more blogging content recapping my experience with the program!
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
