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.
To complement my engineering courses, I've begun taking studio art courses with the eventual goal of a minor or, if possible, double major. Studio Art—in the form of drawing, painting, sculpture, and more—was a large part of my high school life, and I've come to rediscover my passion for art while at Dartmouth (for whichthis class was partially responsible).
Currently, I'm in Drawing 1, which is a prerequisite for upper-level courses in painting and figure drawing. It's been my first exposure to the department at Dartmouth, and so far, I've been loving it. The studio spaces are bright, airy, and pleasant spaces to work in!
Our studio at the beginning of the course!
As part of the class materials, I was equipped with an array of charcoal and pencils, a sketchbook, and more—the class is designed from the mediums we have access to, so it was nice to receive a complete package right from the beginning (and if we need more it's provided). Besides having plentiful materials, we also have access to the studio space 24/7, which makes working on projects late into the night or early in the morning possible. Additionally, the department facilities include a "Still Life Library," which has nearly every object one could draw imaginable. For one of my latest assignments in drawing drapery, I sourced the type of fabric I wanted and arranged it for my composition.
Drawing fabric drapery!
We started with the fundamentals of accuracy and proportion, but the class moved quickly! By week five, we'd already finished figure drawing. Some of our assignments have included still lifes, eraser drawings, negative space drawings, and self-portraits. We meet twice a week for two hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays; usually, class is a mix of group critiques, instructor feedback, and actual drawing time. There are only about a dozen students in the class, so the professor has plenty of room to meet with us individually and provide catered feedback.
Our first midterm assignment is due soon, so I will get to that after writing this blog post!
Unlike some other universities, many of the STEM lecture classes at Dartmouth require concurrent enrollment in a laboratory section. What is it like navigating that time as a student?
