Hey! I'm Nuna and I'm a '28 from Accra, Ghana. I'm currently studying Biology at Dartmouth on the pre-med track but I'm still on the lookout for any other interesting areas of study. When I'm not in class (and not catching up on sleep), I'm reading, cooking or winning card games with my friends (especially Uno and Hearts!). I am constantly exploring new activities, places on campus or meeting new people, so come along for the ride!
I had a little experience with calculus before I came to Dartmouth, but this course made it a lot more fun while still being appropriately challenging. We learnt about limits, derivatives, differentiation and integration methods. My professor was a lot of fun and I made a lot of good friends in this class because it was such an engaging class and a friendly environment. I’m not sure if I’ll be taking any more calculus classes, but this one was a really good way to kick off my journey.
This class is an even mix between an English, History and Jewish Studies class. By using articles, movies and memoirs, we learn to how write effectively on the topic of gender and sexuality in relation to the Holocaust. The main focus is on organizing arguments, using evidence and developing a distinct writing style. Though I'm not a big fan of History, I thoroughly enjoyed this class. Not only do I think my writing has improved dramatically, but I also learnt a lot about World War II and the nuanced experiences of people of different genders and sexualities. Our professor was also brilliantly engaging and very constructive in her teaching style. I might end up taking more History classes after this!
This class was one of the best I've had at Dartmouth so far! We learnt about the basic structure and function of cells in the first few weeks. From there, we delved much deeper into cellular mechanisms and the molecular pathways that govern cell functions/the cell cycle and ended with a discussion of cancers. We also did a lot of interesting labs such as protein purification and microscopy. My professor broke down complex concepts in a way that made them seem much simpler. He was very friendly, always available for office hours and really funny! Apart from teaching well, he made sure we were actually engaged and enjoying the class. I've always been a more STEM-inclined student but this class made me further consider what area of biology I want to concentrate in. There's always so much more to explore!
SummerAccra, Ghana
I spent a chill summer resting, catching up on sleep, binging books and TV shows, and seeing family. It was a lot of fun and it made me feel prepared for fall term.
I started off my sophomore year on a great note. I'm sure many students have heard the horror stories about organic chemistry (aka orgo), but I personally enjoyed this class a lot. During the term we reviewed a bit of content from general chemistry, such as hybridization, acids and bases, and Lewis structures. After that, we moved swiftly on to alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and most of the other functional groups. We discussed their nomenclature and their reaction mechanisms. By the end of the term, we had covered so much content. My professor was excellent! He really brought the subject to life and explained it in a way that not only made sense but facilitated real learning instead of rote memorization. Labs were sometimes fun (and sometimes not) but as a whole I truly had a blast in this class.
Going into my study abroad term, I was unsure about what to expect academically. Firstly, we didn't actually get choices on what classes to take. The director of the program for this year created our course load and all students committed to the program were automatically registered for those classes. This wasn't necessarily a problem for me because I definitely wouldn't have chosen to learn anything STEM-based in French anyway. That being said, here are my classes for this term!
1. French 6: Introduction to French Texts & Contexts
I take this class with a Dartmouth professor (and the director of the program this year), Professor Lucas Hollister. This class is so much fun. We do a lot of reading and analysis of important French literature, but in doing so, we also learn a lot of new vocabulary and idiomatic expressions as well. We have this class twice a week, on Monday and Thursday mornings. Professor Hollister teaches with a lot of enthusiasm, which makes his class easy to handle in the mornings. He also simplifies more archaic expressions or concepts into things we can understand, which helps a lot. Shakespeare has nothing on this class!
A visit to the Théâtre de la Cité to watch a piece with Professor Hollister!
2. French 12: Advanced Speaking & Writing
This class is a real mental workout, but very worth it. Here's where we find all the grammar rules, pronouns, tenses and everything else that will take our French skills to the next level. And don't forget the exceptions; many, many exceptions. We learn the technicalities of the language while simultaneously learning about the cultural heritage of Toulouse. Mme. Alverde is a really good professor who balances learning with fun. As hard as this class is, I see a lot of progress on a daily basis
3. French 9.01: French Civilization
Taught by two professors, this class delves into French Art History, specifically in the Middle Ages and in contemporary times. Mme. Czerniak and M. Nayrolles bring two very different styles of teaching, but they are nonetheless very interesting. This class is often accompanied by excursions and art showings. While I have never been a huge fan of art history, this class has given me a new appreciation for it.
The cloister at the Abbey of Moissac! This photo was taken by my friend Taylor Wen, who also has a PPP blog!
4. Bonus: Museum Visits
Even though this is not an official class, we usually visit museums on Fridays with M. Cabanel. During these visits, we focus mostly on the history of French and European civilization, as well as recount the history of Toulouse. I especially enjoy museum visits because I get to immerse myself in the subject and see it with more clarity.
Shells in the Museum de Toulouse, where we had a class with M. Cabanel.
Are my classes difficult to engage with because they're completely in French? No, not necessarily. The professors make a real effort to slow down and have us understand what's going on. Also, since this program is a Dartmouth on-term, the classes all give me credit and count towards the French major/minor should I decide to pursue it.
Last but certainly not least, I'm on the hunt for more macarons! Here are some quick stats (to be updated)! Macarons consumed: 8
Best place: Amorino
Favorite flavor: Tiramisu
My macarons from Amorino! I got tiramisu, coffee, vanilla and raspberry! (Left to right)
After all, learning doesn't always take place in class!
Classes at Dartmouth aren't always held in the classroom. Whether you go down to the river for a lab experiment or venture to The Hood, you never know what to expect. Come with me as I take you along on my journey in an unconventional classroom!
In 1956, researchers gathered at Dartmouth to lay the foundations for what we know as AI today. Nearly 70 years later, our legacy continues. Meet Fabrice, a '27 from Rwanda majoring in computer science and conducting research on AI.
This past Friday, my French program stepped beyond the classroom and into history itself with a day trip to Montauban and Moissac, where art, architecture, and place came together through hands-on learning.
Our first weekend in Toulouse took us to the medieval town of Carcassonne, where exploring historic ramparts, sharing regional food, and traveling together turned history into a communal and meaningful experience.
