Hi everyone! I'm Oscar, a '28 from Flushing, NYC. My academic interests are a mix of the arts (studio art, graphic design), the sciences (psychology, biology, sustainability), and maybe even anthropology? All of which I'm thinking of merging with a major in Cognitive Science with a focus area on Design. Outside the classroom, I'm passionate about giving back to my community, fiber arts, and em dashes. Welcome to my blog—I'm excited to explore Dartmouth together!
My journey to Dartmouth was slightly unconventional—I, and about eighty other '28s, moved into theMcLaughlin Cluster three weeks before orientation for FYSEP. It was hard to leave home so early, but I feel that those three weeks have been instrumental to my Dartmouth experience.
The First-Year Student Enrichment Program (FYSEP), is a pre-orientation program hosted by theFirst Generation Office, designed to help first generation, low-income (FGLI) students adjust to life at Dartmouth. Students experience a simulated Dartmouth term through classes, homework, activities, and exploring campus.
A major emphasis of the program was that every kind of student belongs at Dartmouth. But many of us, especially historically underrepresented groups in college, need extra support—academically, socially, and mentally. So throughout FYSEP, we were exposed to all sorts of student resources: the Academic Skills Center, the Center for Professional Development, and theStudent Wellness Centerjust to name a few. Personally, I was guilty of not using my resources in high school—even when I needed help. But because of FYSEP, I've found myself being more comfortable with signing up for tutoring sessions at theWriting Center, going to my professors' office hours, and reaching out to upper-level students for help.
A 2nd floor group photo with Professor Campbell, who taught us CS in our STEM class. Can you spot another PPP blogger, Tao, in this photo?
Besides simulating academic life, FYSEP hosted all sorts of activities ranging from movie nights, to volleyball tournaments, and making pizza at the O-Farm(O-Farm post coming soon!). Our schedules were packed with all kinds of fun things to do—often too many. One of the earliest lessons I learned was that you can't do everything at once. It was tempting to fill my day painting tote bags and playing poker, but I still had to make time to do laundry and homework. It was a lesson well learned, as orientation and my first term have thrown me into the deep end with balancing my academics, social life, and wellness.
Plenty of dance parties included!
As I look back, the best part of FYSEP will always be the community. In those three short weeks, we worked on calculus, went to late night, and won floor Olympics together (second floor, best floor!!), forming inseparable bonds across our cohort. Many of the people at FYSEP continue to be some of my closest friends at Dartmouth. In fact, I'm writing this post after celebrating birthdays for two FYSEP students.
I'm so thankful to Jay Davis, the FGO Director; Janice Williams, the FGO Assistant Director; Diane Cammarata, the FGO Program Director; and all the FYSEP alumni who helped make this experience possible. Coming to Dartmouth, I had so many questions—Will I fit in? Am I going to flop? And what on earth is a "Woccom?" (note: it's a walk around Occom Pond). I still have yet to find answers to many of those questions, but I'm confident that FYSEP has equipped me with the skills, resources, and community to conquer them.
Writer's Note: There are a few FYSEP alumni on the PPP team! Read about Dezstany '28's experience at FYSEP (and look at her cute collage) here :).
The Lunar New Year festivities continue! Here's a photo gallery of Korean Student Association, Malaysian Student Association, and Vietnamese Student Association's celebrations!
A weekend of embracing the cold and finding fun activities to do! From winning money at a game show to the Annual Snowball Fight, this weekend is a core memory of my experience with Dartmouth winters!
"Only three classes?!" The typical response I get from someone outside of Dartmouth. Come and join as I describe how those three classes actually feel in a ten week term!
During my time at Dartmouth, within the realm of medicine specifically, I was able to gain a broader outlook on what careers / optionalities are "really" out there, and I'm here to tell you the resources that were leveraged!
Where can I find internships? How do resumes and LinkedIn work in college? Am I behind if I do not have it all figured out my first year? All great questions so let's get them answered…
A bit about the different organizations celebrating Lunar New Year on campus, and a photo gallery of Dartmouth Chinese Student Association and the Chinese Language Houses' celebrations!
The first-generation community at Dartmouth is an extremely tight knit and supportive community! This past week, we celebrated first-gen week, with a myriad of activities and lots of chances to meet new people!
One of the most important aspects of being a Dartmouth student is knowing how to be a college student and manage your time effectively. As a first year student, these are resources that have helped me.
