Hey there! My name is Pau and I am a '25 from Nicaragua! At Dartmouth, I am a Government major modified with Economics and I also plan to minor in International Studies. A little more about me is that I have an undying passion for eating fruit, watching sunrises/sunsets, petting dogs, and finding myself in warm, cozy places. Feel free to ask me any questions on anything and everything that piques your interest about Dartmouth! I love to share :) Go Big Green!
In this class we pondered essential questions centered around human existence. To tackle "What Matters" we took a quest throughout time exploring different events throughout our collective history that have de-centered us in space and time and made us question how we derive meaning and purpose in our lives.
This class was led by Lisa Adams, MD, and Dr. John Butterly, MD, who are both AMAZING. This class discussed several health issues such as diseases, malnourishment, and improper sanitation that still plagues the world today and various solutions that can be undertaken to increase the overall health and wellbeing of the world's population.
A hallmark of the Dartmouth education, ECON 1 "The Price System" is offered during every term at Dartmouth except the summer. Whether or not students want to major in economics, many decide to make the first plunge into the world of supply and demand through this introductory course. ECON 1 was a memorable part of my Freshman Spring as I became engrossed into the economics department through the teachings of Professor Diego Ramos-Toro. This class helped me and other students alike gain an understanding of economic policy and concepts that I continue to be useful today. ECON 1 is a profoundly helpful course that would be beneficial to all students regardless of their academic interests.
Development Economics is a course that focuses on using statistical methodologies to understand a fundamental question what makes some countries rich and others poor? And what can we do about it?
Violence and Security is a class offered through the International Studies Department that seeks to understand the underlying causes of human conflict. To answer this question, the class takes on a multidisciplinary approach and draws from the fields of biology, anthropology, economics, and political science. I loved the way in which the class sought to “illuminate the news” through our discussions and also created a vivid space for us to actively question human behavior and the implications of governmental policy towards security.
Government 5 is one of Dartmouth’s most popular courses. In it, students get a taste for subjects in the international realm by thinking critically about the multiple facets of international politics including questions of conflict and security, global economics and trade, climate change, as well as allegiances and cooperation. I loved the way in which Professor Daryl Press was able to expertly weave current events into the class in order to make students gain a deeper understanding of the topics at hand.
Greek Life encompasses a large, and exciting, part of the Dartmouth experience. With almost 60% of students being affiliated in a fraternity or sorority, it's hard for that not to be the case. Here is my view of Greek Life so far.
Before coming to Dartmouth, I was a little hesitant about Greek Life and how much it would dominate campus life. Coming from Nicaragua, I didn't really know a lot about fraternities and sororities and how these engage campus culture. Would it result in students being cliquey and exclusive? What was the culture inside the houses like? Would I feel welcome? Now that I am almost done with my first year here, I can say that Greek life at Dartmouth is not what I expected it to be. While I thought it would create a somewhat divided atmosphere on campus, this has not been the case at all. Fraternities constantly host events that are dry and open to campus where anyone with a Dartmouth ID can enter. These events make it easy to meet new people and socialize. I've found that while I know people in my class really well, meeting upperclassmen is also done through Greek spaces.
At Dartmouth, you are not allowed to rush, or be part of Greek life, until your sophomore year. In fact, for your first six weeks as a freshman, you're not allowed to be inside Greek spaces in order to allow you to bond with your fellow classmates. Dartmouth is home to three gender inclusive fraternities, eight sororities, and 12 fraternities. Since I identify as a woman, I will be planning to rush a sorority come sophomore year. The rush process usually takes place in the fall and winter terms of your second year here. As that time now approaches for me and other fellow '25s, we are now learning more about sororities through different pre-rush events that take place during the last weeks of spring term.
Pre-rush events organized by sororities are open to all self-identifying females who wish to rush or are simply interested in learning more about each house and getting to meet the sisters. Some events that I have attended in the past couple of weeks include BBQ and Bouquets, Game Nights, Spa Nights, and Backyard Shenanigans. At each event we would talk to sisters while making crafts, playing games, or receiving the occasional house tour. Events are all planned by the sisters in order to get to know the upcoming rush class and introduce them to their house. Participating in pre-rush has been a nice experience since it is a way to meet new people and learn about Greek Life; these events are really laid back, where you generally get to enjoy yourself amidst food, activities, and good conversation. All sororities I have visited are incredibly welcoming and do their best to answer your every question. As the rush process looms near, I feel that events such as these help lay down anxieties to rest.
While Greek Life is a large part of life at Dartmouth, it is important to remember that it is not all-encompassing. With such an open social life present at Dartmouth you don't have to be affiliated to enjoy your Dartmouth experience. I still don't know what I plan to do come fall, yet I think that being part of a community of sisters of many different backgrounds brought together through a Greek institution is alluring. More on that to come!
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!
