Hi everyone! I'm Rika, a semi-international '28 from Japan, India, and Malaysia. I'm interested in studying women, gender, and sexuality studies, as well as public policy, global health, and biology while also being on the pre-health track! In my free time, I love to read books, cook and bake, play violin, spend time with animals, be sarcastic, and drink hot drinks (especially teas)! I'm so excited to share my exploration of Dartmouth with everyone :)
Sex, Gender, and Society is a class in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department. It focuses on how gender and sexuality are represented in the media and explores different ways society shapes our perspectives. This discussion-based class features multiple group projects, which allowed me to meet and interact with many of my classmates, which was super helpful in my first term! Fun fact: this class taught me how to plan, film, and edit a podcast on campus!
In this class, we explored the different contemporary meanings of the 4 concepts; love, romance, intimacy and dating. What did they look like at Dartmouth? How were they represented or defined in scholarly research? Why are they important to the world and human interaction? Our classes consisted of thoughtful discussions, insightful lectures, and even primary research. The final project was a research paper that featured the data we collected as a class. It was a wonderful course that introduced me to the world of sociology and qualitative research!
This class was my first English/literature class and it was an absolute BLAST. Professor Jodi Kim provided us with so many interesting texts that explore the nuanced intersections of identity and sexuality, in various Asian American settings. Texts include M. Butterfly, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, and The Necessary Hunger. Our classroom discussions were lively, filled with new and contrasting interpretations of quotes. I highly recommend this class!
SummerBoston, Massachusetts
This summer term, I decided to stay with my parents, who moved to Boston at the end of May! I kicked things off by spending a few weeks training to become a certified nurse assistant (CNA), and after earning my license, I took some time to recharge. I reconnected with family, explored Boston’s best food spots, and went on a few spontaneous trips around the U.S. with friends! Definitely a refreshing and memorable summer!
This was one of the most eye-opening classes I've taken at Dartmouth so far. As the title suggests, it was an introduction to a sector of academia that I had absolutely no experience in. This class taught me more than just what literature exists about disabilities, but also taught me how to think through, see, and understand the world in completely different ways.
This summer, I stepped into a new chapter of my pre-med journey by completing my Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training at a nearby college in Massachusetts. A CNA is a licensed role in settings such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes, where they provide direct support to nurses and other staff in caring for patients and residents. For me, pursuing this certification was about finding a way to go beyond observation and gain hands-on experience in healthcare.
While shadowing doctors has been an invaluable part of my learning so far, it often means standing to the side, taking notes, and watching from a respectful distance. Becoming a CNA—or Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA), as it's called in New Hampshire—opens the door for me to work directly with patients. It allows me to both interact with them and learn from other medical professionals in a more active role. I wanted to be able to contribute in a meaningful way, and CNA training felt like the perfect next step.
The class itself was intense. Over the summer, while a lot of my friends were enjoying a break from textbooks and exams, I found myself diving into chapters on patient care, infection control, and medical terminology. It was a strange feeling to sit in a classroom during July, preparing for quizzes and memorizing skills when the sun was shining outside. But I knew the effort was worth it. In Massachusetts, CNAs are required to complete around 75 hours of training, so my classmates and I worked hard to meet that requirement.
A peek into my textbook!
One of the most memorable parts of the course was our clinical training at a nearby nursing home. There, we were able to put our skills into practice under the supervision of experienced CNAs. Tasks like taking vital signs, assisting residents with meals, and helping with mobility were suddenly no longer just bullet points in a textbook. They became lived experiences that required patience, empathy, and adaptability. Working with real people, many of whom depended on us for their daily needs, was both humbling and deeply rewarding.
The work was not easy. At times it was physically demanding, and at other times emotionally heavy, but through it I gained so much respect for the CNAs and other staff who dedicate themselves to this kind of care every day. They are the backbone of many healthcare settings, often forming the closest bonds with patients because of the time and attention they give. Seeing that firsthand has shaped my understanding of what it means to be part of a healthcare team.
My classmates and I with our professor, Nurse Allina!
Beyond the skills and the certification, one of the best parts of the course was the community I found in my classmates. We spent hours together practicing skills, encouraging each other before tests, and reflecting on our clinical experiences. By the end of the program, I had not only earned my CNA license but also gained a group of friends who shared my excitement and dedication to healthcare.
Looking back, I'm so glad I chose to spend my summer this way. The CNA class challenged me, but it also gave me confidence, purpose, and new ways of engaging with medicine. I am excited to carry what I learned into future roles, including working in hospitals like Dartmouth Hitchcock during the school year, and to continue building on this foundation as I move forward on the path to entering the healthcare field.
If you're a prospective geology, mining, or resources student, this post is for you. "The Stretch" is Dartmouth's field geology program, and it covers exactly those areas!
