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!
Today, I decided to spend the day exploring the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and I'm so glad I did! Thanks to a wonderful perk, admission is completely free for Dartmouth students. All I had to do was show my student ID at the entrance. It's such a great way to make the most of living near one of the country's most impressive art institutions.
Walking into the MFA!
The MFA is massive. As I walked through its many halls, I got to see everything from ancient jewelry and musical instruments to detailed sculptures and paintings from every corner of the world. There's truly something for everyone. I found myself getting lost in galleries filled with Japanese scrolls, Islamic ceramics, Renaissance portraits, and modern American art. It's one thing to learn about different cultures in class, but another to be physically surrounded by their art and artifacts.
Japanese woodblock print!
This month, the MFA is hosting a breathtaking exhibition of Van Gogh's work, called Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits (also free to Dartmouth students!). I've seen images of his art online and in textbooks, but nothing compares to seeing his brushstrokes up close. Some of the pieces on display are among his most iconic, and being able to appreciate their texture and detail in person was unforgettable. The exhibition also told the story of Van Gogh's life, which I didn't know much about before. I left with a much deeper appreciation of both his artistry and the struggles he faced.
"Self-Portrait"
"The Ravine"
One of the most powerful sections I visited was called (Lack of) Freedom and Diplomacy. This installation focused on how stories of race, gender, and Indigeneity intersected during the period of American treaty-making and slavery. It highlighted how Indigenous people—especially women—were often left out of official narratives, even though they played critical roles in diplomacy and community life. The exhibit examined themes of captivity, particularly how white narratives portrayed being taken captive by Indigenous nations, often as a way to justify the seizure of Native lands and further dehumanize Indigenous peoples. It helped me think about the legacy of these narratives and how they shaped public opinion and policy across centuries.
Within this section, Manumission of Dinah Nevil, attributed to Jeremiah Paul and painted around 1795, was a piece I had specifically sought out. I had studied this exact work in my class Sex, Gender, and Societyduring the fall. Dinah Nevil was a woman of African and Indigenous ancestry who fought for her freedom after being moved from New Jersey to Philadelphia. Although she used a Pennsylvania law to gain her freedom, the painting—created about 20 years after her legal victory—does not honor her as a heroine. Instead, she is portrayed in the stereotypical imagery of enslaved people: nearly nude, with pale skin and widened eyes meant to make her appear white. This visual erasure of her true identity reinforces the systemic racism and sexism we discussed in class. Seeing it in person gave me chills. It made our classroom discussions feel more real and reminded me why these conversations are still so relevant.
"Manumission of Dinah Nevil"
Experiences like this are one of the reasons I'm so grateful for Dartmouth's support in learning beyond the classroom. Even during an off-term, I'm able to engage with art, history, and social issues in meaningful ways. Being in that museum, surrounded by centuries of creativity and conflict, made me reflect on how much more there is to learn. I left the MFA inspired, not only by the art, but by the reminder that education doesn't stop at the campus gates,
At Dartmouth, students have the opportunity to fuse two different academic studies and programs into a single major. Learn more about my modified major here!
