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!
Why You Have to Go on a Campus Tour: A Dartmouth Tour Guide's Reflection
As a current tour guide at Dartmouth, I spend a lot of time walking around campus with prospective students and their families. But before I picked up my first ever shift and learned to walk backwards, I was in their shoes; nervous, excited, and trying to figure out where I might spend the next four years. Looking back, going on campus tours was one of the most helpful parts of the college decision process for me, and I encourage every student to make the most of them if they can.
It's easy to get lost in a sea of online information. University websites, rankings, and info sessions can only go so far. Tours help bring that information to life. You get to see buildings and spaces that you've only seen in pictures, walk the same paths students take to class, and feel the energy of campus. It transforms abstract ideas into something tangible.
After all, this is somewhere you might be living for several years. It's important to be able to picture yourself there. Campus tours offer you a glimpse into what life really looks like—how students interact with each other, how the campus feels on a typical day, what kind of relationship students have with professors, how nature fits into the rhythm of student life. Do students study outside on the quads or huddle in cozy libraries? What does winter look and feel like? Sometimes you'll even get to peek inside a model dorm room and imagine what your daily routine might be.
I still remember my Dartmouth tour clear as day. I was immediately struck by the natural beauty and classic architecture, but what stuck with me even more was the sense of community. I visited during the summer term, which is a special time here when sophomores stay on campus as part of a tradition called "Sophomore Summer." During the tour, my guide was greeted with at least ten waves and "Happy Birthday!" wishes. (It was not, in fact, his birthday.) Those small moments left such a lasting impression. I could feel what it might be like to be a student here, surrounded by friends and familiar faces, and I was hooked.
A picture from July 2022, my first ever Dartmouth visit!
Another huge takeaway from my Dartmouth visit was understanding what people meant when they said the school was "in the middle of nowhere." Online, that phrase made me hesitate. But being in Hanover changed everything. No, it's not a big city, but it's vibrant, full of nature, and buzzing with campus life. It was so different from what I had imagined based on the internet alone.
To me, the best part of a campus tour is getting to interact with a current student. You can ask what life is really like—not just how hard classes are, but what students do on weekends, what they love most about their school, what surprised them, and what they wish they had known. As a tour guide, I can say we genuinely love answering these questions. We do our job because we want to share our experiences and help you figure out if this is the right place for you.
So if you're thinking about applying to a college, please go on a tour if you can. Whether it confirms your dream school or changes your mind completely, it's one of the best ways to find out where you truly belong.
On a quiet spring Saturday in Hanover, I traded the usual campus buzz for Monet in the morning and archery in the afternoon—a reminder that Dartmouth weekends can be just as meaningful when they're slow, reflective, and a little unexpected.
During my sophomore spring quarter, I took on the challenge of four STEM courses, and while it has been intense, the unexpected connections across subjects and the joy of learning have made it one of my most rewarding academic experiences yet.
Read about the Sophomore Summer Soiree and how I got to witness the beginning of something that hopefully grows into a long-standing Dartmouth tradition!
Here is my list of the restaurants in Hanover within walking distance of Dartmouth. Whether you're touring campus for the first time or are a Dartmouth student in need of a new place to eat, feel free to reference this list!
As I approach the end of my first year at Dartmouth, I would like to reflect on some of the experiences and lessons I've learned throughout this school year.
