Welcome! My name is Serena and I'm a '28 from NYC. I'm so excited to be here at Dartmouth and share my experiences with you! On campus you can find me organizing events at Hillel, hosting socials for the women's club frisbee team, trying every single Dartmouth tradition, and yapping in the library. I also love to run, play volleyball, hike, knit, and read fantasy books! If you want to hear about a city kid's adventures in rural New Hampshire, follow along as I experience life in the woods!
In this dynamic class, Visiting Professor Vera Kallenberg taught us a survey of Jewish history and culture from the European enlightenment to the establishment of the State of Israel while also sharing her wealth of knowledge with us! Our small, seminar-style class lent itself to profound conversations around the difficult topics that arose during our discussions. From the Haskalah to discourse around the modern-day Israel-Palestine conflict, our class approached these topics with respect and care for one another. We read historical texts and fascinating personal narratives for homework, and then wove our knowledge about the past and present together in class discussions. What an incredible course!
I absolutely loved this Junior Colloquia English class taught by Professor Beckman. This small, discussion-based class is designed to prepare an English major for the type of work they will do in their Senior year. Professor Beckman is such a brilliant and kindhearted professor, and, especially as the only first-year student in that class, I really benefited from meeting with her in office hours. We read King Lear, The Alchemist, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Roaring Girl alongside various other academic papers. I left every class amazed, my brain filled to the brim with new and exciting knowledge about Renaissance literature. I loved engaging in fascinating topics and discussion in this challenging, high-level class!
In this class, we studied fascinating literature from the 18th and 19th centuries in order to explore what the novel as we know it today emerged from. We studied scandalous female libertines, rogue nuns, and other criminal female characters! We started off reading the surveillance chronicle Oroonoko by Aphra Behn, and we also read Anti-Pamela by Eliza Haywood, A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne, and Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe. I loved how Professor Garrison brought every reading to life through a mix of lecture, discussion, and even a book arts workshop visit.
I really enjoyed my first comparative literature class, “Literature and Psychoanalysis.” It was evident that Professor Kritzman cared about each and every one of his students. This was my first exposure to psychoanalytic theory, and I loved exploring concepts such as repression, desire, fantasy, truth, what it means to be human, and more. Just some of the authors we read included Freud, Zizek, Woolf, Mann, Kafka, Kristeva, Fanon, Sophocles, and Shakespeare.
Professor Harner is one of the best professors I have had the privilege of taking a class with, and I thoroughly enjoyed Lit History II. She is such a great teacher; she truly cares about you as a student, offers a ton of feedback, and knows so much about the subject she teaches. We studied 17-19th century literature from Britain and America, studying a pivotal decade each week of the term. I would rate this class a 100000/10!
After taking Literary History II with Professor Harner last term, I knew I needed to take another class with her! Not only was I beyond excited to read my first Charles Dickens novel in this class, but I was also ecstatic to be in the presence of Professor Harner’s brilliance, knowledge, and kindness once again. This class was a Junior Colloquium, a high-level English class that culminates in a 12-15 page research paper. We spent the entire term reading only two books, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and the adaptation Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, while simultaneously reading fascinating papers on literary theory to further our understanding of the texts.
This song just reminds me of my first fall on campus: full of energy, sunlight, new friends, and growth. It's a perfect outdoorsy song that captures the start of four years surrounded by gorgeous nature, mountains, and wilderness. Finally, this song comforts me, reminding me that yes, growth is terrifying at times, but it will turn out all ok, and there is a silver lining throughout the scary times.
King of Anything by Sara Bareilles
This is a personal favorite song. My mom loves Sarah Bareilles, and this song reminded me of home during my first fall. These lyrics feel very empowering: "But I'm not drowning… Who cares if you disagree? / You are not me / Who made you king of anything? So, you dare tell me who to be?" Sometimes I compare myself to those around me on campus. I would sit in class or scroll on Instagram and think that they seemed happier, cooler, smarter, more talented, etc. It was intimidating transitioning from high school to a highly selective college. This song reminds me that comparison is the thief of joy. This song emboldens me and instills confidence in me, reminding me that I am amazing just the way I am, and that I am just as smart as the people around me; the only difference is that the level of academics is higher than it was in high school.
All Your'n by Tyler Childers
Just such a fun and comforting outdoorsy song. It always brings a smile to my face. I love to play this on my speaker while outdoors with friends.
Some beautiful fall leaves I took a picture of while taking a walk around campus!
Tongue Tied by GROUPLOVE
Popular rock band GROUPLOVE performed for Green Key, Dartmouth's annual spring concert, this year! This high-energy song never fails to put me in a good mood. This song also reminds me of FYT (first year trips), drives through the beautiful Granite State, and the warm hug of sunlight!
Happy Green Key! My friend took this picture of me with the majestic Dartmouth library clock tower in the background before we headed over to hear MKTO and GROUPLOVE perform!
I Loved You Then (And I Love You Still) by Woodlock
This song feels so heartbreakingly perfect. It reminds me of my favorite seniors who graduated last year and whom I miss so much. But I know our friendships are forever, and that I can't wait to visit them or have them visit me on campus, whichever comes first!
Blame It on the Boogie by The Jacksons
A Dartmouth playlist would not be complete without this song. Every first-year student learns a Dartmouth-specific dance to this song during their FYT. On my ultimate frisbee team, we frequently perform this dance during tournaments and practices. This song will follow you throughout your four years at Dartmouth and beyond!
Hiking up Mt. Moosilauke at 3am during my first year trip! This was my first "sunrike," aka sunrise-hike, and it was exhausting, exhilarating, and euphoric!
Astrovan by Mt. Joy
Reminds me of big dreams and possibilities.
Back in the Van by The Night Van
I think I first heard this song on a DOC van to Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. The DOC, which stands for the Dartmouth Outing Club and is the oldest and largest collegiate outing club in the country, led a trip to what is colloquially known by students as 'Lodge dinner' at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. One of the students turned this song on, and we all started singing along to it. Such a fun memory.
Burn, Burn, Burn by Zach Bryan
This song is on this list mostly because I like this song and I listened to it my first year at Dartmouth. It's also on this list because the word thrice repeated in the title, "burn," reminds me of fire, which reminds me of the Homecoming Bonfire, one of my absolute favorite Dartmouth traditions. I helped build it in my first year on campus!
That's So True by Gracie Abrams
During my first term at Dartmouth I became involved in Jewish life on campus through Shabbat dinners and other events Hillel or Chabad organized. My glow-in-the-dark Gracie Abrams Nalgene is one of my favorite waterbottles, so it seemed only fitting that I put a Hillel at Dartmouth sticker on it, one of my favorite places to be on campus. My love for Hillel has only grown, and I'm currently sitting on the student executieve board at Hillel as one of the elected vice presidents of programming!
There was never a single "aha!" moment of clarity when I knew that Dartmouth was right for me, yet now, it is impossible for me to imagine having chosen anywhere else.
From a tight-knit study abroad cohort to intimate classroom moments and inspiring literary talks, French has grown far beyond a minor — becoming a thread that runs through the most meaningful parts of her Dartmouth life.
Green Key weekend at Dartmouth was filled with concerts, free food, live music, reunions, and spontaneous moments with friends. Read on to hear why this weekend reminded me what makes spring term at Dartmouth feel so special.
Amid the whirlwind of a ten-week term, the quietest moments — studying in the sun, cooking with a friend, running through Pine Park — turn out to be the ones worth savoring most.
One of my absolute favorite classes I've taken at Dartmouth has been Cinematography I, which completely changed the way I watch films and think about storytelling. Read on to hear more about my experience!
