Hello, 你好, and Bonjour! My name is Tao; I'm from New York City, and I'm a proud first-generation student. I'm currently interested in studying applied math and learning a new language (French, with the intent of studying abroad using my D-Plan!) at Dartmouth. I love being immersed at campus–especially aesthetic Woccoms, fookie grubs at FOCO, and Baker-Berry Tower Room study sessions. Come one, come all: let me take you along!
Academic Program
Mathematics and Quantitative Social Science with a minor in French
As the name describes, this class taught me all about food! While the class is centered on teaching academic writing skills, I have definitely learned a lot about fun topics like food diversity, ethical farming, and culinary significances. For my final project, I got to write about how sauces relates to our society!
Hello friends, if you're just clicking on this, this is part 2 of my 4-part Joshua Tree Diary Blog. If you're interested in reading the beginning, click here! If you're not, that's okay too! This blog series is dedicated to my break trip—essentially outdoor trips led by our collegiate outing program during our interim breaks between terms. (Dartmouth Outdoor Club). For my break trip before this spring term, I went to Joshua Tree National Park!
We packed up all our camping gear, bags, stove, snacks, and groceries into two vans and hit the road. But before leaving, we made a quick stop at a nearby farmers market for lunch. I grabbed a delicious chicken tamale—warm, savory, and just the right amount of spice. Solid road trip fuel.
The drive was about two hours, starting from the chaotic highways of LA. Naturally, we passed the time with some intense car karaoke. Our go-to jam? "Stitches" by Shawn Mendes (we may have played it a few too many times, but no regrets).
As we left the city traffic behind, the landscape completely transformed. As a New Yorker, I was amazed—endless prairies, towering rocky mountains, and even snow-capped peaks in the distance (yes, snow, in California)! It felt like we had stepped into another world. Then, in the distance, we saw it—the giant sign: "Welcome to Joshua Tree!" Cue the claps.
For this trip, our leaders booked two different campsites, spending three days in each. Our first stop?Sheep Pass: a stunning blend of rocky mountain formations and sprawling flatlands dotted with Joshua Trees. By the time we unloaded at the campsite, the sun had just set, and the temperature plummeted. Despite the desert heat during the day, the high elevation made nights freezing.
We wasted no time setting up our tents before gathering around the picnic table for our first
campsite dinner: rotisserie chicken sandwiches with crisp lettuce, crunchy pickles, and spicy mayo. For dessert, we made S'mores, of course. Chef's kiss!
As I settled in for the night, I couldn't help but feel so excited for the days ahead. There's something special about being back in the outdoors—sleeping in a tent, breathing in fresh desert air, and sharing this experience with my Dartmouth friends. And the best part?It's all FREE!
Outdoor trips like this are one of the best parts of the Dartmouth experience, and I feel beyond grateful to be here. Stay tuned—the adventure is just getting started!
When I first came to Dartmouth, the last thing I wanted to experience was the infamous, chilling New England winter—but I've discovered that Dartmouth's climate was a blessing in disguise, and even perhaps my favorite thing about campus.
