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 the final part of my 4-part Joshua Tree Diary Blog. If you're interested in reading the beginning of my adventure, click for part 1,part 2, and part 3!
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!
Monday, March 21st, 2025:
Even though we switched campgrounds, the desert heat remains relentless—this is California, after all! But the warmth just adds to the adventure. Today's main destination: Keys View, an iconic overlook with sweeping views of Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, and Palm Springs. Standing at the edge, watching the valley stretch endlessly below, I felt small in the best way possible. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we soaked in one of the most breathtaking sunsets of our trip, the sky painted in fiery oranges with a hint of subtle pink.
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2025:
After days of challenging hikes and scrambles over giant boulders, we decided to slow things down and embrace the softer side of nature. First stop: Cholla Cactus Garden, a dreamy landscape filled with clusters of "jumping" cholla. They may look fuzzy and inviting, but one accidental brush against them and—ouch!—they latch onto you like clingy little hitchhikers. Lesson learned. Next, we wandered along a short trail showcasing Joshua Tree's rich biodiversity—twisted yuccas, sturdy desert shrubs, and, of course, more cholla.
Wednesday, March 23rd and 24th:
Some views are too beautiful to see just once, so we made our way back to Skull Rock and Keys View for another round of jaw-dropping scenery. Later, we had a laid-back picnic by the Salton Sea, watching the water shimmer under the afternoon sun. That night, we ended things on a magical note—stargazing in the desert. With no city lights to compete with, the Milky Way stretched across the sky in full clarity. We traced constellations, spotted shooting stars, and let the vastness of the universe sink in.
For our last day in LA, reality started to creep in—we didn't want to leave. But before heading back, we made one last stop: a chill beach volleyball session at Ethan's house, where the ocean breeze felt like a fitting send off. And of course, no West Coast trip would be complete without one final meal—In-N-Out. A full-circle moment, wrapping up our adventure exactly where we started.
Reflection: More Than Just an Adventure
As someone who just recently joined Dartmouth Outing Club, I wasn't sure what to expect. But from the very first night under the stars, I realized one thing—this community is incredibly welcoming. I picked up new skills, like setting up a tent, making camp food (which surprisingly wasn't terrible), and even some rock climbing tricks from our awesome trip leader, Casey. And thanks to Ethan, I now have a solid bank of random bird facts that I will, without a doubt, bring up in future conversations.
But more than the skills and the sights, what made this trip unforgettable were the people. We started as strangers, but by the end, we were a team, a group of friends sharing sunburns, inside jokes, and memories that'll last long beyond the desert. That's something I've come to love about Dartmouth—it's a place where connections happen effortlessly, and tight-knit communities form in the most unexpected ways.
Joshua Tree, you were incredible! Until next time.
