你好！Or Hi! My name is Taylor, and I'm a '27! I'm from Beijing, China. I'm hoping to major in Mathematics Modified with Computer Science and minor in Religion. Outside of the classroom, you can find me going on hikes with the Dartmouth Outing club, drawing or crafting at the jewelry studio, or having fun, philosophical conversations with friends!
Academic Program
(Intended) Mathematics Modified with Computer Science, Religion
Coming to Dartmouth with a solid background in French (Delf B2), I find French 3 a perfect fit for me -- it helps me to consolidate a lot of key grammar and vocabs, and fun weekly cultural activities like coffee hours and french lunch table offers me chances to relax in busy times. While the class is very rigorous and requires a lot of hard work, my professor is so nice and makes the class very fun! I also look forward to going to Dartmouth's Toulouse LSA program after completion of this class!
This course explores how Buddhist concepts of embodiment affect daily life and society in Southeast Asian contexts, and how the intersection of religion, sexuality, and gender impact broader understandings of authority, wisdom, beauty, death, and loyalty. The class takes on many forms beyond mere lectures -- a visit to the Hood Museum of Art, mindfulness practices, and small Buddha-crafting projects. Our professor (the sweetest Prof. MK Long) also invites many of her colleagues at other institutes as guest lecturers to our class so that we can learn from real experts specializing in different countries in Southeast Asia. I have learned a lot from the class and decided to become a religion major after this course!
Having never enjoyed math classes before college, I'm surprised (again) by how I'm becoming a math major and falling in love with math here! My professor (Prof. Shu Longmei, who graduated from the best university in my hometown) is incredibly good at teaching the concepts -- not just explaining things clearly but also showing us the beauty and elegance of calculus. I really look forward to taking more math classes in the future!
SummerVietnam & Beijing, China
I first visited pagodas in Vietnam for a couple of weeks and had days of conversations with monastics! Then, I returned home to savor time spent with my family and old friends, focus on my mental and physical health, and study and work a bit.
I can't believe how fast time has flown by, and now I'm officially starting my sophomore year! My first year seems like a blur—orientation, bonfires, meeting new people—it all feels like it happened just yesterday. Now, I'm welcoming the new first-years to campus!
Compared to last year, when I felt like I was constantly tumbling through the chaos of new experiences—frantically trying to figure out which classes to take, which major to pursue, and which clubs to join, all while glued to Google Maps as I navigated the maze of campus—this year feels like a completely different world. I remember the feeling of being swept away by the sheer volume of opportunities and responsibilities, unsure of which direction to go or what path to follow.
Back to my favorite place on campus: Occom Pond!
Seeing familiar faces from the moment I picked up my dorm room keys, catching up with old friends over meals at our favorite restaurants, and presenting my club to the '28s at the club fair all felt like natural rhythms this year. I now have a clearer idea of what I want to study, and reconnecting with professors I'm close with has only solidified that path. My first year of exploration gave me a chance to truly understand who I am, what I want to pursue, and where I want to invest my time. I no longer feel overwhelmed by the endless opportunities on campus; instead, I've learned to prioritize and let go of things that aren't essential to my goals. I'm grateful that I've reached a point where I can enjoy my life at Dartmouth more fully, balancing my responsibilities and commitments while making room for meaningful moments with friends and personal growth.
This year, I'm excited to dive into new experiences. This fall, I'm taking a unique combination of courses—Quantitative Social Science, a religion course, and a cross-listed class in comparative literature and Italian studies (though I'm still a math major). I'm looking forward to meeting new professors and sharing my class experiences with you. On top of that, I'll be rushing this fall, which will definitely be an interesting experience for me as an introvert who isn't into the party scene! I'll take you along on my rush journey and offer a peek into Greek life on campus from my perspective.
Every Dartmouth student is required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Here's my experience navigating the language requirement!
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
