Hey! My name is Taylor, and I'm a '27 from Beijing, China. I'm majoring in Mathematics and Quantitative Social Science, with a potential minor in French. Outside of the classroom, you can find me going on hikes with the Dartmouth Outing Club, in the Spare Rib office writing creative pieces, or reading books in Sherman library
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.
This is a really fun and engaging class taught by an award-winning professor. The mini-ethnography assignments provide a lot of hands-on experience in conducting fieldwork, making the methods we study feel real and applicable. From participant observation to interviews and field note coding, this course offers an immersive introduction to ethnographic research on religion. Plus, the discussions on research ethics and methodology are both thought-provoking and relevant, making this an incredibly useful class for anyone interested in studying contemporary religious communities through direct engagement.
This class is incredibly interesting because it feels like traveling through time—from the philosophical foundations of Laozi and Zhuangzi to medieval Daoist traditions and contemporary practices in northern and southern China and Taiwan. Even as a Chinese student, I’m realizing how much there is to learn, not just about Daoism but also about the broader religious landscape and practices in China.
SpringHong Kong & Beijing, China
I completed an internship in Hong Kong and spent the rest of the summer with my family in Beijing.
Stepping into the Second Half of My Dartmouth Journey
Time truly flies—I can hardly believe this term marks the beginning of the second half of my Dartmouth journey. Returning to campus as an upperclassman feels both exciting and humbling, as I watch my roles evolve in the communities I'm part of.
If my first and sophomore years were seasons of exploration, then junior year feels like the moment when exploration begins to take form. The classes I've taken, the curiosity I've cultivated, and the experiences I've gathered through clubs and internships are now converging into something more focused and purposeful.
During my first two years, I ventured widely across the curriculum–studying comparative literature, religion, and women's and gender studies, while also delving into Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages, Middle Eastern Studies, mathematics, computer science, and QSS. It was through courses like QSS 17 (Data Visualization) and QSS 20 (Modern Statistical Computing) that I uncovered my passion for Quantitative Social Science. Now, I'm eager to pursue this interest more deeply, not only through advanced coursework like QSS 45 (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Social Science), but also through hands-on research as a Presidential Scholar, a program that pairs undergraduates with faculty to conduct faculty-mentored research.
French has been another meaningful thread woven into my Dartmouth experience. Beginning with French 3 in my first year, I found not only a love for the language but also lasting friendships and an entryway into the richness of the French department. Looking ahead to junior winter, I'm excited to bring these studies abroad to Toulouse, where I'll finally immerse myself in French culture, literature, architecture, and cuisine.
Equally transformative have been the clubs I've joined. As a first-year and sophomore, I benefitted greatly from the mentorship of upperclassmen in Smart Woman Securities, a national student organization dedicated to educating women about finance and investment through mentorship and hands-on training. Now, as the Chief Research Officer and a mentor myself, I feel grateful for the opportunity to give back—providing the same support to younger members that once meant so much to me.
As a senior now, I've experienced and learned more about myself and about life than I ever anticipated I could. With that, I want to reflect on Dartmouth's unique qualities, from its rural setting to the Greek Life presence to the quarter system!
One of the most unique traditions at Dartmouth is sophomore summer, where students stay on campus to take classes the summer before their junior year. My sophomore summer has been an incredibly special experience!
Senior Fall brings an eventful and diverse courseload, taking up almost all of my time! Find out what I am involved with this term and the incredible variety of classes that Dartmouth has to offer!
New Hampshire is such a glorious state with so much to offer in the fall! Come with me as I explore Plainfield, NH, and go apple picking at Riverview Farms.
