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.
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.
If there's one thing that I love about Dartmouth, it would be about its traditions. There's always something fun to expect every term: homecoming bonfire in the fall, winter carnival in winter term, and green key in spring. Every winter, Dartmouth transforms into a snow-covered wonderland for one of the college's most beloved traditions, Winter Carnival. Since 1911, this student-led celebration has brought the Dartmouth community together to embrace the beauty of winter in the Upper Valley and cheer on the college's winter sports teams.
Dartmouth's Winter Carnival offers a diverse lineup of events that highlight the college's winter traditions and community spirit. A key highlight is the Polar Plunge, where participants take a dip in the freezing waters of Occom Pond. Competitive winter sports are also central to the celebration, with ski races at the Dartmouth Skiway and Oak Hill Outdoor Center, including Giant Slalom, Slalom, and Nordic races featuring Dartmouth's ski team. Sports enthusiasts can also watch men's hockey and basketball teams compete against Harvard, a long-standing rivalry that adds excitement to the weekend. Beyond athletics, students can participate in ice sculpture carving, enjoy Baker Tower tours, and experience unique activities such as Jurassic World-inspired gyrosphere races on The Green. Additionally, free lift tickets to the Dartmouth Skiway provide an opportunity for students to ski throughout the weekend, while other events like hot cocoa gatherings, themed dinners, and live performances create a welcoming and festive atmosphere for the entire Dartmouth community.
Pretty view from the Baker Tower tour
I kicked off my Winter Carnival weekend with a Baker Tower tour, which gave me an amazing view of campus from the highest point. The tour was an exciting way to experience a place that I walk past and study inside everyday in a totally new way. Seeing Dartmouth from above made me appreciate how beautiful it looks in the winter.
Later that evening, I went to Thompson Arena for the figure skating exhibition, featuring the Dartmouth Figure Skating Club (including skaters from Team USA). Their performances were incredible, with fast spins, high jumps, and smooth routines that made it all look effortless. The crowd was really into it, cheering after every impressive move.
After the show, the rink opened up for free skating, and students could borrow skates at no cost. Stepping onto the ice with my friends was both exciting and a little nerve-wracking, especially since most of us hadn't skated in years. Even though my own skating was far from perfect, simply being out on the ice, surrounded by friends and the energy of Winter Carnival, made the night memorable.
A statement I never thought I would make. Being completely honest, during my first term I was counting down the days to go back to Arizona. However, being away from Dartmouth made me realize how lucky I am to be here.
