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.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Dartmouth's D-Plan is the sophomore summer, when nearly the entire campus is filled with their class years. With most other students away, the term becomes a unique season of bonding through classes, clubs, sports, and Greek life.
For many international students, though—including myself—spending that summer on campus would add complications to our student visas. Instead, I returned to Asia and pursued an internship in Hong Kong, where I discovered a different, but no less memorable, version of sophomore summer—one made possible by Dartmouth's close-knit global community.
Ivy Ball
Just a week after arriving, I attended the Ivy Ball, an annual gathering of Ivy League alumni in Hong Kong. Hosted at the convention center, the evening brought together a lively dinner, an alma mater singing contest, and a sparkling ball. It was there that I first connected with Dartmouth alumni in the city—many of whom I would later meet individually over dinners and who remain part of my life today.
Outside of alumni circles, I was lucky to spend time with close Dartmouth friends who had just graduated and were either locals or passing through. Together, we sampled Hong Kong's rich food scene, took in the glittering skyline, and escaped into the lush natural landscapes just beyond the city.
Grabbing Dinner with Other Dartmouth Students in Hong Kong
What made the experience even more special was that several Dartmouth sophomores, juniors, and seniors were also interning in Hong Kong that summer. Whether sharing dim sum and KBBQ during lunch breaks, hopping between jazz bars at night, or wandering the neon-lit streets of Mong Kok, I found myself immersed not only in the rhythms of Hong Kong but also in the enduring spirit of Dartmouth.
In the end, I came to realize that sophomore summer is less about where you are, and more about the community you build. For me, it was proof that the Dartmouth spirit extends far beyond Hanover–carving out connection, adventure, and belonging wherever you go.
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!
Summers between terms look different for every Dartmouth student! Opportunities are abundant and it's all what you make it out to be. This summer I interned on the Clean Energy Team at Wood PLC and traveled home to see my sister get married!
As an intern at one of Brazil's leading financial services firms, I spent my days working on strategy, design, and employee experience. But beyond spreadsheets and slides, I found purpose in my routine. Here's a peek into one of those days!
