Daniel Kang
Starting a New Chapter in My Life
Hey! I'm Daniel and I'm a Dartmouth '25. To begin, here's a little bit about myself. I'm a Seoul-born Californian with an adventurous spirit; being at the crossroads of a city guy and a suburb-lover, I'm beyond ready to add "nature-enthusiast" to my title throughout my time at Dartmouth. My favorite midnight snack is blueberry muffins, and my favorite movie is "The Intern." I could spend a whole day constructing installation pieces or painting on canvas with acrylic paint. In fact, I've also been an impassioned journalist for all of high school, submitting articles to all sorts of news platforms and online magazines (no wonder I decided to join People, Places, Pines, am I right?). Don't be fooled, though, as I'm a huge STEM fan hoping to major in biological anthropology or neuroscience or quantitative social science (or perhaps bits of all).
Why did I choose Dartmouth as my home for the next four years? Well, simply put, I fell in love with Dartmouth's tight-knit community and collaborative atmosphere. I strongly felt the unification of the student body and knew undoubtedly that, at Dartmouth, I would be able to foster everlasting relationships with diverse individuals. There were, of course, other things, too. The unique D-Plan sparked my interest as I was able to construct my college experience tailored to my academic ambitions and career goals. Dartmouth's close proximity to nature was another factor. From kayaking the Connecticut River to hiking Mt. Moosilauke, I knew I'd enjoy every activity-related opportunity out there. Dartmouth was truly a place I envisioned myself at.

After just a week into the quarter, I already met some cool, kind, and fascinating people. Whether it be my roommates who truly make me smile yet make me so mad simultaneously every hour of the day or my study buddies who I went on a spontaneous trip to Boston with the other day, I can really sense the community I'm building here on campus and am excited to see how it'll develop from this point on.
Here are some things that only begin to capture my excitement this fall: experiencing Dartmouth's shift in seasons, connecting with more incredible people, enduring through procrastination-induced late-nights with friends, and so much more. I'm beyond honored to be able to share my experience at Dartmouth to you all through my personal lens. I'm ecstatic to see what Dartmouth has in store for me!
Posts You Might Like
A look back at what I wish I'd known before move-in, paired with photos from my first-year fall!
Life on campus this spring, as seen through the lens of my film camera!
and how you, dear reader, can too!
Come with me to explore some things I have done during the first week of my Sophomore Summer!
Reflecting on lessons learned in my favorite distributive requirement class yet!
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Isabelle Sullivan '26, an environmental studies and geography major, showed me around her room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
What it's been like transitioning from a Title I high school to Dartmouth.
There was never a single "aha!" moment of clarity when I knew that Dartmouth was right for me, yet now, it is impossible for me to imagine having chosen anywhere else.
A curated list of songs that create my ultimate "Dartmouth playlist."