Hi guys! I'm Chidera and I'm a '25 from Lagos, Nigeria. I've lived in a big city for nearly half of my life, so it's great to experience the scenic outdoor spaces surrounding Dartmouth. Outside of the classroom, I conduct research with the economics department, I'm a peer tutor for the Academic Skills Center and I'm also involved with the Dartmouth Energy Alliance.
Dartmouth operates a quarter system where for each 10-week term, every student takes three classes, with a few people deciding to take two or four classes. This is one of my favorite things about Dartmouth because it allows you to focus your energy on those classes while also not getting bored of them because the term tends to fly by in just ten weeks. As we head into week three, I've fully settled into the classes I picked and I look forward to them every day. This term, I'm taking a writing class, a public policy class and a mathematical economics class.
views from my morning walk to class
Writing 3: Composition and Research
This class is the second class in the writing 2-3 sequence. I had the same professor and classmates last term when I took writing 2 so it's been so fun to watch myself and all my classmates become more confident and capable in our writing. Our goal for this term is to write a research paper on any topic of our choice, and I'm planning on writing a paper on how various colleges handle mental health on campus. I'm definitely looking forward to speaking to some of the staff at Dick's House, Dartmouth's health service. I'm really excited to work on this paper so stay tuned for more updates on it!
Public Policy 5: Introduction to Public Policy
I decided to take this class because I've always been interested in public policy, and since it's only offered in the winter term, I thought this would be the perfect time to explore my interests in public policy. It has been really interesting learning about public policy from an American perspective. It has definitely given me a more globalized perspective on how various country's governments work as the differences between policy making in the US and my country, Nigeria become clearer each class.
Economics 3: Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis
This has quickly become my favorite class so far at Dartmouth. I initially did not plan on taking this class and thought I would drop it after the first week. But, after I attended the class on the first day and Professor Doyle explained her goals for the class, I instantly knew that I was going to stick with it. The class basically teaches essential aspects of calculus for economic analysis and is a prerequisite for my intended major, economics. I love how Professor Doyle expertly shows how important mathematics is to the field of economics.
my first time ever working with excel in my Econ class
Of course, I can't talk about my classes for this term without talking about my new favorite study spot, Still North Books and Bar! Still North is a beautiful bookstore that's a 3-minute walk from the center of campus. I love to sit there in the afternoons and get some work done with a mug of hot chocolate and a pair of headphones in (I highly recommend Dartmouth's Fall playlist, https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VzNQlohwNyjUQJRvVTarP?si=70662426a90f4f2f).
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.
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.
From a tight-knit study abroad cohort to intimate classroom moments and inspiring literary talks, French has grown far beyond a minor — becoming a thread that runs through the most meaningful parts of her Dartmouth life.
Amid the whirlwind of a ten-week term, the quietest moments — studying in the sun, cooking with a friend, running through Pine Park — turn out to be the ones worth savoring most.
One of my absolute favorite classes I've taken at Dartmouth has been Cinematography I, which completely changed the way I watch films and think about storytelling. Read on to hear more about my experience!
