Hi! I'm Memo, a rising junior from Bangkok, Thailand. On campus, I'm involved in undergraduate research, the Women in Computer Science Club, the Thai Student Association, and the introduction-CS-course TA team! I'm currently in Ujimelt, a summer dance group, and TA-ing for a Dartmouth Summer Scholars class. When I'm not too busy with classes and extracurriculars, I love to cook, paddle board, drink matcha, and, of course, blog!
Academic Program
Computer Science modified with Digital Arts Major + Human-Centered Design Minor
Coming in with some Python background, I still find this class challenging. Yet, I always enjoy going to Vasanta's lectures and working on the short assignments with the help of the TAs. Awesome experience.
Professor Pierson taught the class really well—his lectures always start with a hook that keeps me engaged. Although the material is definitely more challenging than the prior class, I learned a whole lot more. My CS1 professor suggested we learn Java before taking CS10 (she even sent us resources for it!), but of course, I didn't. It was a language I continued picking up as I did my short assignments and PSETs with my partner. The workload is not light; however, I felt like everything was worth learning!
Initially, I felt daunted by the thought of taking Data Visualization due to its rigorous materials and challenging projects. The course is structured as a flipped classroom, encouraging us to read textbooks before class and complete assignments with guidance from Professor Horiuchi. This approach was incredibly beneficial; he allowed us to solve problems independently, answered our questions, and provided valuable insights at the end of each session. Although the exams were tough, they directly reflected our in-class practice. Additionally, I applied what I learned during my first summer internship!
Professor Beaudoin is one of my favorite professors and lecturers at Dartmouth! I have always been interested in classical music, and this class allowed me to completely immerse myself into it. Early Classical Music was vastly different from traditional college classes – we listened to pieces from ancient civilizations, flipped through preserved music scripts written on cattle skin, copied down old music notations, and attended a Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra performance. For our final essay, I read extensively about Élisabeth Claude Jacquet de La Guerre, a French harpsichordist from the 1600s. This experience not only enhanced my knowledge of Jacquet de La Guerre but also taught me how to efficiently navigate the library and utilize its resources.
Taking ENGS 012: Design Thinking with Professor Steinhauer (Rafe) was one of my best decisions. The class significantly enhanced my creative thinking and collaboration skills. We worked on various projects, each with different groups. My favorite project involved building a foamcore rollercoaster for a ping pong ball. The class became really close and it felt like high school all over again!
In this course, my team and I built a motorized gutter system! The class focuses on applying design thinking principles from ENGS 012 to create need-based solutions for specific user groups. With the theme of 'rural living' this term, my group targeted homeowners in snowy areas with gutter systems. Our motorized gutter system aimed to prevent ice dams and gutter damage during winter.
Honestly, I still can't believe that the '26s (graduating class of 2026) are no longer the first-year class. Time really does fly by when you're enjoying the experience, doesn't it? Arriving on campus as a sophomore, I felt comfort in knowing I made it back to my second home. It may sound a tiny bit exaggerated, but there's something magical about the campus at 9 p.m. on a Thursday (the time and day of my arrival).
Although I am now more familiar with the Dartmouth campus and our one-of-a-kind culture, there were various events that I missed out on during my first year here. My goal as a sophomore is to make the most out of each term and attend the activities I didn't get to. Luckily for you all, I'll be blogging about them too!
Inauguration of Sian Leah Beilock
Besides powering through my labs and assignments, I have been enjoying my first two eventful weeks. The first thing I did was laundry. It may sound like a rough start, but unexpectedly, doing laundry became my favorite chore when the Dartmouth Student Government helped make the services accessible for free! While I love folding clean clothes into my closet, I was much more delighted when I walked into the annual Community Lunch event. I was just trekking out of my dorm when I smelled the aroma of freshly grilled burgers. Of course, I swiftly joined the long lines of people waiting to enjoy their free meal at this grand cookout. On that same day, the inauguration of Dartmouth's 19th president took place! I unfortunately had a meeting during President Sian Leah Beilock's speech, but I did walk past the crowd in the middle of The Green. Exciting times indeed.
My friend brought his car up to campus this term, so he drove us all to the Norwich Farmers Market during the weekend. The market opens from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday, and you can actually walk there if you're determined. Although it was quite chilly, I still ordered an iced draft latte from one of the coffee shops there. There were stands selling bakery, fresh produce, samosas, and so many more—my personal favorite was a goat-petting corner! My friends and I sat at one of the wooden picnic tables and tasted fresh strawberries while listening to live music. It was refreshing, to say the least, and we all highly recommend a visit!
The weekend ended with Fallapalooza, a fall concert organized by the Programming Board. This term, we had Claire Rosinkranz! I didn't join the crowd of students in front of the stage, but I did chill on the big lawn beside the venue with a few friends. It was such an amazing way to end the night—just chatting about life and vibing to song after song.
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
