Hi friends and welcome to my page! I'm Emily, a '25 from a town where winter rarely comes to visit and departs after only a few days. In my spare time, I love to read fiction novels, bake cinnamon rolls, play card games, solve riddles, delve into conspiracy theories, and engage in any water activity. I'm thrilled you're here and hope you enjoy!
My fall term began with my favorite class so far at Dartmouth: Antiquity Today. In this intro-level Classics course, we analyzed our own culture through comparison. Delving into topics of violence in entertainment, philosophies of government, and attitudes about sex, we deconstructed our own cultural norms and biases through comparing them with the practices of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Embracing the spirit of the Greeks' dramatic stage was the wonderful professor, Paul Christesen. He would bring a bag of goodies and distribute them to students who asked questions as incentives for students to engage with the course material. Overall, I feel that I have learned worlds about my time as well as the past and can see the world through an enhanced sense thanks to this course.
In an introductory-level Earth Sciences class, we traveled through time studying the origin of the planet, the history of life on earth, its migration to land, as well as the mass extinctions that plagued ancient populations. A key component of this conversation was the earth’s current state, and how we are experiencing the beginning of the sixth mass extinction in earth’s history. We discussed causes of the earth’s critical state and compared carbon levels throughout time to better understand our current carbon situation. In homework assignments, we took what we learned in the classroom into the field, which was my favorite component of the course. We wrapped up the class with the coolest project: Constructing a proposal that would meet the goals set in Biden’s energy plan as practically as possible.
As a last-minute change during Dartmouth's 'add-drop' period (the two weeks where students can make scheduling adjustments), I checked this class's box on a whim. I surely was glad I did because we engaged in some of the most interesting discussions about what makes up a religion and how other frameworks, like economic systems, can overlap. Over the term, we delved into the history of capitalism, the depraved ethics behind the origin of America's capitalistic system, and the Catholic Church's role in capitalism through usury. Very engaging and applicable class to round out Freshman Spring!
What is the soul? Is it the same as the mind? What's the difference between the mind and the brain? How does the heart factor in?
I absolutely adored this class that took a stab at the big questions! Or, at least, guided us through how the ancient philosophers viewed the intangible things that make us who we are. From readings about ancient physics-which could be surprisingly accurate!-to discussions about ancient views on psychiatric disabilities, we pieced together answers and started seeing from the eyes of the great thinkers of the day!
Dartmouth Distributives: A Fun Way to Explore Your Academic Passions
Coming back to Dartmouth for my senior year, I have been loving pursuing my major. However, what I love about the liberal arts education is that you can take classes for interest far beyond any courses in your major. For example, last spring, I signed up for an introductory course in anthropology just because I'd always been curious about human evolution. I wasn't sure what to expect at first—I thought it might feel disconnected from my primary studies—but instead, I found myself completely engaged with the material and the different perspectives it offered. That's the beauty of Dartmouth's liberal arts model. You're not limited to one path. You can explore a class in art history, computer science, or environmental studies, and who knows? It might connect to your major in a way you hadn't expected—or it might just be a refreshing break from the usual. Either way, it's a win.
These "just for fun" courses have been some of my most memorable experiences. They remind me why I came to Dartmouth in the first place—because I knew I didn't want to be boxed into a single academic track. It's one thing to major in something you're passionate about but another to discover new passions you didn't know you had. That's what these courses have offered me—a chance to stay curious, keep learning, and surprise myself along the way.
One class that stood out to me is one that I am currently taking called Video Games and the Meaning of Life (FILM 50.04). Yes, you read that correctly—Dartmouth offers a course that explores video games through a philosophical and cultural lens, asking big questions about human existence and purpose. I'm not even a Film and Media Studies major, but I signed up for this class because—let's be honest—it sounded fascinating. Plus, who wouldn't want to dive into a course where you get to play SuperMario Brothers?
The class takes you far beyond the surface-level experience of playing video games and asks you to consider what these virtual worlds say about our real world. We analyzed games like Undertale and This War of Mine, which explore themes of love, loss, and grief. We even discussed how some games reflect our search for meaning in ways that traditional media can't. It's a perfect example of how interdisciplinary Dartmouth courses can be—you get to combine media studies with philosophy, psychology, and even a bit of music.
One of the coolest parts about Video Games and the Meaning of Life is how the class itself is structured. For starters, Professor Cheng plays the piano at the end of each class, which sets this reflective, almost meditative tone for what we're about to dive into. It's unlike any class I've taken before—there's this sense that you're not just there to study games, but to really think about what they reveal about you as a person. The course goes beyond the psychology of gaming and into something deeper: what it means to be human and how even the act of playing can teach you something about yourself.
As a Digital Media Student Director for Dartmouth's First-Generation Office, it is my role on campus to amplify first-gen voices, foster community, and create meaningful connections through creative outreach.
