Hi everyone! I'm Rika, a semi-international '28 from Japan, India, and Malaysia. I'm interested in studying women, gender, and sexuality studies, as well as public policy, global health, and biology while also being on the pre-health track! In my free time, I love to read books, cook and bake, play violin, spend time with animals, be sarcastic, and drink hot drinks (especially teas)! I'm so excited to share my exploration of Dartmouth with everyone :)
Sex, Gender, and Society is a class in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department. It focuses on how gender and sexuality are represented in the media and explores different ways society shapes our perspectives. This discussion-based class features multiple group projects, which allowed me to meet and interact with many of my classmates, which was super helpful in my first term! Fun fact: this class taught me how to plan, film, and edit a podcast on campus!
In this class, we explored the different contemporary meanings of the 4 concepts; love, romance, intimacy and dating. What did they look like at Dartmouth? How were they represented or defined in scholarly research? Why are they important to the world and human interaction? Our classes consisted of thoughtful discussions, insightful lectures, and even primary research. The final project was a research paper that featured the data we collected as a class. It was a wonderful course that introduced me to the world of sociology and qualitative research!
This class was my first English/literature class and it was an absolute BLAST. Professor Jodi Kim provided us with so many interesting texts that explore the nuanced intersections of identity and sexuality, in various Asian American settings. Texts include M. Butterfly, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, and The Necessary Hunger. Our classroom discussions were lively, filled with new and contrasting interpretations of quotes. I highly recommend this class!
SummerBoston, Massachusetts
This summer term, I decided to stay with my parents, who moved to Boston at the end of May! I kicked things off by spending a few weeks training to become a certified nurse assistant (CNA), and after earning my license, I took some time to recharge. I reconnected with family, explored Boston’s best food spots, and went on a few spontaneous trips around the U.S. with friends! Definitely a refreshing and memorable summer!
Tucked away on the roof of the Class of 1978 Life Sciences Center is one of Dartmouth's best-kept secrets: the Life Sciences Greenhouse. If you didn't know it was there, you'd probably never think to look up and find this glass sanctuary perched above the labs and lecture halls below. This space, used for botany research, is open to the general public for enjoyment. And once you step inside, it's impossible not to fall in love with it.
The greenhouse is not just a single room filled with plants; it's a collection of climate-controlled spaces, each designed to support different ecosystems. You can walk from a desert filled with spiky succulents straight into a lush, humid jungle. My favorite space, without a doubt, is the tropical room. As someone who grew up in Malaysia, this room feels like home. Surrounded by banana trees, moss, and the scent of damp earth, I'm instantly transported back to my childhood.
A Malaysian Plant!
More than just a botanical collection, the greenhouse has become one of my favorite places to unwind. Whenever I'm nervous before a biology exam (or exhausted afterward), I'll sneak upstairs and spend a few quiet minutes in the warmth and greenery. It's peaceful in a way that few other places on campus are. During the hectic rhythm of an academic term, stepping into the greenhouse feels like hitting pause.
My favorites from the Orchid room!
Winter in Hanover can be beautiful, but after weeks of white skies and snow, it's easy to start missing greenery. That's when the greenhouse becomes even more special. While everything outside is frozen and the trees are bare, the greenhouse is still alive and thriving. The contrast is almost magical—standing in the tropical room, surrounded by green leaves and bursts of color, while snow falls quietly outside the glass walls. It's my favorite time to visit.
Hibiscus! The national flower of Malaysia
When my sister came to visit Dartmouth, I knew I had to take her there. She immediately understood why I love it so much. We wandered through each room, marveling at orchids and air plants, taking pictures, and reading the little labels next to each plant. Best of all, the greenhouse is open to the public year-round. Whether you're looking to study botany, take a break from your busy schedule, or just explore something new, the greenhouse is an inviting and restorative space. For anyone visiting campus, I can't recommend it enough.
My sister and I next to a flower we have growing at home in Malaysia!
Dartmouth is known for its outstanding graduate schools of business, engineering, and medicine, but how can undergraduates take part in that enriching environment? Read more to find out!
Dartmouth is no stranger to a variety of student-run full-year performance groups in dance, a cappella, improv, and comedy. Sophomore summer is particularly special, as most of these groups allow sophomores to audition and join just for the summer.
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how I joined a sorority earlier this fall by going through the recruitment process. I've come a long way since then. In fact, I am living in my sorority house for my sophomore summer!
Dartmouth is not just a college. With world-renowned graduate schools, why would we choose to call ourselves a college instead of a university? The story behind that decision dates back to a significant Supreme Court ruling.
