Many members of the Class of 2011 have made contributions to the College that will outlast the four years they spent on campus. Four such seniors Brandon Aiono '11, Mike Lewis '11, Kashay Sanders '11 and Emily Broas '11 shared some of the memories and experiences that have defined their years at Dartmouth.
BRANDON AIONOMajor: Economics and psychology Minor: ChineseHometown: Santa Cruz, Calif.Activities/Organizations: Student Assembly (vice president), Class Council, member of Chi Gamma Epsilon fraternity, tour guide, Health Resources Peer Advisor
Which activity had the most significant impact on your Dartmouth experience?
Chi Gam, my Greek house, was a great safe space and refuge, but my friend group since sophomore Summer has definitely made the most meaningful impact where I've grown and learned the most.
What are you going to miss the most about Dartmouth?
It's a very intangible thing, but I'm going to miss the place itself. Dartmouth will always be here but it'll never be the same kind of place with all my close friends here together. I'm going to miss the community feeling and the security and comfort that comes with that.
What are you going to miss the least about Dartmouth?
DDS. Can I say that?
Did you go abroad while at the College?
I studied in Beijing my freshman Summer on a [Foreign Study Program] through the Chinese department and volunteered in the Olympics.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I'm working as a consultant in a market research firm in Shanghai, China for an extended amount of time. I'm really looking forward to it. I was in Shanghai this past summer, and it's unlike anywhere else in the world. The ex-patriot community is super strong there and it reminds me of Dartmouth.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Dartmouth?
Maybe I'm thinking of this because it's so recent, but all my really close friends and I were sitting on the back porch of Kemeny. One of us had just come from a formal, one of us had come from the library, but we all just convened and we were all just hanging out. It's something that I'll never have again with them because even if we all live together again, it'll be a very different time in our lives where we're not as carefree or available. All the memories I have with my friends are something that I'll really, really cherish.
Why did you pick Dartmouth four years ago?
I wanted a school with a strong sense of community. And I really didn't want to go to Princeton.Do you have any parting words of advice for underclassmen?
Don't devote too much time in one place. Don't just stay in Collis go kayaking or try new restaurants. Explore. Also, it's really easy and common for Dartmouth students to make commitments and break them, but don't do that. It's better to be upfront and honest.
KASHAY SANDERSMajor: Women and gender studiesMinor: Japanese and anthropologyHometown: Bronx, N.Y.Activities/Organizations: Untamed' feminist magazine, Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth, Student Assembly Diversity and Community Affairs Committee co-chair, Center for Women and Gender Intern/ V-Week Steering Committee, Women's and Gender Studies department intern, co-founder of Women's and Gender Studies Tea, Palaeopitus, Tucker Foundation''s Girl's Mentoring Program, Rockefeller Leadership Fellows, Sigma Delta sorority, The Dartmouth
What are you going to miss the most about Dartmouth?
Being in a community and having people who share your passions at arm's length. Having students around me who are both my friends and fellow activists has been really wonderful. I'm going to miss that for sure.
What are you going to miss the least about Dartmouth?
As you go through Dartmouth, you gain labels. You come in as a freshman and you're a blank slate but then as you go through Dartmouth you gain these labels like activities or sororities which define you. This is in some ways wonderful and self-actualizing but in some ways these labels can be barriers in that it's hard to see who a person is behind all those labels.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I'm fortunate to have received a fellowship, the IDEX Fellowship in Social Enterprise in India. I'm really pumped, and it just came through over spring break. I'll be there for approximately 10 months.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Dartmouth?
A bunch of my good friends lived in Foley House during sophomore Summer. Foley has dinners every night and I ended up going all the time. It was such a warm and cozy community in that house. Some magic was created that summer. I'll always have fond memories being in that kitchen, dancing to Michael Jackson, just that kind of fellowship. It was such a neutral space for friends and I'll always remember it.
Why did you pick Dartmouth four years ago?
I knew I didn't want to be in the city anymore. I love New York and I figured I would be in a city for the rest of my life, so I thought "Why not? Take a detour." It was a great opportunity to push myself.
Do you have any parting words of advice for underclassmen?
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that I'm not completely unique, which is weird because you're supposed to be this blazing individual. One of the things that was powerful for me was realizing that some of the issues I was struggling with, some people were going through and had gone through. Realizing that other people could echo my story was incredibly validating, so realize your struggles are not unique.
MIKE LEWISMajor: Government Minor: Environmental studiesHometown: Santa Barbara, Calif.Activities/Organizations: Varsity squash (Captain), Alpha Delta fraternity, Dartmouth Entrepreneurial Society, Blunt Alumni Center intern, Tucker Foundation
Which activity had the most significant impact on your Dartmouth experience?
Squash, in terms of commitment. During my junior spring break, I went to the Dominican Republic and it was the single most profound learning experience not to be sappy.
What are you going to miss the most about Dartmouth?
The people, this incredible community, the feeling of being able to walk outside your dorm and be a couple steps away from so many cool people. But more specifically, I'm going to miss that excitement that you only feel in the beginning of Fall term when people are so happy to be back and people are jumping out of cars. I came back earlier and earlier to get more of the feeling.
What are you going to miss the least?
Waking up on the Sunday of one of the big weekends. I've had a fever for the past three days [after Green Key weekend].
Did you go abroad while at the College?
I spent freshman Summer in Beijing, China as an intern for NBC and traveled the country. Sophomore Spring, through a Marist [College] transfer program, I took classes in art history and sociology in Florence. That's where my friend and I got inspired to write [our book, "Can We Swim Here (Naked)?"] because we had to use those phrase books in Italian. We wanted to make one for Dartmouth.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Dartmouth?
One night during sophomore Summer, there was just one of those nights where everyone decided to do the Ledyard Challenge after a party. There were about 50 of us, so we took our clothes off and swam to the other side. We didn't know that [Safety and Security] was pulling up just as we started swimming. The person waiting by the car with our clothes grabbed our stuff and drove across the bridge to meet us. We didn't know, so all 50 us ran back across the bridge. People were running back and forth looking for their clothes. We ended up just sitting and chatting naked with two [Safety and Security] cars.
Why did you pick Dartmouth four years ago?
I always wanted to play squash at college and I ended up at a squash camp in my sophomore summer of high school at Dartmouth. I remember calling my parents one night and telling them that I found where I wanted to go for college.
Do you have any parting words of advice for underclassmen?
It's easy to get into a routine here. One thing I would say is that if something looks interesting then go for it. It'll define your Dartmouth experience.
EMILY BROASMajor: GeographyMinor: Public policyHometown: Washington, D.C.Activities/Organizations: Student director for Education Programs at Tucker Foundations, Chair of STAR mentoring program, Early College Awareness program, Academic Coach for the Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth program, Rockefeller Leadership Fellow, Gospel Choir, Link Up, Access By Leadership in Equity, Diversity Peer Program, Inter-Community Council
Which activity had the most significant impact on your Dartmouth experience?
STAR is a mentoring organization for students with health issues and learning disabilities. I had my own health issues, so that helped me connect with teens who were facing similar challenges, but also with Dartmouth peers who were mentors. It was my first experience stepping outside the Dartmouth bubble, which was really grounding.
What are you going to miss the most about Dartmouth?
Probably the ability to have all your friends in one place is obviously an experience that we won't have again until a nursing home situation. Hopefully not, I guess. It's also a place of learning where as a student you have access to people who are experts in the field, and that's really something I've found to be inspiring.
What are you going to miss the least about Dartmouth?
Stretching your time. I know a lot of students here do it, and there's a pressure to be competitive in every aspect in your life in some ways.
What are your post-graduation plans?
For the next four months, I'm going to be traveling to Europe and Costa Rica, and then a cross-country road trip. In the fall, I start at a consulting firm in Boston.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Dartmouth?
Every year the traditions are great and spending time with friends is always wonderful. But in the past few weeks, I've really loved seeing my friends show what they have been working on whether it be an art performance or a thesis presentation. It's been great seeing them come to an academic, athletic or even artistic conclusion.
Why did you pick Dartmouth four years ago?
I knew I wanted to be in a place where I could ski or go surfing. I had grown up doing those activities on vacations, but had never lived near a beach or a mountain.
Do you have any parting words of advice for underclassmen?
Do things that are really fulfilling. Don't feel like you have to sign up for a lot of activities. You should be deliberate about the ways you spend your time. And don't beat yourself up if t after a year of being involved in something, you realize it's not for you.
