As a mechanical engineering senior, a lot of my time at Caltech has been spent in labs, doing problem sets, and attending core classes. But some of my favorite classes have had nothing to do with engineering.

My favorite non-STEM classes allowed me to pursue a breadth of interests rather than strictly filling every term with engineering courses. Here are a few of these memorable classes.

Hum/VS 52: The Legacy of Mexican Schools

One of the most meaningful humanities classes I took explored Mexican culture through art, music, history, and education. We studied influential Mexican artists, historical movements, and how culture is preserved through visual expression. One of my favorite parts of the course was giving presentations on famous artworks and analyzing their meanings.

We also took a field trip to a Mexican art museum, which allowed me to see everything we had been learning about in class. 

PE 10: Aerobic Dance

The class met twice a week and was led by a very energetic instructor who made every session fun and welcoming. We learned a wide range of dance styles, including bachata, cumbia, belly dancing, and more. Even if I came into class stressed or tired, I always left feeling a lot better. Our instructor also encouraged students to attend her evening dance classes, which became an easy low-time commitment way to destress for me. 

L114: Spanish Language Literature and Its Film Adaptations

This advanced Spanish series combines literature, film, language, and culture, which I have really enjoyed. We read works connected to major authors and historical traditions, and compare them with their film adaptations. We learned through poems, songs, and discussions of different Latin American regions. 

PE 6: Core Training

Another favorite PE class was Core Training, a twice-a-week class focused on 45 minutes of core and ab workouts. 

The workouts were effective and easy to carry into life outside the class. I still use many of the exercises in my regular gym routine now.

Why These Classes Mattered

At a place like Caltech, it can be easy to define your college experience entirely through your major and heavy courses. It is important to make sure to experience learning about other topics, not just for credits, but because you are interested in them as well. 

These courses helped me stay connected to not only my culture but also learn about others, and stay creative while managing a heavy course load for the majority of my terms.