Hey all! So excited to see you here. My name is Sydney and I'm a '24 passionate about energy, education, the environment, and economic policy. I grew up in Southern California, but have also lived abroad in Gibraltar, Spain, and the Philippines. When not blogging or working at McNutt as a Senior Admissions Fellow, you can catch me involved in the Dartmouth Energy Alliance, Energy Justice Clinic, and Greek Life. I hope my blog can give you a window into Dartmouth from a student's perspective.
Academic Program
Majors in Economics and Environmental Studies, Minor in International Studies
Taught by Professor Tine, this class focused on many interdisciplinary topics within the field of education. I loved learning about the significance of early pre-K interventions on long-term behaviors, the layered complexities of the American public school system, the neuroscience behind how the brain processes new information, and much more!
As someone interested in international studies, this course opened my eyes to the complex world of global health – both the biological and social sides of achieving equity. I found this class especially applicable given the COVID-19 pandemic and often transfer knowledge from Global Health & Society into my everyday life.
Searching for Justice is a perfect blend of studying literature and law. Highlights from this course include an op-ed I produced on anti-Asian hate crimes and a fictional short story adaptation based on Japanese internment camps from Korematsu v. United States. This first-year seminar exposed me to many different court cases, and I’m now strongly considering a future career in law!
SummerClaremont, California
I spent my summer back home in Southern California, working at my high school alma mater as a Summer Fellow for their Junior Scholars program. I had a wonderful time designing curriculum for the Journalism program, planning activities for middle schoolers, and providing support in the dorms. I also spent quality time with my cousins and bonded with family by the beach.
I am an aquaphile, a lover of all things related to the water. This environmental studies course on Marine Policy was perfect for me because it dove into how humans have impacted the oceans. From coastal development to deep sea mining, we explored how to think like a policymaker and consider the many different stakeholders involved in global marine issues.
Wow, the Practice of Science Policy and Diplomacy was a blast! I was eager to get to class early every day for this Public Policy seminar. Professor Burkins introduced me to writing effective policy memos, participating in a Model Arctic Council simulation, and presenting our SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy recommendations with a state coalition.
Energy Justice examined issues of culture, power, and inequity in the necessary shift away from fossil fuels. Taught as a Social Impact Practicum, this class deepened my interest in pursuing a career in energy and environmental law. During junior year, I’m excited to continue working with Professor Kelly as a Presidential Scholar researching justice and accountability in corporate energy systems.
During my Sophomore Summer, I really enjoyed studying food systems and accessing Dartmouth’s Organic Farm as our lab for Professor Ong’s Agroecology course. It was an incredible New England summer experience learning to visualize data in R, conducting fieldwork outdoors, and working as a team on scientific research projects. A term highlight was tasting freshly tapped maple syrup from Dartmouth’s very own Sugar Crew!
I was one of six Dartmouth Economics exchange students at University College London this term. All four of my modules—UCL’s equivalent of classes—gave me a new perspective on Economics and Geography through a British lens. Economic History was my favorite as we studied industrialization, the demographic transition, and the East Asian economic miracle after World War II. I grew a deep appreciation for how the events of our past can offer important lessons for us today and into the future.
WinterNew York, New York
Since Dartmouth students typically spend their Sophomore Summer on campus, the D-Plan allows us to take a different term off to develop personally and professionally. I spent my off-term working as a corporate legal assistant intern at a law firm in New York City. It was such a thrill to live and work in the Big Apple! With many fellow Dartmouth '24s also in the NYC area, my days out of the office were full of yummy food, catching up with old friends, and exploring iconic city sights.
Drawing upon disciplines like law, psychology, and popular culture, Writing and Speaking Public Policy was all about becoming more persuasive communicators. Professor Kalish provided us with such thoughtful, detailed feedback on our assignments and arranged for class field trips to the Jones Media Center and Hood Museum of Art. I especially enjoyed the flexibility offered for our small group media campaign project, where I created a children’s book on the benefits of bringing universal pre-K to New Hampshire.
SummerMystic, Connecticut
During my junior summer, I interned as a Yale Conservation Scholar at Mystic Aquarium. Working in the Education & Conservation department, I mentored high school interns about marine science communication and public engagement. Besides attending weekly professional development workshops with the Yale School of the Environment, I also helped out with summer camps, traveling classroom programs, and citizen science projects.
I traveled to Southern Africa for the first time with Dartmouth’s Environmental Studies FSP. From conducting research on invertebrate diversity in the Namib Desert to speaking with community members at Uibasen-Twyfelfontein Conservancy, we studied Namibia's socio-ecological systems. Highlights from this incredible trip include experiencing game drives at Etosha National Park, discussing ecotourism at the Cheetah Conservation Fund, and learning about Namibia’s integrated coastal zone management approach with government officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
Econometrics was a pleasant surprise! While I came into this statistics-heavy course without a Stata coding background, Professor Fetter’s amazing explanations helped me feel confident about the new material. I learned so much about the assumptions required for causality and now feel equipped with the analytical tools to evaluate Economic research papers in an entirely different light.
There is never a dull moment at Dartmouth! One of the main reasons why the College is so special is our unique D-Plan, which operates on the quarter system. Each 10-week term goes by quickly, but is enriching, exciting, and rewarding with its own personality that feels like a new chapter in the book that is college.
Falls are filled with New England foliage, apple picking, long hikes, and enjoying the excitement of a new school year. Winters are filled with skiing, snowball fights, sledding, firepits, and ice-skating on the Green. So far, springs look to be filled with playing spikeball (a cross between volleyball and four square!), picnicking in socially-distanced groups, rollerblading with friends, and so much more. And did I mention Dartmouth students can choose to take classes during the summer? In fact, Sophomore Summer is a class bonding experience that occurs at the exact halfway point of one's college years where everyone from your class spends the summer term in Hanover together. Although I'm only a freshman (who has yet to experience her own Sophomore Summer), I've heard from passionate alumni and upperclassmen alike that summers at Dartmouth are filled with paddling down the Connecticut River in between classes, tanning along the dock, stargazing at nights, and maximizing the weather and late sunsets by exploring the surrounding Upper Valley. Some alumni have even told me that these 10 weeks have been the "best 10 weeks of their lives."
As more of our community continues to get vaccinated, I look forward to meeting more people and making new memories in each of the four distinctively unique seasons. Looking outside my window, spring has truly sprung here in Hanover! The campus looks so different from when I left it at the end of winter term, and is alive with community energy out on the Green. This term, much has changed as well along with the scenery. First of all, I've gained a new randomly-assigned and lovely roommate Alexa who is also from the LA area. Yesterday, Alexa and I took an afternoon run to the neighboring Mink Brook Trail, which was a peaceful, sunny end to Week 2 of the term.
Alexa is a great running buddy and roomie!
We also grabbed free boba outside of Collis Student Center after our run, courtesy of the Programming Board. I have found myself really cherishing these small adventures and am so glad I've made a running buddy to enjoy spring term with me. Secondly, I'm taking three new courses this term: MATH 10: Introductory Statistics, PSYC 1: Introductory Psychology, and my First Year Seminar: Searching for Justice. So far, they've all been super fascinating with wonderful professors, so be sure to check back in a couple of weeks for a more in-depth post on my freshman spring classes.
Lastly, I'd like to give a huge congratulations to the Class of 2025 regular decision admitted students (and of course the EDs)! I may be biased, but I sure hope that you decide to come to Hanover this fall. Dartmouth is a wonderful place to explore and grow in a constantly changing environment, yet one that is grounded by tradition. We can't wait to welcome the '25s.
