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.
It's not every day that my Intro to Chinese Culture and Understanding the Universe classes were both canceled, but the cosmos had other plans. Welcome to a rare weekday in my life with no classes!
8:00 a.m.: Wake Up & Get Ready for the Day
Good morning! Despite last week's unexpected April snowfall, today's warm weather means it is finally starting to feel like spring.
9:00 a.m.: Fern Coffee and Tea Bar
My favorite Dartmouth dining option is the Fern Coffee and Tea Bar inside the Irving Institute for Energy & Society. For breakfast, I kicked off the day with a refreshing iced oat matcha latte and an energizing container of Brekki dark chocolate ready-to-eat oats.
10:00 a.m.: Energy Justice Clinic Meeting
Just two flights of stairs above The Fern, I met with my Energy Justice Clinic research team in Dr. Kelly's office. We spent the hour making solid progress on collaborative data entry for an energy burden survey in the Upper Valley.
11:15 a.m.: Gym
Since my classes were canceled, I hit a late-morning leg day with my friend Lillian. Opting for a midday workout was a great choice (way less crowded than the usual post-5 p.m. crowd)!
12:45 p.m.: Lunch at Courtyard Café (the Hop)
Lillian and I joined my friend Danny for lunch at the Hop, a popular location on Dartmouth's dining plan. Lillian and I ordered the burger special while Danny got the chicken avocado wrap.
3 p.m.: Solar Eclipse on Green
After heading back to my dorm for a quick shower, the highlight of my day was gathering with friends and the Dartmouth community to witness the solar eclipse on the Green. The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy organized a wonderful viewing event, complete with free protective eclipse glasses, food, and refreshments. I'll never forget the dramatic darkening of the sky and the sudden chill as Hanover plunged into 98% totality. I'm grateful to have witnessed this rare celestial event at Dartmouth, especially since the next opportunity in the contiguous United States won't come until 2044!
5:30 p.m.: Fellowship Advising Dinner & Information Session
Earlier this month, I received a Fulbright Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State to teach English and promote cultural exchange in Taiwan. I was invited by the Assistant Dean of Faculty for Fellowship Advising Professor Harner to join a Fulbright Program and U.K. awards dinner and info session to help answer questions regarding my application process experience.
7 p.m.: Present a Dartmouth Virtual Information Session
One of my favorite parts of the Senior Admissions Fellow job is presenting to prospective high school students worldwide about what makes Dartmouth special. During these 45-minute sessions, Dartmouth admissions officers or senior fellows will introduce the College through the four Ps: the Place, Program, People, and Process. Feel free to visit this link to sign up for virtual information sessions and campus tours led by and featuring current Dartmouth students!
8 p.m.: Homework & Laundry
Back in my dorm, I did some laundry (which, thanks to Student Government, is now completely free in all College-owned residential facilities), wrote a discussion post on poetry in premodern China, and continued to brainstorm topic ideas for my ECON 64: Topics in Development Economics culminating experience research paper.
11 p.m.: Good Night!
After watching an episode of The Resident(my latest Netflix obsession), it's time for bed. Thanks for following along on my day!
