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.
From attending my Development Economics class to playing with a baby pig, I thought I'd take you through my Thursday's shenanigans at Dartmouth.
9 a.m.: Breakfast at Novack Café
I ordered a grande iced oat matcha and sausage egg and cheese, then brushed up on some reading for my Public Policy class to start my day.
10:10 a.m.: ECON 24: Development Economics
We first listened to some group presentations. Afterwards, I took notes as Profesor Novosad launched into his lecture about labor markets, the Harris-Todaro migration model, spatial equilibrium, cities, and slums.
12 p.m.: Lunch at the Hopkins Center for the Arts' Courtyard Café
For lunch, I went to the Hop with my friend Adri and enjoyed a billy bob with spinach and a cup of fresh watermelon. It was delicious!
1:15 p.m.: Barn Babies
Diana poses for a photo with the baby goat that really likes her jeans!
My friend Diana and I stopped by Sarner Underground for Barn Babies, a traveling petting zoo. Dartmouth's Collis Programming Board hosts this popular event every spring so students can destress from midterms by cuddling some cute kittens, bunnies, and puppies, even saying hi to a diapered baby goat, pig, and Japanese chicken. I always look forward to it!
2:25 p.m.: PBPL 41: Writing and Speaking Public Policy
The theme for Week 6 was "Arguing When Evidence Isn't the Point: Recognizing and Respecting the Power of Belief." We discussed the advantages and failures of the law in relation to the Scopes trial, a debate over whether or not evolution should be taught in the United States public school system. We also gave our peers verbal constructive feedback on our letters to the editor assignment.
4:30 p.m.: Tennis with Alexa
After class, I went to play tennis with my friend Alexa to get in a late afternoon workout. The outdoor courts next to the gym are open to all Dartmouth students, and you can rent rackets and balls free of charge from the front desk.
5:25 p.m.: Quick trip to Collis Center
I visited Collis to use my dinner swipe to pick up a smoothie and nigiri sushi on my way to my sorority's termly sisterhood discussion.
5:30 p.m.: Sisterhood discussion for my sorority
We discussed topics of equity and inclusion in small groups, including ways our sorority can actively take steps to improve in these dimensions. I enjoy these discussions because they are a way of meeting members in different class years, especially since I was off campus for the past two terms.
7 p.m.: Undergraduate Advisor (UGA) staff meeting
West House UGAs convene weekly with our Assistant Director (AD) Jodi to check in and keep a pulse on the residential community. During this meeting, the UGAs in my dormitory continued to plan an upcoming Week 9 "DoNot Stress" event with free donuts and wellness kits for our residents.
8:30 p.m.: Study for ECON 37: Gender and Family Issues in Modern Economies midterm
My friend Caroline and I met up to study before our midterm tomorrow morning. Professor Olivetti posted two practice exams, so we reviewed those along with concepts like the gender wage gap, human capital investment decisions, and firm-specific versus general on-the-job training.
10:30 p.m.: Late night swipe @ the Cube
I used my late night meal swipe to grab some snacks from the Cube, a shared common space between Allen and School House (though all houses are welcome).
11:30 p.m.: Bedtime
After showering and brushing my teeth, I watched a little bit of Netflix before going to bed. Good night all!
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a phenomenal total solar eclipse occurred — and we happened to be within the path of totality. As a result, Dartmouth hosted a variety of eclipse-related events on- and off-campus. Find out how I spent the eclipse!
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
