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.
When I was applying to colleges, I absolutely loved watching 'A Day in the Life'-style vlogs. I wanted to share what a typical Monday at Dartmouth is for me to show there is truly never a dull moment here in Hanover, New Hampshire!
8:00 a.m.: Wake Up — It's time to wake up, take a shower, and get ready for the day ahead. It's an especially bright and sunny Monday morning of Week 4; we're nearing the halfway point of the term. All three of my classes this term are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, which means my Tuesdays and Thursdays are pretty free to study and also enjoy my college life.
8:30 a.m.: COVID-19 Testing — Dartmouth students living in the Upper Valley are tested at least twice a week. Morning walks to the testing center are quite relaxing and a great way to start my day on an active note. Sometimes when I have time, I stop by the gym to get some cardio in because it's right on the way to the testing center.
9:00 a.m.: Head to Novack Cafe — I love working at Novack because it's just a two-minute walk from my dorm room, and right next to the library. I order a venti iced chai latte and parmesan leek danish with my breakfast meal swipe and sit down in a booth to get some work done before my first class of the day. I also transcribe some of my interviews for an article I'm writing for The Dartmouth, our school newspaper, covering the Dartmouth Design Collective's recent Designathon. Novack is the perfect place to work on campus when you want light background study noise and a cup of coffee!
10:20 a.m.: ENGL07.55: Searching for Justice — We are currently working on developing our own theories of justice from American literature and stories. First-year seminars are awesome opportunities to satisfy a distributive requirement while learning about an unfamiliar topic that stands out to you. These seminars range from "Brain Evolution" to "Future of Food" to "Theater for Social Change" and much more!
11:45 a.m.: MATH010: Introductory Statistics — Our lecture focuses on the multiplication rule for probability. My professor stays after our quiz to explain the solutions in depth for us, which we really appreciate!
1:00 p.m.: Lunch — I head to Collis Cafe, less than a three-minute walk from my dorm room, to pick up sushi to-go as well as a mango smoothie. Yum!
2:35 p.m.: PSYC001: Introductory Psychology — Today, guest speaker and world memory export Lila Davachi visits our class to speak on her field of expertise. We ask questions ranging from the science behind what happens when our brain blocks out a traumatic memory at a young age to why time seems to go by faster when we're enjoying a day. Her talk is super insightful and brings a sense of the outside real world to our classroom.
3:45 p.m.: Study at Third-Floor Berry (3FB) — I review my psychology lectures in the quiet of Third-Floor Berry, a productive study location I recently discovered while exploring the library with my new spring roommate.
My teammates Penelope and Alyssa pose on the walk back from practice.
6:15 p.m..: Water Polo Practice — Coach Jim does not go easy on us, but practice with my water polo girls is always one of the highlights of my day. It's great to get into the pool on a semiweekly basis these days to work on conditioning, legs, passing, and head-up swimming.
8:00 p.m.: Team Dinner — After showering, my team grabs a late-ish dinner together at FoCo, our main dining hall. I get the yummy Nashville hot chicken with buttered parsley egg noodle and steamed peas, the classic chicken noodle soup, and of course — a chocolate chip FoCo cookie for dessert.
9:00 p.m.: Study at Novack Cafe — In between chatting with friends, I work on my article for The Dartmouth and an upcoming statistics problem set during these three hours.
Midnight: Time for Bed — What a productive day! I quickly get ready for bed, watch the last 15 minutes of The Circle on Netflix with my roomie, and then it's time to go to sleep. I'm excited for a chill day tomorrow with no classes.
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
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!
