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 introducing myself as a Dartmouth student, I often get the question, "So... where is Hanover?" I've only ever lived in suburbs or bustling metropolises—Pasadena, CA; Gibraltar; Sorte Grande, Spain; Manila, Philippines; Claremont, CA—and so the quintessential college town of Hanover, New Hampshire is vastly different from what I've experienced growing up. Some of you readers may have similar experiences, perhaps feeling a little scared about the prospect of moving away to a rural environment, so I'm here to discuss my thoughts as a sophomore adapted to life on the Big Green!
For those of you who have never visited campus, Hanover is right on the state border of Vermont in a gorgeous region called the Upper Valley. The town boasts a Main Street, Hopkins Center for the Arts (which sells $5 movie tickets to all Dartmouth students), Connecticut River (Dartmouth students' summer playground), and of course, the College's very walkable and scenic campus. Main Street is the heart of Hanover overlooking the Green. You can find restaurants ranging from Tuk Tuk Thai (excellent Thai food) to Molly's Restaurant and Bar, the Dartmouth Co-Op (which sells all the Dartmouth merch you can think of), CVS Pharmacy (great for midnight snack runs!), and more.
Many of my friends love to grab breakfast in Lou's Bakery, a classic 1950s All American diner. The day of our matriculation (which had been delayed one year due to COVID-19), we took a trip to Lou's before taking group photos.
I love my friends!
And of course, Hanover would not be complete without the surrounding nature. For my ENVS 17: Marine Policy course, I recently took a walk around Occom Pond and Pine Park for my community essay assignment. I brought my friend Leina '24 from Tokyo—who just arrived on campus for the first time as a matriculated '24 this September!—and explained the concept of ecosystem services, which have an indirect or direct benefit to humans.
Leina's first visit to Pine Park is a success.
Pine Park is an ecological sanctuary for water and forest-dwelling creatures. Besides many dragonflies, I discovered a frog poking its head from the surface of the pond as well as a squirrel hiding underneath a tree in Pine Park for protection. I also saw multiple black snail shells in the water near the shore that were likely displaced by the torrential downpour from yesterday. I observed that the algae that has resulted in surface scum with a green/blue tint and would be curious to know if it is related to the recent rain. I'm so glad I'm taking this class and would be happy to talk more about it in a future blog post.
As I write my blog post in 8 Ball Hall, my friend Neha explains the concepts of cis and trans decalins from her Organic Chemistry I class. She says that her favorite place in Hanover is dinners on Friday nights at Molly's Restaurant and Bar with friends!
The people, the places, and pines make the community what it is, and I can't imagine myself spending these four years anywhere else! Until next time,
I have written about being a student worker plenty of times in the past, but I have yet to talk about one of my favorite jobs ever: ticket selling at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
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!
