lone pine

Sydney Wuu

Class of 2024
Sydney Wuu '24

About 

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

Favorite Thing Right Now 

The Student Wellness Center massage chairs

Hometown 

Pasadena, California

Pronouns 

she/her/hers

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Sydney's D-Plan

What's a D-Plan?

    • FallOn Campus

      Favorite Class: Introduction to Education: Learning, Development, and Teaching

      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!

    • WinterOn Campus

      Favorite Class: Global Health & Society

      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.

    • SpringOn Campus

      Favorite Class: Searching for Justice

      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.

    • FallOn Campus

      Favorite Class: Marine Policy

      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.

    • WinterOn Campus

      Favorite Class: The Practice of Science Policy and Diplomacy

      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.

    • SpringOn Campus

      Favorite Class: Energy Justice

      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.

    • SummerOn Campus

      Favorite Class: Agroecology

      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!

    • FallLondon, England

      Favorite Class: Economic History

      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.

    • SpringOn Campus

      Favorite Class: Writing and Speaking Public Policy

      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.

    • FallSouth Africa and Namibia

      Favorite Class: Dartmouth’s Environmental Studies Foreign Study Program (FSP)

      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.

    • WinterOn Campus

      Favorite Class: Econometrics

      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.

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Three Ways I Stay Balanced at Dartmouth

Each Dartmouth quarter has brought me new classes, new friends, and new experiences. Here are three ways I stay balanced and grounded in what makes me, me!

  1. No. 1

    Club Water Polo

    sydney wuu water polo scrimmage

    One of my goals for sophomore year has been to be more intentional in the ways I spend my time, and staying active with a club sport as part of the Women’s Water Polo team is a great way to relieve stress. I played water polo throughout high school, but experience is definitely not required to join the team. Around half the team came into college brand new to the sport, many swimming before but seeking a more collaborative team environment. We start practices with a swim warm-up, then move into passing, and finally drills where we practice real game situations and perhaps scrimmage. Water polo has taught me communication, critical thinking, and how to handle stressful situations gracefully. We just went down to Boston College this past weekend, where we placed second in the Women’s Collegiate Club New England/North Atlantic Divisions “A” Championship (sadly losing the final game versus BC in overtime). I try to go to the gym frequently when off season, which really helps me find a stress relief outlet as well.

  2. No. 2

    Rocky Global Leadership Program (RGLP): A Space to Reflect

    sydney wuu rglp session

    I applied to this Rockefeller Center program to learn to be more comfortable with being uncomfortable, develop a deep appreciation for ambiguity, improve my cross-cultural communication, and make time in my schedule for individual reflection. I’ll be studying abroad in London this coming fall in an economics exchange program, so I want to be able to practice these skills before spending time in an unfamiliar urban capital away from Hanover, New Hampshire. The RGLP cohort meets every Monday night, enjoying catered food, guest speakers, and ample time for discussion in small table groups. During Week 2, we head to Boston for a weekend trip which you can learn more about here! Last session, our workshop allowed us to try out Capoeira, a high-energy type of Brazilian martial art that blends elements of dance, music, and acrobatics. It was a super exciting time building our group’s aché, or powerful energy and fighting spirit, as we played with the new interstruments, learned the lyrics, and danced with partners and the larger group in a circle.

  3. No. 3

    Getting Breakfast Daily

    sydney wuu ningning bfast

    I try to read the news in the form of the Morning Brew, a daily email newsletter, every morning before eating breakfast at FoCo, Dartmouth’s main dining hall. My friend Ningning also loves to eat breakfast, so we usually plan to meet up at 9:20 a.m., before my 10:10 a.m. classes, each morning. I love when FoCo has watermelon in the fruit bar and you also can’t go wrong with a classic bagel and cream cheese—such a refreshing and yummy start to the day! I used to rarely get breakfast at FoCo during my freshman year, but have found that eating three meals a day definitely makes me more productive and energetic. I’m so glad I have an amazing breakfast buddy to chat with before heading to class too.

Posted 04/30/2022 at 9:00 AMAll List Posts

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