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.
The Dartmouth Outing Club ("the DOC"), the largest and oldest collegiate outing club in the nation, has been one of the highlights of my Sophomore Summer. So far during my Sophomore Summer I have savored the aroma of freshly baked pizzas from the Organic Farm, been in awe by panoramic views from the top of Lafayette Mountain, and splashed into the Connecticut River after a Friday afternoon's worth of paddleboarding yoga. Now halfway through the term, I'm more confident in my ability to thrive in the outdoors and excited to be able to share some photos and reflections from trips I've been on this summer.
Before coming to Dartmouth, I wouldn't consider myself "outdoorsy" at all. My childhood was a blend of Manila skyscrapers and Los Angeles freeways—I never dreamed of summiting Franconia Ridge or making pizza with ingredients freshly harvested from my college's organic farm. Despite my lack of experience with the outdoors, part of my excitement in applying to a close-knit college on the border of New Hampshire and Vermont was its proximity to nature, as I knew for the vast majority of my life I'd be living in a city or suburban environment. I viewed my four years as an undergraduate student as the perfect time to branch out and try new hobbies because I'd never know what hidden gems I'd stumble upon. For me, these have been adventures like paddleboard yoga trips with the Ledyard Canoe Club, trying out warrior and tree pose while balancing on a board in a carefree, peaceful setting on the Connecticut River.
Yoga tree pose on a paddleboard!
One Saturday I challenged myself with a 10 mile trek through Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains, one of the most beautiful hiking destinations in New England. I'll never forget feeling the wind rushing through my hair and the accomplishment of soaking in an amazing view when we reached the summit. At the top of Mount Lafayette, out of the blue a former DOC president recognized us as Dartmouth students because of the particular gummy snacks we were eating! That moment spoke to the sheer tight-knit community of the College and our extensive alumni network.
I ride my electric scooter all around campus, but have never mountain biked before. Joining an Introduction to Mountain Biking trip with the Dartmouth Mountain Biking Club (DMBC) was a super cool off-the-beaten path experience. We tried out the Berm Trail in Oak Hill, as well as a skills course where we learned how to build momentum to carry us over bumps and ridges in the dirt. Our instructors were extremely patient and encouraging to us as we built up the confidence to try out new routes.
I hiked Mount Cardigan, a beginner-friendly 3-mile loop, with the Viva Hardigg Outdoors Club, a sub-club of the DOC focused on gender inclusivity in the outdoors. As we snacked on Annie's organic bunny fruit snacks, we chatted and enjoyed views from underneath the shade of the fire tower. We stopped at a local bakery for pastries and drinks afterwards—a super refreshing treat!
This past Friday, I joined Farm Club at a pizza dinner at the Organic Farm. We rolled the dough, added sauces and put our fresh pizzas with veggies harvested from Dartmouth's very own Organic Farm in the wood-fired oven. It was incredibly yummy and even better than Domino's, if I do say so myself.
Our final creation!
All in all, what I love about the DOC is the sheer diversity of trips offered that make the outdoors more accessible to people with all interests. The Dartmouth Outing Club is an umbrella organization for 23 sub-clubs, including Cabin and Trail, Ledyard Canoe Club, Dartmouth Mountaineering Club, Viva Hardigg Outdoors Club, and Timber Team. I hope my post has helped illustrate some of the ways you can get outside at Dartmouth with student-run trips in the surrounding Upper Valley and beyond!
It's easy to forget how easy it is to access walking trails during the hustle of a Dartmouth term. As graduation nears, I am reminded of how special it is to step off campus and enjoy quiet moments in nature.
With a solar eclipse sweeping across North America for the first time in nearly seven years on April 8th came a road-trip with hundreds of other Dartmouth students to a zone of totality near campus: St. Johnsbury, Vermont!
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.
