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
Since Dartmouth is on the quarter system, each season feels like a distinctly different chapter of my time here in college. Hanover has truly transformed over the past weeks: from deep shades of red to a white blanket of snow all around. My first full week back on campus has been busy with staying caught up with classes, writing news articles for The Dartmouth (I just published one on the new boba shop opening within walking distance on Main Street!), attending virtual club and floor meetings, settling into my dorm, but most notably for me having grown up on the West Coast – embracing my first time living in the cold.
When applying to Dartmouth, part of me was worried for the winters because I've never lived in a cold environment before. However, going outside on my first snowy day to pick up my breakfast from Novack Cafe was like stepping into a snowglobe. The air felt so refreshing, crisp and clean! Tiny, crystalized snowflakes with the most intricate details fell from the sky and landed on my hair, coat, and gloves. Before I entered the building, I took off my gloves so I could examine them one by one. I found it fascinating how each miniscule flake that didn't land on me joined millions of others on the ground to create a fluffy and powdery layer of white snow.
I entered the second stage of my arrival quarantine after receiving my second negative test on campus on day 3, allowing me to pick up packages from Hinman Mail Center, collect hot meals from Novack Cafe, and go on socially-distant walks outside with one other friend. The first day, I joined my friend Emily for a morning run around Occom Pond. The pond had completely frozen over and looked amazingly different than it did in the warm September months. The following morning, I went on a walk with my pen pal, Millie, a varsity tennis student-athlete who just arrived on campus for the very first time from Australia. We met by complete chance – some '24s on the Facebook page organized a pen pal exchange in spring of 2020 after regular decision applicants committed, and we continued emailing each other for months after our pairing. It was great meeting her in real life after so many virtual letters exchanged!
My friend and old pen pal Millie met in front of Baker-Berry Library.
After I'm released from the last stage of quarantine, I can't wait to go sledding on the golf course, ice-skate on the two rinks out on the Green, and learn to ski on the Dartmouth Skiway (here is a link to two live webcams of what's going on right now at the Skiway). In case you're curious, COVID-19 protocols look a little different this winter than last fall – following CDC and New Hampshire state guidance, Dartmouth reduced its quarantine length from two weeks to eight day and upped the number of times students living on campus should get tested per week from one to two.
That's all for now. Dartmouth has been "snow much fun" so far in 2021 and I'm excited for what the future holds! For all my readers on the West Coast, be sure to bring warm gloves, boots, and many layers for whenever you experience your first winter on the East Coast. I'm sure you'll have a blast!
This trailer on the Green is where students can exchange their Dartmouth ID cards for a free skate rental and borrow hockey equipment for the day.
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
