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
Hey hey hey! I'm Sydney and I'm a '24. To start off, here are a few fun facts about me. I'm an all-around nature-enthusiast who can't wait to experience fall foliage and her first real winter. My favorite weird food combo is Flaming Hot Cheetos and fresh poke, my favorite color is emerald green, and the last series I binge-watched was all 16 seasons of Grey's Anatomy. I'm a third-generation Chinese-American who has moved around quite a bit, attending British school while living in Spain, international school in the Philippines, and boarding school in California before most recently settling down in the forests of New Hampshire. So you may be wondering, how did a third culture kid like me find home in a rural town like Hanover?
While I may be a city girl at heart, Dartmouth is a hub of adventure, kindness, and community that I'm ever so eager to explore. Stepping onto the Green for the first time wrapped me in a blanket of small-town charm and sense of place that simply wasn't there when I visited other campuses. Whether it be paddling down the Connecticut River or conquering the icy Polar Bear Plunge at Winter Carnival, Dartmouth students aren't afraid of getting their feet wet. They are constantly innovating, collaborating, and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a well-rounded student at Dartmouth.
Hanover sunsets are incredibly beautiful!
Before visiting campus last summer, I had no idea I'd fall in love with Dartmouth's collaborative atmosphere, proximity to the outdoors, and focus on providing an unparalleled liberal arts undergraduate education. With this open mindset, I drove further into the woods with my dad, finally crossing the Connecticut River and entering a quintessential small college town USA with over 250 years of history. Dartmouth's picturesque natural setting immediately struck me as somewhere I could spend the next four years. The more I talked to people, the more I learned that Dartmouth students are interdisciplinary and kind thinkers ready to change the world in a myriad of ways. The alumni and current students I've interacted with can gush about their love of Dartmouth for hours. Wacky traditions ground Dartmouth in its familiarity, but the community is constantly changing alongside its students.
Dartmouth is where I can explore my passions broadly – a scientist can delve into the arts, an athlete can become a biomedical engineer. Dartmouth is where I can take control of my own college experience, customizing my terms with the unique flexibility of the D-Plan. At what other college could I find a student-led organic farm, a plethora of study abroad programs, and the oldest and largest collegiate outing club in the nation? But most importantly, Dartmouth feels like home, and that is why I'm so grateful that I applied ED and am now a '24. I hope four years from now, I'll reflect on my posts and appreciate all the ways Dartmouth has pushed me to grow. I can't wait to share my stories on the Big Green, so stay tuned!
One of my greatest privileges at Dartmouth has been learning from Professor Ed. Miller of the History and Asian Studies departments. Read on to learn more about why he is my favorite professor!
As Decision Day approaches, you may find yourself at a crossroads between multiple schools, each with its own four-year journey. Having already spent two years here, I will reflect on a small fraction of the things that made me choose Dartmouth.
