lone pine

Sydney Wuu

Class of 2024
Sydney Wuu '24

Bio 

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

You are here

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.

Junior Spring Goal Setting

Snow has nearly melted on the Green, birds are chirping songs of glee, and Spring 2023 term, or what we refer to at Dartmouth as "23S," is just starting to bloom! This blog post reflects on my top goals for junior spring at Dartmouth.

  1. No. 1

    Explore weekly Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) trips and spend more time in nature.

    A group of 8 students huddle together at the top of Wright's Mountain. Although there isn't much of a sunset, the white fog looks beautiful!

    After a winter internship in the concrete jungle of New York, I’m ready to embrace spring in the woods. Spring may just be my favorite season at Dartmouth. Hanover is absolutely gorgeous with the weather warming, longer daylight, and trees coming back to life. During my sophomore summer, I got a taste of all that the outdoors of the Upper Valley has to offer and started attending lots of trips—mountain biking, strenuous hiking, paddle board yoga, and pizza making at the Organic Farm, to name a few. An online website called Trailhead allows all undergraduates to sign up for trips as they are posted and request gear as needed for free. I just completed a 1.7-mile sunsike (sunset hike) this past Friday to Wrights Mountain; though there wasn’t much of a sunset (instead lots of snow!), I will always remember my first ever winter hike. Wearing microspikes to prevent slippage on ice, we trekked upwards in the snow until we reached the top, where we had a nice moment of reflection to peer out at the cool blanket of fog. I’m looking forward to partaking in many more trips this spring term!

  2. No. 2

    Always strive for balance.

    A photo Occom Pond on a sunny day. The ice is melting due to the spring sunshine!

    In college, you can do anything but not everything, so this term is all about prioritizing the activities that I have committed to: blogging for admissions, the Dartmouth Energy Alliance, Presidential Scholars Research, serving on the executive board of my sorority, and my job as an upperclassman undergraduate advisor. As I wrap up junior year, I am also trying to take time to recharge for myself, whether it be waking up on time to eat a hearty breakfast before class, going for scooter rides and walks around Occom Pond (or “Woccoms” for short), visiting Rosie the Goldendoodle in the Student Wellness Center, or reading for fun before bed. There is only so much time during each day and with a renewed focus I plan to make the most out of each passing moment here in Hanover.

  3. No. 3

    Reconnecting with old and making new friends.

    A photo of my friend Alexa passing by the Green on our walk to the library.

    I recently found out that I was accepted into an Environmental Studies Foreign Study Program (FSP) to Southern Africa (more details on a future post) during my senior fall, which I’m really excited for! However, attending this program means I won’t return to Hanover after this term until my senior winter. I hope to connect with others, as many ‘24s who were also gone for the fall and winter will be reunited on campus. I am especially excited for Green Key weekend (a music festival in late May), bonding with my floor and mentoring new faces as an undergraduate advisor, and playing Spikeball on the Green. Also, since I’ll have access to my car later this term, I’m excited to explore the local area with friends on weekends and learn more about Dartmouth’s surrounding community.

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Posted 04/3/2023 at 9:00 AMAll List Posts

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