Hello hello! I'm Sarah, a '29 from Burnsville, North Carolina (about an hour outside of Asheville, NC). I'm a Questbridge National Match Scholar here at Dartmouth passionate about global affairs, public policy, disaster relief, and anything in-between. On campus, I'm involved with the DOC (VHOC!!!), MUN, World Outlook Journal, World Affairs Council, and more. Reach out with any questions!
I was drawn to INTS80.06 as it was taught by Ambassador Jeffery Delaurentis, a career ambassador to Cuba and to the UN Security Council. Throughout the course, we explored the history of the international liberal order that the US created after WWII and where that same international sphere is going today---and if US leadership is necessary or guaranteed.
Winterim Internships: My time with DCSI's ImpACT Initiative
College is often seen as the epitome of experiences: a place to learn and explore in ways you might not get to anywhere else. For me, this looked like maximizing study abroad opportunities andinternships, learning languageswhile I have Ivy League resources at my hands, and trying things so far out of my comfort zone it's laughable (exhibit A: hip hop dance). It's one of the key reasons I chose Dartmouth. I hoped the D-Plan would allow me to travel far and wide while utilizing my off-terms to compete for internships—plus taking advantage of various on-campus internship funds to intern abroad or take internships that may not pay (enough).
As a first-year, I was able to cinch my first internship through Dartmouth Center for Career Design's (DCSI) Winterim ImpACT Initiative. The internship is short—three months to be exact—but fully funded and creates an amazing avenue to engage in social impact work in one's community. For my ImpACT Internship, I interned with Appalachian Disaster Coalition, a local disaster recovery nonprofit in my hometown of Burnsville, NC. ImpACT was especially incredible because I plan to work in disaster relief—and while Dartmouth is incredible, there aren't exactly many disaster-related clubs, majors, or courses. Outside internships are the unique way to get hands-on experience in this more niche topic, and I'm so glad I had ImpACT to make that possible.
Beyond just providing funding, DCSI provides training and research guidance throughout the program. A central piece of ImpACT is using your experience while interning to map the issue in your community using systems thinking, a holistic approach to analyze how systems interact in reality and locate an innovative solution. The process looks at causes, stakeholders, barriers, and possible solutions—all guided through weekly sessions with DCSI staff and other members of the ImpACT cohort.
Me and my systems mapping poster at the ImpACT Poster Symposium!
After Winterim (the 6-week break or "interim" between the fall and winter terms), the entire cohort presented our systems mapping posters and internship experiences. It was so much fun to get to share my interest and my community with others, particularly those who already identified as being interested in social impact. My time at my nonprofit has since grown, and I now work as an intern there separate from DCSI. I would never have made this connection, even in my own hometown, without the ImpACT initiative, and now I get to continue doing relief work that both connects me with my community and keeps me engaged in the work I love to do.
ADC's office kitten, Blue Moon, helping me out with my systems mapping diagram.
This is truly one of the things I love the most about Dartmouth—there are so many programs, projects, and opportunities available at any given time to explore your specific interests and gain hands-on experience. Whether that's through off-term internships, Winterim explorations, study abroad trips, or anything in-between, I can't wait to see what other opportunities Dartmouth has to offer me.
In 1956, researchers gathered at Dartmouth to lay the foundations for what we know as AI today. Nearly 70 years later, our legacy continues. Meet Fabrice, a '27 from Rwanda majoring in computer science and conducting research on AI.
Curious about how declaring a major works at Dartmouth? Concerned about getting trapped studying something you don't like? No need to worry. Come explore with me how majors and minors work at Dartmouth!
