Sydney David
Hometown: Duluth, MN
Year in School: Senior
Interests/Hobbies:
Ceramics, painting, bugs, hiking, drinking tea.
Involvements/Employment/Activities:
At the moment, I am studying abroad in Florence, Italy before I graduate. I have worked at Michelangelo’s coffee house for a little over two years. I also am involved with Sex Out Loud as their Financial Coordinator.
Where is your favorite place on campus and why?
My favorite place on campus is somewhere high up where I can get a good view of the lake and sky. I like the library at the top of the teacher education building.
What has been your favorite Econ course?
My favorite econ course so far has been either Behavioral (455) or Law and Econ (522).
If you have any other majors or certificates in addition to Econ, how did you decide to add Econ or add the other major/certificate?
I immediately knew I wanted to major in Economics when I came to university. I added certificates in Public Policy and Environmental Studies because they complement my professional goals, and it wasn’t too hard to fit the requirements in with an already rigorous course load.
How do you manage your course load?
Getting ahead of your work and being aware of timelines in each class is important. Each semester there is such a curve to understanding how you and your professor will communicate with each other so give yourself time to process that to ensure success.
Where did you intern/research, and did you have a good experience? Why or why not?
During the spring of my sophomore year, I participated in the Wisconsin in Washington program where I interned for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. After that, I used connections I made in DC to secure a position with the Wisconsin Farmers Union. These experiences were well suited to my abilities, and they opened doors to professional interests that I didn’t know about.
What advice do you have for students seeking an internship/research experience?
I think you should just go for it and start looking early, even if you don’t think you will be competitive in the job market. Try applying as a freshman or sophomore just to get experience in interviewing, professional writing, etc.
Do you know what you want to do after graduation? If yes, what? If not, what advice would you give to another student who may not know either?
Ideally, I want to do nonprofit environmental advocacy work. I hope to be able to use my background in economics and policy to support sustainable adaptation in my community.