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Sydney Harris

1,045

Bold Points

1x

Nominee

1x

Finalist

Bio

I am passionate about becoming an intellectual. To me, being an intellectual means continuously expanding your mind—learning new things, reading, educating yourself, and having the resilience not to give up easily. I am dedicating my life to learning in every aspect. Since childhood, my family instilled in me a love for community service through year-round volunteering at food banks, shelters, and schools, as well as participating in youth mentorship groups. This foundation is what I believe drives my strong desire to volunteer as often as I can. My passions are broad and include a multitude of things. Academic-wise, I am passionate about mastering all courses and programs to show my younger self I have what it takes to be excellent. In my leisure time, I enjoy art, yoga, photography, psychology, and a bit of HGTV. My passion for art, business, and sustainability has led me to create my own online second-hand clothing shop, Big Bird's World. The lack of culture celebrated within my family, drove my love and curiousness for learning about cultures across the globe and how they operate. So when allowed to dive into selective cultures in school through language, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to satisfy that curiosity. There was one culture offered that had always piqued my interest. I was fascinated by every aspect of China, from health and well-being to the education system, business market, and politics. I studied Mandarin for six years and further immersed myself in the culture by joining the Chinese Culture Club and Honor Society.

Education

Suffolk County Community College

Associate's degree program
2023 - 2025
  • Majors:
    • Business Administration, Management and Operations

Half Hollow Hills High School East

High School
2019 - 2023

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Film/Video and Photographic Arts
    • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
    • Psychology, General
    • Business/Commerce, General
    • Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
    • Biological/Biosystems Engineering
    • Biochemical Engineering
    • East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      International Affairs

    • Dream career goals:

      Work with Essence. Start my own non-profit centered around homelessness, women's health, and/or environmental protection.

    • Summer Intern

      W & W Public Relations
      2024 – Present10 months
    • Social Media Marketing Intern

      Sweet Reads
      2021 – 20221 year
    • Concession worker

      Tiki Joes Captree
      2021 – Present3 years

    Sports

    Cheerleading

    Varsity
    2019 – 20201 year

    Research

    • Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

      W & W Public Relations — Summer Intern
      2024 – Present

    Arts

    • N/a

      Drawing
      2019 – 2023

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Wyndanch VA — Thanksgiving/ Christmas Volunteer
      2015 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce — Holiday Volunteer
      2021 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Suffolk Youth Jewish Community Center — Year-round Volunteer
      2021 – 2023
    • Volunteering

      Goddard Riverside Community Center — Thanksgiving/ Christmas Volunteer
      2015 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    “The Office” Obsessed! Fan Scholarship
    Growing up, my family cultivated a deep love for comedy on television. Whether it was Family Feud or The Bernie Mac Show, when we were together, the room was always filled with laughter. Shows like Bernie Mac and Modern Family introduced me to awkward silence humor, which eventually led to my obsession with The Office. But before The Office, I was (and still am) a huge fan of The Mindy Project. When I returned to The Office after taking a break following Season 1, I felt a renewed connection to the show. Seeing Mindy Kaling's creative brilliance in her own show, I knew I would love her work on The Office as well, especially since she wrote many of the episodes. Her character Kelly Kapoor is like my alter ego in so many ways—her spontaneous singing, infectious giddiness, unique fashion sense, and her ability to captivate (and sometimes trap) people with long-winded stories are traits I see in myself. Kelly's lack of a filter is what makes her a fan favorite, and I deeply resonate with her quote, “I talk a lot, so I’ve learned to just tune myself out,” a skill I know others have picked up when listening to my rants and stories. A close runner-up to Kelly would be Pam Beesly. Depending on the day, my demeanor at work might mirror Pam's more subdued energy. Like Pam, I sometimes struggle to catch jokes or sarcasm right away, and I have a hard time hiding my confusion when these interactions arise. Her overall awkwardness in conversations is something I also experience from time to time. The Office was my gateway to a love of long-running shows and movie franchises. The ability to grow alongside the characters is something I will always cherish in cinema. Discovering this show not only rekindled a sense of togetherness that I once shared with my family, but it also taught me that awkward and embarrassing moments are just a part of life—and they're something you can always find humor in.
    “Stranger Things” Fanatic Scholarship
    If I had to choose a squad from the characters of Stranger Things, Dustin, Nancy, and El would be my top picks. Dustin is the perfect choice for logistics because he's the brains behind every operation, always thinking ahead and coming up with theories that are often spot on. His quick thinking and resourcefulness would ensure that our squad stays one step ahead of any challenge we face. He’s preciseness and intelligence is what truly makes him standout from the others in the squad. He's the glue that holds the group together with his clever ideas and unwavering optimism. Examples of this can be scene in all seasons; but my all time favorites is his discover of the Russians in Season 3, and later having to sing the Never Ending story to get mathematical equation to save the world. Nancy, on the other hand, brings a combination of strategy and strength to the table. She has repeatedly proven herself to be a powerhouse in the face of danger, never backing down from a challenge. With her sharp instincts and fearless determination, Nancy would be our go-to for planning and executing our missions. And, of course, there's El, whose unparalleled power and deep understanding of supernatural threats would make her an invaluable asset. Her abilities would not only protect us but also give us an edge over any enemy we might encounter. Together, Dustin, Nancy, and El would form an unstoppable team, each contributing their unique strengths to ensure our success.