Hi! My name is Sydney and I’m the Health and Wellness Manager for SFS Panama. Originally from Boston, I moved to New Orleans to study Public Health at Tulane University and had the opportunity to spend a semester in Buenos Aires improving my Spanish language skills. In Buenos Aires I was bitten by the travel bug. Following graduation, I saved up money to solo backpack around Israel and Southeast Asia. During this time, I volunteered as an EMT in Tel Aviv, as a tour guide in Luang Prabang for a Sustainable Buffalo Farm, and with All Hands and Hearts helping build disaster-resilient schools in the Philippines. During the COVID19 pandemic I worked with Partners in Health to help underserved communities facing quarantine.

In the summer of 2022, I led a group of teenagers through Israel and enjoyed helping others gain a global perspective through travel. After connecting with the values of The School for Field Studies, I was eager to join the Panama program and lend both my health and travel background to foster an incredible study abroad experience where students can learn about both the community and themselves. I encourage students to be vulnerable with the challenges they face over the course of the semester and to embrace the emotions that come with it.

In my free time on the island, I enjoy snorkeling, playing volleyball, learning to surf, and reading at the beach.