Student Snapshot: Hadley Starr ’22

Hadley Starr '22 (French, international studies) served an internship at the Cumberland County Courthouse (Carlisle, Pa.). That experience helped her prepare for a career in law.

Three high-skill internships helped Hadley Starr ’22 (French, international studies) zero in on her next steps after Dickinson. Below, she discusses what she learned, her favorite class so far, what she enjoyed most about her internship and the joy she’s found in being a part of the women’s swim team.

Hometown:

New Fairfield, Connecticut.

Majors:

French and international studies.

Clubs and organizations:  

Women’s swimming, Hera Society, First-Year Mentor and French Club.

Honors/scholarships/awards:

Dean’s List, John Montgomery Scholarship and Trustee Scholarship.

Best thing about my Dickinson experience:

Being part of the swim team. Despite having 6 a.m. lifts, I am so thankful to have the opportunity to swim at the collegiate level. I know that the friends and memories that I have made during my four years on this team will last me a lifetime. From our Florida training trip to dinners together in the caf, I am thankful to be a part of something so special.

Favorite place on campus:

The basement in Waidner-Spahr Library.

Best thing about my major:

The best part of my international studies major has been interning at the U.S. Army War College for two semesters. This experience not only helped me to decide what career path I was interested in but also gave me lifelong career connections.

Favorite Dining Hall food:

Baked oatmeal.

Favorite class/learning experience so far:

My First-Year Seminar, The Future of Democracy. This was one of the most interesting and thought-provoking courses that I have taken. We examined democracies around the world, specifically fallen democracies, and then debated if America’s democracy would be able to stand the test of time. Daniel Ziblatt, the author of one of the books we read for this class, How Democracies Die, came to Dickinson and spoke at a Clarke Forum event. Our class was able to meet him beforehand and ask questions about his book.

As I kid, I wanted to be …

… a dolphin trainer.

Post-Dickinson plans:

I plan to attend law school next fall.

About my internships:

I interned at the US Army War College in fall 2019 and spring 2021. During both internships I was a research intern, helping War College professors with a research project. In fall 2019 I made a model to predict China’s future international economic engagement. In 2021 I helped a professor who was working on a project to strengthen European security in order to prevent malicious countries from taking advantage of Europe’s weaknesses. Both internships were extremely eye-opening and informative. I not only learned a lot about international relations, but these internships helped me to narrow down what field I want to work in after graduation.

In summer 2021 I interned at the Cumberland County Courthouse (in Carlisle, Pennsylvania). Getting to spend every day watching court cases was an invaluable experience. From cases about speeding tickets to a murder trial, I was able to learn all about different processes and procedures pertaining to the law.

Most important thing I’ve learned so far:

One of the most important things I have learned is to not be afraid to ask for help or advice. I was able to get one of my internships just through asking a professor at Dickinson. If I hadn’t asked him, I would not have had that internship. This advice is also applicable in more low-stakes settings. Whether it is asking an upperclassman about what class to take next semester or asking a coach for some life advice, I have found that it is helpful to take advantage of the different perspectives and resources that others have to offer.

TAKE THE NEXT STEPS 

 

Published December 9, 2021