ASU transfer student looks forward to making a difference in her history classroom
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2024 graduates.
Sydney Hott developed an affinity for U.S. history in high school, where she was inspired by a teacher to look at the whole, sometimes ugly truth, of our nation’s past, while also instilling hope for the future.
“I knew that I wanted to emulate that (teaching style) in my own classroom one day,” Hott said.
Originally from Paradise Valley, Arizona, Hott started her college career at a small liberal arts school in Atlanta, Georgia. Feeling out of place, Hott came back home to Arizona, where she enrolled at ASU as a transfer student seeking a bachelor’s degree in history from the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.
“I felt so welcomed, understood and valued,” she said. “I also loved the history department and how professional my professors were.”
Hott, who also served as an intern with Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services, will be graduating with a second bachelor’s degree in sociology from the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics.
“I have dedicated a significant portion of my extracurricular interests in college to raising awareness about the importance of women’s education,” she said.
After graduation, Hott will jump right into pursuing her master’s degree in secondary education through ASU Online and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. Upon receiving her second diploma, she plans to make a difference teaching history in the Valley of the Sun.
She talks about her ASU experience.
Question: What is your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or otherwise?
Answer: My favorite spot on campus is the Design and the Arts Library. It's a smaller library that less people know about, but it has the best energy in there. I always feel so at peace when I'm there and I would always have books sent there to check-out because I just liked stopping by so much.
Q: Which professor taught you one of the most important lessons you've learned at ASU? What was the lesson?
A: I took a class with Professor Julian Lim my first semester at ASU. The class was about U.S. immigration policy. It was such a great introduction to my experience at ASU because Dr. Lim beautifully taught us how policies from a century ago still inform policies that we see today. I loved that message and it reinforced for me how vital it is to know our nation's history.
Q: What's the best piece of advice you'd give to other students?
A: If you have room in your schedule, take some fun elective classes that you may be interested in. You could find that there's a whole other area of study you love that may translate to a job one day.
Q: What's something you learned while at ASU (in the classroom or otherwise) that surprised you or changed your perspective?
A: One of my main takeaways from my time at ASU is that there is no such thing as a traditional path. As a transfer student, I worried that I would become "behind" my classmates by having to make up credits. But, seeing veterans, ex-teachers, moms and more in my history classes, made me realize that, at a school like ASU where education is made accessible to everyone, you can achieve your academic goals at any stage of life. It really helped me put my life into perspective.
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