Last fall, UCSB senior Sydnee Fried began writing an article a week for this paper as part of her pursuit for a minor in professional writing. The Zurich-born, Burlingame-raised Tri Delta sorority veep, who’s majoring in poli-sci with another minor in theater, has since interviewed business owners, authors, politicians, TV celebrities, and chefs. “As a student living in the small bubble that is Isla Vista,” she explained, “it is amazing to pop that bubble and enter the professional world of Santa Barbara.” Check out her work at independent.com/sydnee.