As a fourth-year, undergraduate student at the University of Virginia, majoring in environmental science, I often ponder the same fundamental question: How can I make a meaningful difference with my work? My journey into the world of GIS began during my third year of college. While taking a Graphic Informational Systems class I embarked on a research project with a particular focus on understanding properties associated with pre- and post- wildfire environments, specifically in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. I was interested in understanding how specific environmental factors, namely organic matter and water availability, influence burn severity in certain locations. My motivation for the topic came from my belief in the significance of preserving National Parks, like the Great Smoky Mountains, which are vital conservation ecosystems. A relationship between such environmental factors could be useful for predicting and assessing the impacts of future fires. Subsequently, I began an internship with a renewable energy company, where I led the GIS development process for potential project sites. My interaction with the GIS software was highly integrated into the conservation aspect of critical habitats and avoiding the disturbance of threatened species. Throughout the development prospecting phase, my duties entailed analyzing GIS data to identify suitable project locations while upholding our commitment to conserving these vital environments. My interactions with environmental consultants who conducted in-depth analyses of our potential sites further heightened my awareness of the significance of responsible environmental stewardship. Now, as I embark on my fourth year, my research efforts are concentrated in the Chesapeake Bay region. My current work employs GIS to examine marsh edge erosion. The conservation of the marsh itself is undeniably important, but the role of oyster reefs in the ecosystem cannot be understated. Protecting and managing these reefs not only preserves the oyster population but also acts as a natural buffer against wave impacts on the marshland, protecting the overall ecosystem. As I continue to advance in my academic journey, I anticipate my continued work using GIS software to contribute to the holistic health of ecosystems, sustainable land use, and the preservation of biodiversity. The field of GIS holds immense promise with expanding capabilities and evolving technological advancements. I aspire to pursue graduate studies where I can further broaden my knowledge and skill set. Looking ahead, my goals for the future include the integration and use of technology such as UAVs and LiDAR, to enhance my GIS capabilities and expand the academic body of knowledge in conservation/preservation through GIS.

Reflecting on the person who has most profoundly impacted my life, my mother immediately comes to mind. Growing up in a matriarchal household, not by choice but by circumstance, I had the privilege of witnessing the many strengths that women bestow on their communities. My mother, in particular, embodies the duality of women, demonstrating strength and courage while also maintaining a nurturing and supportive side. Throughout my life, she has helped me realize my full potential in my character and within my relationships. One valuable lesson my mother taught me is the importance of active listening. “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason,” she would remind me. Those words have stuck with me, guiding me to be more understanding and open to different perspectives. In times of conflict, reacting hastily only exacerbates the situation, but when I listen before responding, true resolution and personal growth become possible. The lessons my mother shared about the significance of listening and understanding have become a cornerstone of empathy in my life and have contributed to fostering healthier relationships. While my mother holds a special place in shaping who I am, I would be remiss to overlook the numerous other women who have inspired me along the way. Many mentors and role models have nudged me on my path, each offering unique perspectives that have enriched my understanding of the world and guided me to become the woman I am today. My childhood best friend taught me the value of taking leaps of faith. Although life can throw you curveballs and sometimes be a bit cruel, the only way to continue is through it. Facing challenges head-on has shown me how rewarding those experiences can be. Following her mantra and embracing trials has made me more resilient and eager to grow, knowing that I will emerge as a better person, no matter the circumstance. “Be bold,” my college roommate told me, “And follow your passions and interests, it’s never too late or impossible.” Her encouragement led me to travel for the first time in my life. Coming from a small, rural town – I now realize I had only been exposed to a tiny fraction of what the world has to offer. I blossomed that summer, traveling to Spain. I used all my savings to take a leap that I was so unsure and scared of, but wow, am I glad I did. That experience taught me that I am not alone, as there is always someone waiting to extend their hand and share with you, a new side to life. Since that experience, I have never taken for granted my fortune to meet new people or travel to new places. The impact of significant individuals, especially women, in my life has been immeasurable. I am grateful to them for inspiring me to never stop aspiring to reach greater heights and for showing me how to embrace my multifaceted nature and recognize that I can continuously grow and improve. From my mother’s nurturing guidance to the diverse perspectives of mentors and friends, I have grown into a person who values empathy, resilience, and a thirst for personal and communal growth. Realizing my full potential encompasses not just one aspect of my life but involves striving for growth and happiness within myself while spreading that positivity to those around me. I hope to become a source of inspiration for many young women on their journeys of self-discovery and fulfillment and to give back to my communities in the same way I have received their support.

I am from Mount Jackson Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley. I come from a low-income family and attend the University of Virginia as a first-generation collage student. Like many others, I have encountered various hardships throughout my life including the loss of a parent, parental addiction, and feelings of isolation & sadness. However, those circumstances are not what makes me unique. What qualifies my uniqueness is my resilience in overcoming adversity and my dedication to improving the lives of others through the betterment of their environment. Growing up in Mount Jackson Virginia, a small agriculture-based town, recreational activities like kayaking and fishing are fundamental for our residents. We lack commercial infrastructure and turn to the outdoors for entertainment and hobbies; that is what keeps our younger generations safe. Without the environment providing a source of happiness and a sense of belonging, the younger generations in my rural town tend to look for unhealthy outlets including risky sexual behaviors and drug use. Our youth regularly rely on the viability of the local rivers and tributaries; however, there have been many instances of contaminants that rendered the North Fork unusable. I remember performing water tests in the river that runs behind my house in late high school only to find that the river I had been swimming in for years had been abused and polluted. Due to E. coli outbreaks, locals were no longer allowed to fish or swim in the area and those with well systems resorted to buying gallon water jugs in fear that the groundwater was also contaminated. My area is only one example of how freshwater recourses can be neglected and misused, but I am aware of the multitude of other examples from around the world. What makes Mount Jackson such a loveable place, besides the antique-looking architecture, is the beauty and vitality of the nature around us. It provides sustenance, activity, and enjoyment for many of the residents - without it, we face overwhelming consequences. My educational and career goals center around my desire to help local individuals return to a form of normalcy. Whether that refers to their ability to fish, swim, or irrigate from their local rivers and streams - or just having clean water and a safe environment to live in. Environmental justice, equity, and inclusion are all important facets for bettering the environment, biodiversity, and the lives of those who enjoy the great outdoors. I want to keep people safe by protecting our environment. Many do not realize how important the environment is for the safety of the residents, including the associated indirect consequences. Growing up in the rural heartland of the opioid epidemic, I can tell you just how imperative a flourishing environment can be for the youth and other residents. I want to give back to my community and those alike by providing people with the resources and the opportunity for safety and success.

As I drive through my hometown, visually I am stunned. Every time I come home from school to visit my family, I am reminded of the beauty that the Blue Ridge Mountains hold, overlooking our small town in the valley. "I have hiked across the top of that mountain, right there," I say in a video to send to my friends who have never seen such vast fields and tall mountains. "My friend and I got lost on that trail once, extending our 30-minute hike into 2 hours. We must have walked on the hilltops from Luray to New Market. It's the Skyline Drive, established in part by president FDR to provide many Americans with jobs and prosperity after the Great Depression." I remember explaining this in the video. Not many people outside of the Appalachian region know much about the area or its' people. The Shenandoah Valley is also home to a very tragic epidemic, the opioid crisis. If anyone from outside of the valley knew anything about where I was from it was that we were all poor, white folk, who suffered from addiction. But that's not how I like to remember Mount Jackson. We are trying people who help one another wherever we can. These values I have held with me growing up. It's an astonishing shift in attitude as I looked at the community of Charlottesville where I now go to school. Time and effort are undervalued and instead, spending money and networking for personal gain are commonplace. It made me realize something important about the Shenandoah Valley - that we allow outsiders to make and place our labels but we have so much to offer to one another, and I think that is far more valuable. Environmental Science doesn't make a lot of money, not like business schools or doctoral programs. However, it doesn't make a difference to me. Getting my hands dirty in the soil that grows our local crops, finding solutions to get rid of the e.coli in our river systems, and restoring the beauty of national parks has made me far happier than any amount of money could afford. I started my journey in high school by attending Massanutten Regional Governor's School for integrated science and technology - a project-based school focused on environmental science. We visited water treatment plants, and landfills, tested the water quality and observed microinvertebrate indicator species - this is where my interests blossomed into a foreseeable career path. I will make a difference by using my hands and talking to locals. Agriculture isn't always fruitful nor does it always provide maximum yields. River systems are being polluted, disallowing recreational activities and removing important intolerant aquatic species. I have observed these adverse effects, I have tested our drinking water, and I have known our local farmers. With my education and the funds, I want to restore waterways by installing riparian buffers, educate farmers on best management practices, and conduct research for the town halls - which they can use to advise their policies and infrastructure. I want to interact with my fellow agrarian people and municipal workers to help solve some of their problems and make a difference in their communities. I knew I did not want to become another boss or work my way up in a company. I want to be on the ground level, making a difference in the quality of life for my fellowship and for whoever decides to enjoy their produce or explore the rural beauty of our communities.

A recent inspiring feat of science in the technological realm is genetic modification. A specific example of this applied technology is The Golden Rice Project. The project proposed a plan to The Rockefeller Foundation, aimed at genetically modifying rice in order to increase its nutritional value. Golden Rice focuses on the vitamin A deficient provinces, feeding and supplying necessary nutrition to a countless number of people in varying impoverished and underrepresented countries. Not only does this technology aim to help individual people but it also creates important internal stability as well. The implementation of Golden Rice creates nutritional security, sustainability, agricultural productivity, and economic growth. Moreover, the Golden rice Project spearheads the country's regional leadership in recognizing biotechnology as a powerful tool to feed the future. The Golden Rice Project is just a small portion of the advancements that can be made with biotechnology. With the ability and resources to genetically modify rice (and eventually other sources of nutrition) the results could lead to a reduction in global food scarcity and work towards solving world hunger. With biotechnology on the rise, there are even greater implications beyond nutrition supplementation. Genetic modification can also assist animal breeders and agriculturalists. The modification of gene sequences can result in the ability for plants and animals to better adapt to changing environmental conditions such as drought, increased temperatures, new diseases, and other anthropogenic stressors. Genetic modification and biotechnology as a whole, can change how we see the future. This technology can mitigate harmful environmental impacts and target the food supply chain in impoverished countries. Without food scarcity, more energy can be put into innovation and a thriving ecosystem is essential in moving forward with new initiatives for future generations.

As we continue to progress technologically, our society becomes more and more integrated with the online universe. The social norms of society are null in an online format because accountability is diminished without profile pictures or real names. Users can say and do whatever they please, so long as their online identity is not attached to their personal identity. Between racist remarks, homophobic harks, and misogynistic mentions gaming forums provide a space for a breeding ground of hate and intolerance. Could this niche of bigoted gamers reflect the sentiments of the silent public? Discourse from these forums are a learned behavior just as the discourse applied to social norms. However, the difference between the two contrasting dialogues occurring online and in public civil discourse is the positive feedback loop that is so apparent in the gaming community. That is not to say there is no conversation happening in civil discourse that resembles that of the gaming community, however, it is not supported by the broad community and thus, those people are subjugated to the outskirts of society. With limited moderators and lack of control over verbal actions, there are no repercussions for criticizing minorities, political authorities, and all other non-dinner table appropriate conversations. Without moderation and fact-checking, the gaming community is able to persist in spreading propaganda and fueling hate. In today's world, information spreads quickly and easier than ever, infiltrating other, more popular media sites. Gaming platforms are just a part of the small epicenter with more massive and long-lasting waves disrupting real-life social interaction. Once information hits the general public, consumers can do one of two things: reject or affirm the information. As it gets harder for people to distinguish between real and fake media, it gets increasingly more difficult for consumers to evaluate information correctly. Propagating and supporting misinformation creates a lot of turmoil in real-life interactions. People use their knowledge to support their personal and social identity. With conflicts of interest and disagreeing view points, their sense of self can be diminished and cause social disturbance in dialog and action. Furthermore, the language that is learned in gaming communities can begin to infiltrate the vernacular of real-life social interactions. These two compounding factors are a great threat to the social norms of our society and is only the beginning to frustrated and angered communities. What is to be done, except accept the gaming community as such or create change in the moderation of language and actions within these toxic gaming communities.

Fish swim downstream, in accordance with the streamflow because it's easy and logical. Growing up with addicts as a role models quickly allows you to understand the social streamflow. Your dreamland is disrupted with needles, unrealized ranger, and death. Some people will decide to follow the streamflow their whole life and make decisions based upon what they know. When life presents you with challenges that seem unbearable the innate reaction of an addict is to reach for something to clam their brain, something to make the pain go away. My father had this innate response and just as quickly as he reached for his release, his life was taken. Growing up in a single parent household was tough but realizing that my mother had chosen the same path as my father was even more difficult. As I grew older she became more elusive and sometimes unresponsive; I knew I had to make a decision. Salmon are unlike many other types of fish because instead of following the streamflow, they swim upstream. I am like the Salmon fish, I chose to respond to my childhood difficulties and other life hardships by fighting the streamflow and moving upwards. Coming from a lineage of addicts and having very few role models in my life, I made the decision to be my own role model and fight for what I want in life to achieve my goals - instead of the alternative, giving in to the social streamflow that has been instilled in me. My responses to these challenges has shaped my life tremendously. I graduated high school unlike my parents and became the valedictorian of my grade. I am the first person in my family to attend college and I will be the first person in my family to graduate from college. I will continue swimming upstream and working hard for what I want in life because I am like the Salmon fish.