Growing up, I knew that there was nothing more beautiful than the natural world. I took note of it every time I stepped outdoors, whether on a hiking trail in the nearby Adirondacks, taking a swim at a glistening lake in Vermont, or simply watching a squirrel climb up a vined-laced tree. Everything held charm. I was eager to learn more and once that curiosity sparked, there was no putting out that flame. I was unfortunately quick to realize that these ecological spaces were being threatened by human activities that induced climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. Since then, I began to act on a personal level and urged those around me to do the same because I knew that small individual steps were crucial in fighting environmental collapse. I also realized that preserving our planet’s integrity was about more than just recycling a bottle or composting, but it was about collective change and shifting global priorities. I knew that I wanted to dedicate my future to a mission of environmental protection. So, at 14, I joined my school’s mock trial team because I knew that law was a way to create widespread and tangible change. I became obsessed, not with the outcome of winning competitions, but with the logic of shaping an argument that could someday hopefully save our finite planet. I drew the connection from the courtroom to the sustainability crisis at hand. I thought of it as The People v. Their Only Home: a court case where the truth was being hidden and delayed by viral misinformation just because it was convenient. I began to see Earth as a plaintiff, and as long as she was a plaintiff, I was going to craft her opening statement. Along with the law tract I was pursuing, I began my own environmental initiatives. I dedicated myself to taking on plastic pollution with an eco-brick initiative at my local library where nonrecyclable plastics were transformed into not only building material, but educational tools to teach others about environmental responsibility. I utilized this project to show others that sustainability is not a foreign concept. I transformed these bricks into stools and garbage cans for preschoolers to foster curiosity and conversations amongst the youth, so the importance of environmental conservation is not lost within a generation. I also organized and led a project at my high school to create a yearlong plan to build sustainability. By working with staff and focusing on relevant issues, I was able to pave a path for future generations of students to encourage an eco-friendly environment that aligns with the Green Ribbon Schools standards, a U.S. Department of Education program that emphasizes environmental stewardship, wellness and health, and education. These activities along with others, such as volunteering for environmental organizations and interning at my local city courthouse, made me certain that continuing a career in environmental law was precisely what I wanted to do. Once this connection was made, I decided to write a research paper during my junior year summer on the importance of wetlands, purely out of curiosity. I knew that this biome was being especially affected by climate change, and I learned that in the United States they are unprotected, unregulated, and vulnerable. Through extensive research, I learned exactly what wetlands are and what they do, their history and the laws that surround them. I learned that they will continue to be exploited if environmental laws are not implemented and the importance of biodiversity, habitat, and ecosystems continues to be largely ignored. Despite their many economic and ecological benefits, wetlands continue to be taken advantage of due to political priorities within the United States. After 10 pages of research, I was convinced that working with wetlands and their protection was something I wanted to focus on in my future studies and job. This fall, I will be attending Fordham University, majoring in Environmental Studies, and I feel that this education will allow me to build my environmental stewardship and speak for the planet. This curriculum includes interdisciplinary coursework in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities that will help me gain insight into the physical and societal causes and effects of environmental problems, integrating these disciplines in economic, political, and societal policy solutions. I will be able to pursue my own scientific research (hopefully to learn more about wetlands and watershed protection), embody environmental citizenship, and even go abroad to study climate change internationally.

Growing up, I knew that there was nothing more beautiful than the natural world. I took note of it every time I stepped outdoors, whether on a hiking trail in the nearby Adirondacks, taking a swim at a glistening lake in Vermont, or simply watching a squirrel climb up a vined-laced tree. Everything held charm, and I felt deeply connected to that charm. When I grew up, I unfortunately quickly came to realize that such natural spaces were struggling to maintain their integrity. Climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and other environmental issues were threatening the landscapes I cared about. And, with this, I came across the concept of sustainability: preserving the environment so ecosystems can recover and thrive long-term to support future generations. I learned this meant clean energy, water conservation, resource management, and efforts that minimize negative environmental impact. After I understood the concept and its importance, I was more driven than ever to advocate for it so the outdoors that I valued would be protected. Looking to the future, I know that I can spread knowledge on sustainability, encourage sustainability, and truly act sustainably through a career in environmental law. Environmental issues are widespread and affect everyone and everything, whether we realize it or not. And, crucially, they cannot be solved through an individual basis alone. Environmental lawyers have the ability to use the law to enforce conservation efforts, argue against destructive consumerist practices, and mold climate policy. They can hold people and even governments accountable when financial gain is prioritized over the future. These are the things that truly lead to change. In the environmental law field, I hope to move ecological goals into actions that form responsibility, stewardship, and accountability. Legal standards and framework built the foundation of successful sustainability, and it allows for true tangible and lasting change. Law holds the power to transform communities, corporations, countries, and even the world. Through environmental law, I hope to contribute to a new era where sustainability is not viewed as something radical, but as a natural duty for all, especially our lawyers and governments. By assisting in the creation and implementation of laws that protect the planet, I can play a vital role in honoring the green spaces that motivated me throughout my adolescence and ensure that future generations have the equal opportunity to experience the miraculous beauty and profound connection to nature that I have been lucky enough to enjoy.

Serving is characterized by consistency that positively impacts a community. I have learned that it is easy for service to become something that people talk about but don’t act on. For me, to serve means to show up and take the initiative. Throughout high school, I have embodied the values of genuine citizenship and civic responsibility through involvement and persistence.   One of the ways I have served is as president of Young Lions Club. My teacher introduced me to the organization, telling me about the connections it makes, the sense of community it fosters, and the impact it creates. I admire that Lions Club work goes outside local areas and works towards creating widespread change. This year, I stepped into the role of president, where I have been able to help organize and attend events and actually engage in volunteer work. I distributed donation boxes for gathering used eyeglasses, and my favorite part of this was reconnecting with my elementary school, reminding me of my childhood years.  Outside of the Leo Club, I held the presidential role of Mock Trial Club for three years and was a participant for four. I haven’t only led meetings and prepared to argue against opposing counsel, but I have worked on sustaining an environment where everyone feels confident and free to express their ideas. I ask for new perspectives and listen actively. By encouraging teamwork, I have helped to create educational spaces that are built on a foundation of genuine growth. Such collaboration has led to the Saratoga Springs Mock Trial team moving on to regionals and the Leo Club successfully collecting hundreds of used eyeglasses to recycle. This has taught me that serving isn’t about leadership alone but about supporting those around you.   Aside from clubs, I have taken the issues that I care about addressing and worked on them in other ways. At my school, I organized and led a project to create a yearlong plan to build sustainability. By working with staff and focusing on relevant issues, I was able to pave a path for future generations of students to encourage an eco-friendly environment that aligns with the Green Ribbon Schools standards, a U.S. Department of Education program that emphasizes environmental stewardship, wellness and health, and education. Highlighting teamwork and tangible change has allowed serving to be fun.  I believe knowledge is power, and sparking conversation for pressing issues and raising awareness is important. Environmental responsibility is what I value the most, so I created a group effort to reduce plastic waste through my eco-brick initiative at my local library. I educated the people of Saratoga Springs how individual changes can snowball into action such as transforming plastic scraps into building bricks. With my partnership with a local preschool, these plastic-filled bottles gathered from this project will be made into stools for young children. Making kids aware of real-world issues at a young age means they too have a chance to serve.  By contributing at my school and in my community, for both people and the environment, I feel that I have been able to grasp what it means to serve.

I am a strong believer in the phrase “I’ll believe it once I see it.” Since Greta Thunberg first got public recognition in 2020, I have closely followed her and her environmental activism and not only because of what she said, but what she showed the world. I noticed the awareness she raised and the attention she received for speaking up about one of the planet’s most pressing and undermined issues. I didn’t just hear her—I saw the youth strikes she set up, and how it shifted the conversation and brought people out into the streets. It seemed like she was doing more as an individual than leaders were doing for their own countries. Fascinated by how one teenager could hold the attention of world leaders, I felt drawn to her words as I watched the speech she gave to the United Nations. From then on, I decided I wanted to be someone whose observations led to action, like her. I knew that pursuing further education would allow me to do so, especially in environmental fields, so I dedicated myself to this mission. That wasn’t the first goal I had set for myself. In my freshman year of high school, I fully grasped that protecting the environment like Greta was meant for me. I also knew I was driven when under pressure, I adapted fast, and, most of all, I liked to talk. That’s when I stumbled across my school’s mock trial team. Since I first saw the team’s posting on the school walls, I’ve been a dedicated, active member and a three-time president of the club. I became obsessed, not with the outcome of winning, but with the logic of shaping an argument that could someday hopefully help to save our finite planet. I drew the connection from the courtroom to the sustainability crisis at hand. I thought of it as The People v. Their Only Home, a court case where the truth was being hidden and delayed by viral misinformation just because it was convenient. I began to see Earth as a plaintiff, and I was going to craft her opening statement. Mock trial helped me realize that I could fight for our planet in the most effective way possible, through the means of law. With the influence of powerful leaders like Greta Thunberg, I’m motivated to push boundaries in my future, with higher education being the next crucial step.

I was 10 when I took my second trip to Puerto Rico, visiting the island where my grandfather grew up. On the beach, knee deep in the tepid waters of the island, I spotted a mass. A sea tangle with shades of green, like threads on a detective’s evidence board, pulling me closer to answer a question I didn’t know how to ask yet.  I was curious about the phenomenon, the abundance of kelp, so I asked anyway. Firing a few questions quickly turned into hours of exploring. I discovered it was because of climate change. Ocean acidification and warming waters. The seaweed blocked sunlight and prevented oxygen from entering the waters, threatening entire ecosystems.  As my search broadened, so did my concern and fascination with the topic. I soon learned the world was in a race against time to beat climate change, to buffer the pressure. I became more driven than ever to understand and fight for nature that was never prioritized. I knew the planet was my home, and my future, and I wasn’t willing to let go of it. I began to act on a personal level and urged those around me to do the same. I attended protests. I reached out to local school boards, businesses, and shops, advocating for switching plastics to compostable materials, reusable packaging, and offerings of accessible meatless and plant-based options. I regularly gave PowerPoint presentations to my family and friends, educating them on how to reduce their carbon footprint. I told them to lessen their meat intake, turn off the lights when they are finished using them, and to bike and walk often as opposed to driving. Small individual steps are crucial in fighting environmental collapse. At 14, I joined my school’s mock trial team. I became obsessed, not with the outcome of winning, but with the logic of shaping an argument that could someday hopefully save our finite planet. I drew the connection from the courtroom to the sustainability crisis at hand. I thought of it as The People v. Their Only Home: a court case where the truth was being hidden and delayed by viral misinformation just because it was convenient. I began to see Earth as a plaintiff, and as long as she was a plaintiff, I was going to craft her opening statement. Though I still had a few years until college, I came to realize, that freshman year, that continuing a career in environmental law would be the exact way to do this. I don’t claim to be an expert (though I hope to become one). But I’ve learned to listen to science and the stories of environmental catastrophe. I know how to translate urgency into language that moves people. I have a sort of receptive bilingualism, understanding a language you cannot speak, because although Earth may not use words, her message is clear. And I’ve been listening long enough to know what she would say.  I want to give Earth her day in court, a fair trial, and untangle the rules that never seem to favor nature, to challenge them because we are running out of time for stopgap measures. A mass extinction isn’t short term. I want to return to Playa Buye, to see a receding tide, not carrying a warning signal, but a wave, unclouded by plight.