Growing up during the worst of Earth's climate crisis to date, I am anxious about the devastating repercussions of climate change. Climate change is not only effecting the most microscopic lifeforms, but it negatively effects all levels of biodiversity from the smallest flower to the largest blue whales, and everything in between with impacts unknown. Not only is climate change altering natural elements, but it puts pressure on psychology, economies, political affairs, poverty, and other social structures. The future is on the line, and we are running out of time. Being a mammoth of an issue, the complexities of climate change seem unsolvable. However, humanity is forgetting to think small. There is a myriad of individual behaviors people can participate in that positively impact the climate. Personally, I challenge myself daily to be an environmental steward. First, I make a conscious effort to not waste food. I shop locally and plan my meals carefully while always finishing leftovers. Food waste is a substantial contributor of atmospheric methane, which is worse than carbon emissions. Next, I conserve energy by unplugging household electronics when not in use, and I utilize natural light by opening my blinds during the day. This not only saves money, but it reduces the energy I consume, which reduces fossil fuel burning. Also, I avoid shopping on fast fashion websites because those companies are unethical and cause detrimental carbon emissions and waste. Lastly, I try to be a positive influence for others by encouraging them love our planet and think about their personal impacts, especially through social media and discussions with friends and family. If we made the slightest changes to our habits, even if it is just one simple task, together we could slow down the devastation of climate change and contribute to a more positive future.

Incorporating thorough mental health education within K-12 Health & Physical Education programs would help more people who struggle with mental health. Health & Physical Education (H&PE) programs in schools across the United States predominantly focus on physical fitness. Between running tests and anatomy quizzes, students are not being taught a holistic approach to health in their H&PE classes. Even if a school district's curriculum does include a unit on mental health, they usually are brief and give surface-level information. If a student is suffering from a mental health issue and is not knowledgeable about their condition, they could go a long time before getting help or a diagnosis with unknown impacts. Mental health should be prioritized as much as physical health in K-12 H&PE curriculum. In H&PE classes, students should learn the proper definitions of common mental health disorders, how they affect the brain, how they affect someone's life, and how someone can seek treatment in their locality for that disorder. Teachers could even bring in a guest speaker from their community who suffers from this disorder to speak to the class about how it impacts their life and how they live with the condition. This would hep destigmatize common mental health disorders and help students realize that people all around them have these conditions while living good lives. This could provide comfort for students who do suffer from mental health disorders and help develop empathy for students who do not. This could lead to a more understanding generation of young people, who will make a difference in how society views mental health disorders in the long run. Large scale change starts small, and it starts with children. Providing better mental education in H&PE curriculum could impact more people than ever imaginable.