Since learning about the LEED Programs for green buildings, I have learned there are lots of things we can do to help save the planet. Naturally, I want to do more to help. I can easily walk through a building and tell what needs fixing to improve energy efficiency. I also see many places in the U.S. suffering from the effects of climate change such as wildfires and droughts, and sea level rise. The U.S. needs to change the way it produces electricity to more renewable methods, as the way we currently make it is not only polluting the air, but also promoting global warming and its effects. By reducing our waste and promoting doughnut economics, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills. My studies teach different ways of engaging the public in sustainability projects and the different things we can do to combat climate change. I also learned about the greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases. I am big on waste reduction, but also reducing energy use. My math background will help me analyze data while working on sustainability projects. I also took 3 classes in American Sign Language, which will help me communicate with customers and people that are deaf or autistic. I would also have empathy with the autistic as I myself am autistic as well. I think I would also make a good speaker and advocate for the environment. I will be taking a policy class down the line; this will help me understand the different environmental laws and how they affect the public. I would suggest my family change out their furnaces and A/Cs for ones with the Energy Star logo. These will save you money on electricity and oil, and you will not need to refill your oil tank so often. Wrapping the hot water heater with special insulation made for it will make it work less hard to keep your water hot. I would then suggest they improve their wall insulation to an R-40 and insulate their attics to an R-60, as most people forget their attic when they insulate. This wastes oil as the heat escapes through the roof. Also, if you have older windows, you should change these out for Energy Star double or triple pane windows. These will hold heat in more effectively, keeping your home's temperature more stable. I would also suggest, if they can afford it, that they consider purchasing an electric vehicle, as these are less polluting to the air and do not promote climate change as much as gas powered cars.

I was diagnosed with grand mal epilepsy at age 1 1/2. My mother found me on the floor unconscious when she got home from work that day and rushed me to the hospital. I continued to seize while there and almost died; a high dose of phenobarbital saved my life. I would be more in than out of the hospital during childhood. Flashcards were used on me to help me remember what I learned in school. I was abused by my father at age 10 when he put his hands on me in anger and threw me on a living room chair. I was left to cry while Mom an Dad went shopping. My feelings were never acknowledged as a child, either. I was not allowed to do after school activities and all my evening time was spent doing homework.I had an aide with me until the 8th grade in case I had an episode at school. I got hooked on Klonopin as a teenager as well. I was using it when I had a seizure. It took my mother 6 months of breaking the pills into tiny pieces to get me off it without having another seizure. My seizure history runs until I was 16 at Foundation High School in Milford, CT. Foundation High helped me get my grades up. Reading was my hard subject as my comprehension was poor. I was very good in math and spelling, though. I moved out at age 35 due to the abuse and the rough way I was treated by my parents. I must avoid certain medications that can have bad interactions with my Tegretol or lower the seizure threshold. One example of this is Sudafed. It gave me an instant seizure; hence, I will never use it again. I also am unable to drive a car. Due to this, field trips are very hard for me, as I cannot drive myself to the site. This also limits my job options as some jobs require you to drive to different job sites. I use ADA Para-transit to get around and am certified as ADA eligible. I also have a rep payee to help me manage my money. Being 43 now, I am ready to try to manage it myself. But because I have had a payee all my life, I do not know the first thing about managing money. I also eat a low glutamate diet, as I have learned excess glutamate is linked to seizures. I also have learning disabilities and receive accommodations through my university. I still am having to process the abuse I went through today. I cannot be yelled at or I get scared. My tactile sensitivity and autism often get me in trouble as I do not like to be bumped or brushed. I ponder everything that happens to me. I now have a niece that also has epilepsy and have learned it runs on my Dad's side of the family. I have not had a seizure since high school, over 20 years, as Tegretol keeps it under control.

I have autism level 1 and generalized anxiety disorder. I see a therapist, a prescriber, and a social worker. I typically have trouble determining how long a task will take, so I have to just do it. I have trouble with the back and forth of a conversation also, and am not as flexible as most people expect. I do not do well in large crowds, so I avoid crowded events and places. I am also not good at telling stories; I am more wired for facts and information, taking things I read word-for-word. Long lines at the store are torture to me, so I try to go at times when the store is not so busy. This is also a tactile sensitivity issue. I am also a devout Catholic, despite no one else in my family being religious. I have routines for many things, going to Church being one of them. Mass times are usually the same each week, which helps when creating routine times for things I do each week. I do mental prayer better than vocal, as I am slow to speak. I do a Confession of sins from time to time. I receive communion each week using a low gluten host due to my problems. I am now going on my 4th year as a practicing Catholic. I will often do Christian meditation as well, as it helps me relax. I always walk to Church or, if I need it due to bad weather, I ask someone for a ride that is also going to my Church. I have a couple good friends, but I often have trouble reading other people's body language. Campus is one of the hardest places for me to be because of the large crowds. Eye contact is very difficult for me to maintain. I am sensitive to tactile and auditory input; these often get me in trouble because other students do not understand that bumping into me will trigger a meltdown, and these take a while to recover from. I have learned American Sign Language through my degree program and am an intermediate level signer. I often get judged or criticized for my sensory issues, so I do not make many friends. I also attend an autistic adults group each month through the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity, or AANE. Since I am unable to drive a car and work/life balance is important to me, I am planning on working 30 hours a week rather than 40. The jobs I can do will be limited by area and my inability to drive due to my problems. My degree is in Sustainability Science and Environmental Policy. I want to try GIS work or being a Sustainability Analyst to start. My sensory issues also affect what fabrics and necklines I am able to wear comfortably. Accommodations will be warranted, in particular regarding uniforms and driving. I also want to try to ride a bicycle and learn how to take care of it again, as it is an eco-friendly means of travel.

I was diagnosed at age 36. Due to tactile over-sensitivity, I tend to back away from people that get too close to me. I have gotten reactions from not caring to full on threats. I also plug my ears to loud sounds and wear noise cancelling headphones. From household vacuums to thunderstorms to ambulance sirens, I have a laundry list of sounds that irritate me. I am learning American Sign Language to improve my ability to pick up on others' emotions. My ability to sign is improving and I continue to work at it. Driving a car is too stressful for me, so I simply avoid it and use ADA Transit. My attention span is bad when I am stressed as well, making driving unsafe for me and others. Education to me means not just earning a degree, but learning things about your abilities along the way. My classes teach me about their topic, but I also learn things about myself. Personal development is an important part of learning to me because it helps me grow as I stay up to date in my field. I also develop new skills I can transfer between jobs. My ASL courses have changed my personality. Getting accommodations also helps me learn better and test better. Studying sustainability teaches me the ways I might help to protect the planet. It also makes me think about my lifestyle and what I can do differently to be a better example of sustainable living. Education to me means not just doing a program of study, but keeping up to date in your field and learning about yourself along the way. My dream is to work to help protect the planet by helping companies put more sustainable practices in place and teaching others about environmental sustainability. I will need an employer willing to go through the ADA process and get me workplace accommodations, not an easy thing to find. I also am considering doing zero waste work with the TRUE Advisor Certificate by the Green Building Certification Institute. Bringing down the amount of waste we make will also help reduce methane pollution from landfills. If I am going to get LEED AP Certified, I will do the Operations and Maintenance one to go along with my zero waste goals. I will teach people how to maintain and operate their buildings without hurting the planet and its wildlife in the process.

We need action towards a sustainable future, including mandatory recycling and composting. If we do not act soon, when 2100 comes, our planet will be basically unlivable, very hot, all the sea ice will have melted, and many animal species we rely on, for food, clothing or other needs, will die out. We will also not be able to grow enough food to feed everyone and some people that are poorer will inevitably get left out and die. Those that are wealthier should put more money into sustainable living than those who have less or none. Without international cooperation, big polluters will end up polluting out the countries that do not pollute as much. Small islands will disappear from the map. Governments need to create better environmental standards and put aside their political interests. If all nations cooperate, we can potentially adhere to the Paris Agreement's 1.5 degree Celsius limit. Individuals can help this by making their buildings use less energy and insulating their buildings better. Companies should invest in renewable energy and heating systems that use renewable energy. Making public transportation more accessible, especially in rural areas where there is none, around the world would also help by putting less cars on the road. Recycling and composting will help reduce waste going to landfills to generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

I have many physical problems, so I have had to overcome adversity related to them. I have taken the time to learn about my problems and verify information with my doctors. I have also changed my lifestyle to accommodate them and take prescription medications and supplements to stay in balance. I have been discriminated by others because of my physical problems, but I have learned to identify it and who to report it to. I also am unable to drive a car, and this will impact my career choices. I also like to understand how my medications work, especially my prescription medications. I have also learned to communicate with the deaf community and taken 2 sign language classes, going on to a third in Spring 2024. I lost my job at a library in 2010. I wanted to make a better future for myself and not be poor all my life. I did a lot of career research that ultimately led to my looking at environmental careers. Pretty much all of them needed a Bachelor's degree and some a Master's Degree, so I decided to change my path and go back to school. My family discouraged me and kept telling me not to, and that I would never earn a degree. I did not listen to them and trudged on. I am currently a Junior with 76 credits, aiming for 120. I am majoring in Sustainability Science and Environmental Policy and minoring in Mathematics. I have proven my family wrong many times in my adult life, and I am out to prove them wrong again. I hope to work 30 hours a week in sustainability and make more than my benefits in income after graduating. I want to improve air quality and reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions and waste. I also want to engage leasing companies and tenants in offering and using recycling services, respectively. I feel that tenants are not really given the option other than to throw recyclables in the trash, which CT state law does not allow. I want to be able to pay all my own bills, including the standard rent, and have money left over at the end of the month to save. Good work/life balance is important to my conditions, as well as time off for medical appointments. Health insurance that is ACA compliant is important, too, as my conditions are expensive to treat. Non-compliant insurance is useless to me and a waste of money.

My autism spectrum disorder, level 1, has made it hard to be in large crowds. The tactile sensitivity gives me problems with choosing clothes, as I need softer fabrics, wide necklines, and loose fit on shirts. It keeps me on edge all day and makes it hard to wind down at night, though I try. The auditory sensitivity makes it hard to go to campus events, as the loud music will overload me. I also am unable to drive a car due to my nervous system problems, including generalized anxiety disorder. I am looking for a career where I can work remotely or in a lab to help slow or stop climate change. My special interest is climate change and sustainability. I love doing research, and I think doing it or policy analysis would be a good starting point. The amount of money I can make is also influencing my choice of potential career, but more importantly, I am looking for work I will be good at and enjoy doing. My sensitivities also influence my choice of clothing and what I can wear to work. My sensitivities can also provoke anxiety when someone gets in my space, no matter who it is. I feel like I am on edge all day, and then trying to wind down in the evening becomes very difficult. My autism makes it hard to read social cues such as facial expressions and body language. I also have a hard time making friends. I tend to look to other autistic adults and organizations related to autism for support groups. I also have taken the time to learn American Sign Language and continue to practice and pick up new signs. Finding groupmates when I need them for a class is very hard, and the Professor usually has to assign me to someone to get past my inability to read social cues. My sensory sensitivities make it hard to navigate day-to-day life. I have trouble cooking, cleaning, and showering due to executive function problems. My tactile sensitivity also makes me a very good hands-on type of learner. Giving me a project or experiment to do is better than making me read a chapter in a book. The reading will ultimately take me longer to do. I tend to be inflexible and adhere to routines very strictly. Without routines, it can be hard to cope with all the emotions and I can burn out.

My family tried to stop me from attending college by taking my computer away in late 2016. I fled to Derby Neck Library, where I knew I could use their computers all day if I needed to. As long as transit was running, I could stay and do my classwork, and this is what I did. I ended up passing my first semester at community college with 2 As. I went on to a second semester and left the family home the next summer for my own subsidized apartment. The family continued to try to deter me, but I continued to ignore them. Even after getting put on the Dean's List, they continued to think I was not responsible enough to do schoolwork. I proved them wrong semester after semester. It took 4 years of this for them to accept that this was the right way to a future for me. It also took a long time for them to accept that I was autistic and thought differently than they did. I have now transferred to a state university and made the Dean's List there two years in a row. In general, College has helped me mentally grow and taught me things about my problems and the way I learn. Overcoming this challenge made my perseverance stronger. I am also more decisive; when I make a decision, I stick to it and do not change it. I have matured more in college than I could by just aging. This challenge also showed that I can find a way around people who want to get in the way of my future. It made me want more independence in my future and to understand how to manage my own money rather than letting someone do it for me. I do not want to be so involved in the family due to religious conflicts. It made me not want the benefits so much as well and to make my own money doing work I enjoy and love. With the future of Social Security being uncertain, my best bet is a degree and a job to survive. My area of expertise upon graduation will be sustainability and environmental policy. I will be able to do GIS work, analyze data, and be a sustainability director. These are all things I would enjoy doing. I want to have passion and love what I do but still make good money.

I see today's environmental problems and want to do something about it. Our environment provides essential services such as clean water and air that humans need to survive. I advocate for glyphosate to be taken off the market as well, as it is killing off our pollinators, and without them, we cannot grow food. Many areas are already seeing the effects of climate change, which I have already learned about in a class. I also see the need for better environmental policies. People and the government are going to need to act together to abate the climate problem. I want to do my part and understand how to influence others to act to protect our planet. My major is sustainability science and environmental policy. My degree will help me learn ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I am very interested in reducing waste in particular. I want to find ways to recycle more materials and new ways to heat our buildings. I have already learned the basics of sustainability and will be learning about public engagement in the fall. A lot of classes also focus on sustainability science and its applications. Some of my career will be doing research, and I am learning how to write a study proposal, as well as the different research methods. My degree will also help me understand the different environmental policies and how they apply in the country. I would advise my friends and family to reduce their carbon footprint by making their homes use less electricity. If they own their homes, I would be telling them to insulate their homes to an R-30 to 40 in the walls and R-60 in the roof and attic. I would also suggest double-pane windows and an updated Energy Star-rated furnace. Energy Star furnaces use 1/4 of the fuel that an older furnace would use and save them oil money. I would also suggest recycling and composting what they can. Putting blackout curtains up would help retain the heat better in the winter as well. Even if they rent, there are a few things they can do, such as getting blackout curtains approved and recycling what they can. I put a window insulation kit up each fall to keep heat in my apartment so the baseboard heat does not need to work so hard. Most of my family and friends eat meat; I do not care for it and only eat plant foods, dairy products and egg whites.

I choose to recycle things, even though my leasing company does not offer recycling, because I want to reduce the waste going into our landfills. Landfills emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and also take up land space we could be using to grow food. I also choose organic vegetables and fruits because glyphosate is sprayed on conventional produce. Glyphosate is causing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma across the U.S. and killing off our pollinators, and until this problem is abated and glyphosate is not sold anymore, I will not budge. I walk where I can and take the bus elsewhere instead of driving because there are too many cars on the road already polluting our air. I do not believe driving is the most eco-friendly way to get around. I use an EcoTank printer instead of cartridges because I can recycle the bottles of ink when they are empty. I put up a window insulation kit each fall to make my baseboard heat work less hard and conserve heat when I need to run space heaters. I also use blackout curtains to retain heat further. In summer, if I need cooling I use window fans instead of a window air conditioner to save electricity and money. But I am a renter, not a homeowner, so there are limits to what I can do and what my leasing agent must do. I believe it is important to reduce my carbon footprint to reduce climate change and its effects. Sea level rise is happening everywhere and storms are getting stronger and more destructive. In 2100 this planet will be uninhabitable and very hot if we do not act now. Species of animals are dying off every year. In some areas, the pollution is so bad that public health is being affected. New Delhi, India is the most polluted city in the world because they have no means of filtering the carbon dioxide before it's emitted. Small Island Developing States are being flooded by sea level rise to the point that some of these islands are disappearing. Developing countries in the southern hemisphere need help to get on track to sustainability as well and get some of the renewable energy technologies that developed countries in the northern hemisphere can afford now. Also, if all our pollinators die off, humans will have to hand pollinate our food plants, a tedious and time-consuming task. Using Integrated Pest Management and drying our crops in other ways will prevent all our pollinating species from going extinct.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 1.5 years old. I had seizures until I was put on carbamazepine er when I was 16. I was found to be mildly dyslexic at age 13; I had reading comprehension problems. In my mid-twenties, I noticed my energy starting to wane and I was gaining weight I could not lose. I felt cold all the time, too. I started college at age 35 and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at that time, which explained many of my symptoms. Thyroxine was tried but did not work by itself, so thyronine was added to give me better energy. In early 2017, I was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder level 1 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This explained my inability to read social cues and my sensory challenges. In April 2018, I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation. I still find it flares up when I am stressed or anxious. I had COVID-19 on January 26, 2023. I was sick for 10 days and am still feeling fatigued and foggy-brained sometimes. I have customized my diet to my problems. I avoid meat products, poultry, fish and shellfish, gluten, corn, soy, most dairy, egg yolks (but not whites), garlic and onion, and too much fruit. I do eat a little fruit, but I am intolerant to fructose and lactose, as well as fructans. So I cannot overdo it. I do eat hard, aged cheeses, but no other dairy; I will use non-dairy variations otherwise. I like to do Tae Bo for exercise when I am able. I am learning ways to manage my stress better so my bowel problems do not flare up so badly all the time, as my bowel is very sensitive to stress. No, I cannot eat anything I want anywhere and must take food with me if I will not be home all day. I am okay with this because it prevents more flare-ups of my IBS. I am learning new ways to read with my problems as well, as I usually need longer to read the same material as another student. I have never driven a vehicle and do not plan to try, as it would be dangerous with my conditions. I most likely will not drive in my lifetime, either. I am also trying to build routines that help improve my health, despite my physical problems. I am also looking for a hobby I can do when I am not attending school. This would help ease my stress levels as well.

My electric space heaters indirectly use fossil fuels because of the way electricity is made with natural gas in my area. My baseboard heat often does not work well when outside temperatures go below freezing, as they often do in New England winters. This can cause emissions and climate change. I hate getting packaging on my purchases that is single use plastic and cannot be recycled; it is very wasteful. Landfills create methane emissions, which is a stronger greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. I would buy renewable energy if I was allowed to, but my energy assistance and the law in my state prevents me from it. A lot of things are in the landlord's control because I rent. There are 20 apartments in my building and each uses electricity differently. My low income stops me from buying a house, where I could do a lot more for sustainable living. Renewable energy can supplement grid connection, but will not work to power all 20 apartments by itself. My landlord does not offer recycling, only trash. Many people along my street do not recycle, but I wish more people would. I recycle more than I throw away. It can take me a few weeks to fill 1 kitchen bag with trash. I have a cleaning company that takes my recycling down to the transfer station each month. I just bag it and let it sit there until they come because I cannot drive a car. Not driving and using public transportation helps the environment, but my causes are medical in nature. I separate plastic bottles to be returned to the store and get my bottle deposit back. I put up a window insulation kit each fall to help retain heat in my apartment. I use LED bulbs to save electricity as well. I shop with a list of what I need and stick to it. I am studying Sustainability Science and Environmental Policy in college half-time for a Bachelor's degree. I can buy renewable energy certificates once I have more income and no longer require energy assistance. I am also thinking about ways to reduce my food waste, since food waste is a big issue in the United States. I can use the space heaters only when I absolutely need them or my apartment will get too cold. I cannot eliminate their use, though. When I purchased a new printer, I got one with refillable ink bins so I could recycle the bottles after I use them and not waste cartridges.

I am Crystal Golias. I am a Sustainability Science major at Southern Connecticut State University. My parents abused me mentally and physically growing up. I would ruminate when I was anxious. My dad slammed my door a lot during these times, only serving to increase my anxiety and cause me to ruminate more. My mom put every rule in the book on me very unfairly, only for me to break every one. I was different, but was not diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and generalized anxiety until age 36. I left home right after my diagnosis. I am the only Catholic in a family of atheists. I am forced to stand up for my faith with the family more times than not. I also follow the Church's traditions for decorating around Christmas and wait until the third Sunday of Advent, using only the Advent wreath before then. I also choose not to follow the family's traditions and create my own that follow Church teachings. I never eat what they do because of my special dietary needs. This creates friction between my beliefs and the family's, and I never listen to what they say about it. I do not trust people until I get to know them. My inflexibility can sometimes turn people off, so I only have a few friends. The special diet I need for my digestive issues does not allow me to eat out due to my intolerances, so restaurants are not a place to meet with me. I am currently learning American Sign Language to allow me to communicate with the deaf people in my life. My mood can vary from day to day due to thyroid problems. I am unable to drive a car safely due to my mental health issues. I can also sign on an elementary level with a deaf person and have a good math background, as it is a subject I am good in. Workplace accommodations will be necessary for me to work at all, given that I cannot drive. I am a lifelong learner and always looking to learn new things. I will need to work in a lab or office for the most part. I would also consider the climate risks associated with another area I am asked to travel to and whether I can deal with them before I say okay to it. If there is no public transport in the other area, this also would cause me to say no to a trip my job might want me to take. I will need a little less than 40 hours, as this can cause burnout, and also time off for doctor's appointments I may need. In the end, I must take care of myself and my problems, and I have learned the importance of this. I also have overcome challenges associated with not being able to drive, as driving will never be possible for me. There are too many risks with my problems and driving would be a danger to me.

I think the most impactful way to combat climate change is getting rid of fossil fuels. It is not as straightforward as most people think, though. There are no heating systems offered in the U.S. that do not use fossil fuels and work in colder climates where the temperature in winter regularly goes below freezing. Since we cannot leave people without a way to heat their buildings, there must be innovation in this area, especially where it concerns buildings with more than one apartment in them. Geothermal heat pumps only work for single-family houses; they do not work for buildings with more than one unit, and up to 20 units, in them. Non-carbon emitting transportation will be another requirement to combat climate change as well as pollution. Energy and transportation are the economic sectors that emit the most carbon dioxide. Both these ways will have a big impact on U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. The U.S. is currently second only to China in world emissions. This needs to be changed. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment, so I am limited by structural barriers as well as medical problems. I put up blackout curtains and a window insulation kit each fall to help hold heat in once my leasing company turns on the baseboard heat. I use LED bulbs in my light fixtures, too, which use a lot less electricity than incandescent bulbs. I do not drive a car and use ADA Paratransit due to my disabilities. I am also a Sustainability Science major and Math minor in my University, going for a Bachelor Degree. I prefer to walk when someplace I need to go is nearby, but it depends on how my thyroid levels are and how much energy I have. I try to choose organic produce, as I am against our foods being sprayed with glyphosate prior to harvest. This practice is poisoning humans and causing Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I also make my own cleaning recipes with natural ingredients, and do not allow bleach, a poison even to humans, in my home. If there were more energy efficient portable space heaters available that were not such high cost that I cannot afford them, I would use them. To date, I have not seen technologies that work in a cold climate like New England, for apartment buildings rather than single-family houses. Our temperatures regularly dip below 32 degrees in the winter and our heating systems need to work with them.

My favorite discovery is the way we can make electric current from the sun. A.E. Becquerel discovered this in 1839. Not only solar panels were created, but solar powered motors and water heaters. Oil shortages fueled it's growth. Scientists continue to experiment with ways to produce solar electricity more efficiently. Current solar cells only have 15% efficiency, meaning 85% of the solar energy input is not converted to electricity. It could be part of the key to preventing a planetary crisis. Along with wind power and geothermal heat, solar electricity can help us produce electricity in sustainable ways without carbon dioxide emissions. These carbon dioxide emissions are killing our air and causing climate change and its impacts. Many areas along the coast of the U.S. will be underwater by the end of the century without transitioning to more sustainable sources of electricity and finding sustainable planet-friendly ways to heat our buildings, particularly in areas with temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter season.

I have multiple diagnoses that can occur together. Taking care of my problems is important to me. I can function better when my problems are balanced. These diagnoses include epilepsy, level 1 Autism Spectrum, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Hypothyroidism, Psoriasis, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation. They affect me multiple ways when they are not. I see 7 different specialist doctors in any given calendar year. My epilepsy has been well controlled since I was 16. But I still am unable to drive a motor vehicle. My Autism Spectrum and Generalized Anxiety Disorder affect my ability to make eye contact in different ways. Lack of eye contact is a feature of autism, but when the GAD makes me ruminate, I cannot focus on anything. I am also sensitive to touch and sound and have trouble reading social cues. Rituals and routines help me cope with daily life. Hypothyroidism affects my physical energy level, weight, digestion and moods when I am not on enough medication. IBS-C is very sensitive to anxiety; when it flares up, I am in pain, bloated and constipated for at least a week, depending on the anxiety level in the preceding event. Psoriasis, because of its location, flares up whenever I use the laxative and force myself to have a bowel movement. When it does, it itches and burns, and the rash gets bigger. Anxiety and moisture also flare it up, though. I try to keep the psoriasis dry and manage my stress levels. Managing my stress levels also helps the IBS-C. I am trying to learn what to avoid with my problems, as well as how to take care of them so I do not have symptoms. I will never be able to drive a car. I have more energy and feel better when I take care of my problems and avoid the things that I know flare them up. Learning and physical activity are easier. My body functions better as well when I take care of my problems, since some problems, like my hypothyroidism, can impair my body function if they are not balanced. I get blood tests done and my thyroid supplement adjusted regularly. If I do not feel good, I know when to call my doctors and which one to call.

I live in a 1 bedroom rental apartment. I recycle anything that can be and use LED bulbs for my apartment lighting. I also do not use bleach, which is not only toxic to the environment, but us as well, and try to avoid toxic chemicals by buying products that carry green certifications on them for cleaning. I also use microfiber cloths that I can wash and reuse instead of paper towels. I look for furniture that will last a while and has environmental certifications on it. I also took a class on Climate Change in fall 2021 and did very well in it. If somebody starts talking about climate change, I can tell them what I know. I think there needs to be a balance between physical health and the environment for sustainability to occur. We also need new heating technologies that work well in subfreezing temperatures and do not use fossil fuels that can apply to more than just houses. There is a lot of innovation that needs to happen for us to lose our dependency on fossil fuels. This includes new ways of making energy to supplement the solar and wind power we can make. Solar and wind will not cover all our energy needs in 2050, only about 15%.

I do everything my doctors tell me for my medical problems. I take any medications I am prescribed in the doses they are prescribed for me. I am half time so that I can go see a doctor during semester if I need to. I do not overload myself with schoolwork and really study what classes I take. When I am invited to an in-person event, I ask what the event has been like in the past to get an idea of the sensory environment I will be in. Then I decide if it will be good for me or not. I know when an environment will be bad for my Asperger's this way. I stand up for my different needs and do not let people force me into things or activities that I know will not be good for me. I am good at advocating for what I need. This helps make my life easier by avoiding environments that are loud or crowded, which are not good for me. Taking care of my medical problems helps me live relatively normally, even if I cannot drive a vehicle. Taking all my medications and following my doctors' instructions keeps my problems under control. I always alert my doctors of any new symptoms I may have. I do better in school as well when my medical issues are taken care of rather than putting off appointments and lab tests I may need. I have different needs than other individuals, but I know if I take care of my health, I will feel better.

I want to be able to make a living for myself without always needing government help. I am currently poor and not able to work. Being able to work in sustainability will allow me to afford all the things I need. I can earn work credits this way so I can have a more comfortable retirement, if Social Security is around then. My autism spectrum disorder impairs my ability to drive a motor vehicle safely. My overloads from loud noises can kill someone if I am driving fast enough, so I just do not do it. I want to show that a person with autism can still work with the right hours and accommodations. The keys are the work/life balance and the work environment. A Bachelor degree will help me by allowing me to make more money in order to make up what I cannot get through Social Security, and potentially get off their rolls. It will also give me the knowledge to be able to understand today's environmental issues and how we can help abate them. This will also give me the education credentials employers will require for me to work in this field. I will use sign language for my second language because it can help me read the cues easier. Reading social cues is one of my bigger struggles with the autism spectrum. I often come off to another differently than I intended and I never understand why. My math minor will expand the level of Math I can do, and employers will appreciate that I can do Calculus, and not just algebra. I like doing math and the math minor is perfect for me. I chose Environmental Systems and Sustainability as my major because I enjoy studying environmental problems and ways to be more sustainable.