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I sometimes joke that I'm basically the Avatar because my work in engineering revolves around water, earth, fire, and air—fittingly, Avatar: The Last Airbender was one of my favorite shows growing up. But behind the joke is a real belief: engineering gives us the power to protect both people and the planet. As climate change and environmental inequality accelerate, I want to help create solutions instead of simply reacting to crises. For me, environmental engineering is about justice, innovation, and building a future where vulnerable communities are not left behind. Since arriving at Carnegie Mellon University, I have immersed myself in research and engineering experiences that tackle global environmental challenges from multiple angles. As a researcher in the Jen Research Lab within the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies, I study how pollutants contribute to aerosol formation and air quality degradation. Atmospheric aerosols contribute to climate change and disproportionately impact low-income communities exposed to higher levels of pollution. Through nanoparticle monitoring and environmental data analysis, I contribute to research shaping public health policy and environmental protection. Being involved in advanced atmospheric research as a sophomore has shown me how engineering shapes decisions that affect millions. Outside the lab, I've explored how engineering can solve sustainability challenges. I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, with a team of CMU students to compete in an innovation hackathon hosted in partnership with the engineering firm Gresham Smith. Our challenge focused on reducing the massive energy and water demands of AI data centers. My team developed “Space Technology on Earth,” a proposal inspired by NASA’s two-phase liquid cooling systems used on satellites and space stations. By adapting this technology for terrestrial data centers, we designed a system capable of reducing cooling energy consumption by up to 75% and water usage by 90%. Our project earned first place and received the Sustainable Impact Award from CMU’s Center for Engineering Resilience and Climate Adaptation. This experience reinforced my passion for designing sustainable systems and demonstrated the power of collaborative engineering to address urgent real-world problems. I have perused my engineering education beyond the United States. Through the program “Renew and Rise: Climate Change and the Just Energy Transition,” I spent a semester in Greece studying the country’s transition from coal-based energy to renewable energy systems. Through fieldwork, meetings with local politicians and energy experts, and site visits across Greece, I gained firsthand insight into the complexities of balancing sustainability, economic development, and social equity during large-scale energy transitions. Seeing renewable energy systems firsthand deepened my understanding of engineers’ role in climate solutions. Equally important to me is ensuring that the next generation sees themselves reflected in STEM. As a TA at the Gelfand Center and a participant in CMU Engineering Outreach initiatives, I mentor K-12 students through hands-on engineering activities that build creativity and problem-solving skills. I have also worked with students from the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, leading interactive STEM activities and introducing them to technologies such as 3D printing. As a woman of color in STEM, I want younger students to see engineering as a space where they belong and can lead. Additionally, as an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, I work to foster an empowering environment for women in STEM. To me, engineering is the intersection of creativity, science, and impact. It is the ability to transform bold ideas into solutions that improve lives. Through research, innovation competitions, international sustainability work, and STEM outreach, I have discovered that engineering isn't simply the career I want to pursue, it is the way I want to build a more sustainable and equitable future.