Growing up in a rural Wisconsin community, I saw firsthand how energy decisions affect everyday people. Many of my neighbors worked hard to keep their farms running and their homes warm, but few understood how the energy system that powered their lives actually operated. I came to realize that this lack of access to information wasn’t just about education, it was about equity. Over time, I became passionate about energy not only as a tool to address climate change, but as a matter of the public good. I believe clean, affordable, reliable energy should never be a privilege. No one should have to choose between keeping the lights on and paying for food or healthcare. In my undergraduate studies, I learned how our energy system functions, and where it fails people. Through my fellowship with 350 Wisconsin and my research at the UW–Madison Office of Sustainability, I saw how clean energy projects come to life and how they are often stalled by outdated laws, regulatory barriers, and utility lobbying. I wrote articles and attended Public Service Commission Affordability Investigation meetings, where I witnessed how legal frameworks shape energy access and affordability. These experiences strengthened my commitment to advocating for policies that make clean energy accessible to everyone. My experience studying abroad in Costa Rica gave me a new perspective. I saw a country running primarily on renewable energy, proof that ambitious sustainability goals are possible when backed by strong policy. When I returned home, I was inspired by what a just transition could mean for communities like mine. I began researching agrivoltaics, the use of land for both solar energy and agriculture, and how it could help small farmers compete while supporting renewable energy development. My passion for energy justice has also deepened through advocacy. As an organizer for the Wisconsin Climate March, I listened to residents from communities like Beloit describe how fossil fuel pollution and high utility costs harm their neighborhoods. While researching community solar programs, I was discouraged to find they are often accessible primarily to higher-income households. These experiences reinforced that the transition to renewable energy must prioritize fairness as well as efficiency. Ultimately, I want to use the law to help make that transition possible. Too many existing laws and regulatory structures slow progress toward renewable energy adoption. I want to help change those systems, making it easier for people to install rooftop solar, participate in community solar, and advance large-scale renewable energy projects that benefit everyone. The intersection of law, energy, and environmental justice is where I see myself making the greatest impact. For me, pursuing a legal education isn’t just about understanding the system, it’s about gaining the tools to transform it. Law is where science, justice, and community meet, and it’s where I hope to build solutions that make clean, reliable energy a reality for all. Throughout the last few years, I noticed that, while the climate marches I was planning and articles I was writing were important, it didn't feel like I was making the impact that I set out to have. I had always been interested in law throughout my life, but in that moment was when I realized I needed to become a lawyer to give myself the tools enforce the regulations I learned about in school and hold companies and individuals accountable for their environmental crimes. This fall, I am going to study environmental, natural resources, and energy law at Lewis & Clark Law School and I hope to practice in the area of energy law and pollution remediation to ultimately create a more sustainable world.