Hi! My name is Isabelle Van Wert and I am a lesbian college student perusing a career in Environmental Science. Growing up in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I spent a lot of time outside. Whether it was my backyard, the woods behind my uncle's house, or the creek at my city’s park, I have always found love in the outdoors. I was always raised to appreciate the environment I was surrounded by. Even as I grew older and spent more time on my studies, I have always held respect for my environment as a place to learn and explore. It was experiences like school field trips to the zoo, visiting the lake where my aunt lives, or even searching for lizards under rocks at the summer camp my older brother attended that really helped to shape my love for the world around me. This appreciation is what ultimately led me to pursue a major of Environmental Science in my university studies. Even though I grew up surrounded by forests, lakes, and creeks, I have always been fond of the ocean. When I was little, I used to visit beaches on Long Island where my mom grew up. She would tell me so many stories of days she's had on those beaches which was wat led me to always respect them. As I learned more about the planet in my time in high school and at Temple University, I became especially drawn to the challenges facing our oceans. I've learned that ocean health is connected to many parts of the life I live everyday, and I learned that protecting our oceans is essential to protecting the Earth as a whole. My love for natural areas in Pennsylvania gave me a strong foundation for love of the planet, and now I want to use that same passion to contribute to oceanic conservation through my education and future research. Ultimately, my dream is to give back to the places that raised me and ensure they remain safe, clean, and thriving for the future generations of the world. The first year of my studies at Temple University has started to provide me with the knowledge and tools to help me achieve my goals. I want to be a well-rounded individual that makes a change in the world. I do not want to be a person that sits idly and watches the world change for the worse. I want to be a voice for the environment and an example of how one person, with the right education and passion, can help create lasting change. This scholarship will help me ease the burden of getting the education I need to pursue my passions. But more importantly, this scholarship would act as confidence in my ability to make a difference. I want to continue to learn, to grow, and to work toward a future where the planet I value is protected and preserved as it deserves to be.