Climate change is becoming an increasing issue striking the planet, and I have always had a passion for helping others, especially the environment. I attend the University of California, San Diego, this fall as an incoming freshman pursuing the field of environmental systems at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. As I learn more about the inner workings of the planet and all of its processes through my studies, I plan to take this knowledge and apply it in internships both while studying and right after I graduate in the fields of conservation or laboratory research. As the world further begins to realize the drastic problem of climate change, most companies will need knowledgeable people to satisfy sustainability needs, and I plan to actively jump into the industry. After gaining experience during internships, I want to work for the government—such as the EPA—in a research position understanding and finding new ways to solve climate issues that are impacting everyday people, or, venture into the field of conservation and restoration of natural land for a healthier global ecosystem. However, the government is not my final destination, as I would love to venture into the private sector with even more funding to continue my research, potentially even founding my own company with a passion and spirit for conservation. I also want to grow a following through newsletters or another form of publication to educate people on the importance of making climate-conscious choices in the everyday world. Giving advice on little steps each person can take adds up, and in turn snowballs into global change that benefits not only the current generations, but also future ones. In the spirit of giving advice, some ideas I would share for each person looking to reduce their carbon footprint is that every little thing helps. These actions over time can make a massive difference. Carpooling, using public transportation, and walking/biking to reduce emissions from vehicles. Cutting down on food waste in the home through meal planning and smart grocery shopping. Avoiding single use plastics such as bags at stores and excessive packaging of leftovers and other goods that could be put in reusable tupperware or washable containers– which rolls in with reducing food waste. Being a conscious consumer by looking for more eco-friendly brands— but avoiding greenwashing— and using an item for as long as it works instead of tossing it as soon as a new “improved” version comes out. Examples of this include avoiding new electronic purchases before current ones break, driving your car for all it is worth before upgrading, and rewearing clothes to combat fast fashion’s wear-and-burn mentality. Though at the moment these little steps may not feel monumental, if the whole world were to follow, we may just have a chance.

I aim to walk through life with an attitude that lifts others up. From a young age, I have worked to create meaningful environments where those around me feel safe to be themselves and grow together. Above all else, I value compassion and mindfulness towards all people, creativity and a problem-solving mindset, and community to bond people together since we are stronger as one. Compassion and empathy are central to my worldview and how I tackle all situations. In my Junior year, I grew close with a friend. I showed acceptance and support as they shared deeply personal secrets and I became their sole entrusted friend about a hidden facet of her life: coming out as a transgender woman. I grew concerned when I heard about her family situation. Her dad was homophobic and became hostile about her transition. She had always made half-jokes about self-harm, and when two days of absence turned into a week of unread messages, I became incredibly worried. Working with a trusted teacher, I learned she was in the hospital. After she was discharged, we met at a coffee shop so I could help her with missed work, and I felt relieved to see her alive. Being an ally to my friend during her transition gave me a window into the hidden struggles people face and understand how true acceptance and compassion are crucial. A core part of me that I am proud of is my creativity. Critically thinking through situations and designing solutions along with developing artistic expressions helps show my values to the world. In my Junior year, I was placed into the multimedia pathway with a class of kids indifferent towards work and learning. For our final, we decided on a class-wide film in which my friends and I ended up being the only designers. People quit their roles and I stepped up to fill them. Despite this, we made consistent progress with practically zero participation. In the end, we produced an entertaining film. I approached blank faces with my positive mindset and found ways to boost participation, especially when I was placed in charge of the classroom as the teacher would walk out. Creativity keeps situations productive and executing visions through hard work demonstrates my enthusiasm for innovation. Community bonds groups together. As a performer in my first year of color guard, the marching band and guard were disjointed, separate entities, and I felt surrounded by strangers. The upperclassmen perpetuated an “us vs. them” mentality towards the guard even though we marched and performed the same show. As I worked and rose to the position of captain of the team, my one true goal was unity. Starting fresh with new freshmen the following two years as a leader, I coordinated team bonding and arranged for the guard to sit with others on breaks. My active efforts have brought sections together and created cohesion and friendships that have lasted beyond just the season. The attitudes my members bring to practice are ones of excitement, showing how significant camaraderie can be. I have had countless experiences throughout my life that have guided my worldviews. I strive to be a positive force in people’s lives by helping others and with creativity, compassion, and community at the forefront of my mind. I plan to become a leader in the world of environmental science, conducting teams of people in the field to conserve and restore crucial natural ecosystems for the safety and future of our planet.

I aim to walk through life with an attitude that lifts others up. From a young age, I have worked to create meaningful environments where those around me feel safe to be themselves and grow together. Above all else, I value compassion and mindfulness towards all people, creativity and a problem-solving mindset, and community to bond people together since we are stronger as one. I joined Color Guard in my freshman year of high school; given the parameters of the pandemic, I did not march for the first time until my sophomore year. I loved it immediately and aspired to make an impact. After a rigorous application process, I earned the position of captain. With my new role, I was excited for my junior year. Two weeks before school officially starts marks the beginning of band camp, where eleven-hour days are spent refining skills and learning the beginning of our field show to begin the season strong. Unfortunately, our guard director was hospitalized with a concussion, and our two techs were also unable to attend. As such, the young team of only five veteran members and a freshman majority needed leadership. The drum majors and band director asked my co-captains and me to lead the guard and to grow the team’s skills during the almost 110 hours of committed time. I collaborated with the band director so the team could learn marching basics with the band and taught endurance and coordination through dance, flag, and rifle drills. I stayed up late into the night planning the morning, afternoon, and evening blocks with different skills to teach. To build ensemble unity, I arranged for us to sit with other band sections at lunch and chat, forging friendships across the field. For the members struggling to grasp concepts, I worked one-on-one to ensure each movement made sense and they understood, all the while building my knowledge of everyone’s different learning styles. Our guard improved, learning more about the rigor and dedication of our sport and growing closer. Our band was one of only twelve in our division that made it to championships. Additionally, we went on to achieve more success and medal in winter season. This trend continued with my strong leadership throughout senior year and a tight-knit community was built that lasted beyond the seasons. I strive to be a positive force in people’s lives by helping others and with creativity, compassion, and community at the forefront of my mind. In the future, I plan to become a leader in the world of environmental science after graduating from the University of California, San Diego, conducting teams of people in the field to conserve and restore crucial natural ecosystems for the safety and future of our planet.

Climate change is becoming an increasing issue striking the planet, and I have always had a passion for helping others, especially the environment. I attend the University of California, San Diego, this fall as an incoming freshman pursuing the field of environmental systems at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. As I learn more about the inner workings of the planet and all of its processes through my studies, I plan to take this knowledge and apply it in internships both while studying and right after I graduate in the fields of conservation or laboratory research. As the world further begins to realize the drastic problem of climate change, most companies will need knowledgeable people to satisfy sustainability needs, and I plan to actively jump into the industry. After gaining experience during internships, I want to work for the government—such as the EPA—in a research position understanding and finding new ways to solve climate issues that are impacting everyday people, or, venture into the field of conservation and restoration of natural land for a healthier global ecosystem. However, the government is not my final destination, as I would love to venture into the private sector with even more funding to continue my research, potentially even founding my own company with a passion and spirit for conservation. I also want to grow a following through newsletters or another form of publication to educate people on the importance of making climate-conscious choices in the everyday world. Giving advice on little steps each person can take add up, and in turn snowballs into global change that benefits not only the current generations, but also future ones. Growing up, I have had a fascination with the natural world and have become more active in its conservation throughout my years from camping as a small child to founding native gardens, recycling programs, and attending climate rallies in my community. My love of the environment will serve me well in my thirst for more knowledge laced into my college career. I also have a deep respect for creativity, writing stories and songs, making art, and designing video games in my free time. I plan to harness my more creative side for critical thinking in the real world about how to solve the problems that people around the globe are beginning to encounter with climate change. I want to make a genuine impact on the world through my actions with the environment always in mind.

Climate change is becoming an increasing issue striking the planet, and I have always had a passion for helping others, especially the environment. I attend the University of California, San Diego, this fall as an incoming freshman pursuing the field of environmental systems at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. As I learn more about the inner workings of the planet and all of its processes through my studies, I plan to take this knowledge and apply it in internships both while studying and right after I graduate in the fields of conservation or laboratory research. As the world further begins to realize the drastic problem of climate change, most companies will need knowledgeable people to satisfy sustainability needs, and I plan to actively jump into the industry. After gaining experience during internships, I want to work for the government—such as the EPA—in a research position understanding and finding new ways to solve climate issues that are impacting everyday people, or, venture into the field of conservation and restoration of natural land for a healthier global ecosystem. However, the government is not my final destination, as I would love to venture into the private sector with even more funding to continue my research, potentially even founding my own company with a passion and spirit for conservation. I also want to grow a following through newsletters or another form of publication to educate people on the importance of making climate-conscious choices in the everyday world. Giving advice on little steps each person can take add up, and in turn snowball into global change that benefits not only the current generations, but also future ones. Growing up, I have had a fascination with the natural world and have become more active in its conservation throughout my years from camping as a small child to founding native gardens, recycling programs, and attending climate rallies in my community. My love of the environment will serve me well in my thirst for more knowledge laced into my college career. I also have a deep respect for creativity, writing stories and songs, making art, and designing video games in my free time. I plan to harness my more creative side for critical thinking in the real world about how to solve the problems that people around the globe are beginning to encounter with climate change. I want to make a genuine impact on the world through my actions with the environment always in mind.

My passion for protecting the environment lies deep within me, dating back to an informational lesson about global warming in sixth grade. It illuminated the severity of climate change issues to me and ever since I have been committed to playing my part for a greener future. Throughout middle school, I participated in the garden club, learning how to grow plants and be more environmentally conscious. I made innumerable trips to clean the beach of plastics and other trash; now, when I see trash and recyclables littering streets and parking lots, I pick them up to throw away at home. As my collection of fruit and vegetable plants grew in my house, so did my interest in sustainable horticulture, and I decided to build a greenhouse to cultivate more. My mom and I assembled an 11-foot by 12-foot greenhouse on the back patio; I screwed all the metal pipes together and tossed the Visqueen over myself. I researched best practices and what plants complement one another, then planted it with produce essentials for our salads and recipes. I grow strawberries, bell peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes; a fruitful grapevine lines the edge of our property; multiple mint plants act as a pest repellent for my canyon full of critters. In the kitchen, I have a bin for food scraps that I transfer to our compost bin to use as organic fertilizer for the plants in the greenhouse. To further my knowledge, I have created many lengthy reports about climate change. In Seminar English, I worked on a video about the sources of climate change. In tenth-grade English, my group designed ideas for greener infrastructure, including bricks filled with algae to absorb more CO2. I follow other environmentally conscious people on social media who talk about topics from bees to the ocean. I have also participated in climate walk-outs and gone to rallies. I spend my time listening to podcasts from TEDed about the real-world effects of climate change and what different cities and countries are doing to combat this. I have always had a passion for the environment and am going to study the field of environmental science in college to continue to learn and take my environmentalism to a new level. As I learn more about the inner workings of the planet and all of its processes, I plan to apply this knowledge in internships and jobs both while studying and beyond. As the world begins to further realize the drastic problem of climate change, countless companies will need knowledgeable experts to satisfy sustainability needs. After gaining experience during internships, I want to work for the government—such as the EPA—in a research position understanding and finding new ways to solve climate issues that are impacting everyday people, or, venture into the field of conservation and restoration of natural land for a healthier global ecosystem. My interests lie in lab research to discover more about the workings of climate change and public speaking on solutions that everyday people can take to make an impact. I also find conservation and restoration incredibly fascinating and hope to travel the world conducting fieldwork to bring ecosystems back to life. Holding a degree in environmental science will open up countless doors to me that bring opportunities to better the planet we all call home. I want to make a genuine impact on the world through my actions with the environment at the forefront of my mind.