Simply put I care about the environment because I live there. If you were to ask me more in depth though I would say that I am passionate about protecting the environment because I have watched and continued to watch my own hometown turn from an oasis of greenspace to a victim of the urban sprawl. Growing up 45 minutes south of Atlanta I always had experiences both in the city and in nature which I am extremely grateful for however, I always enjoyed nature much more. I lived in the nature and was able to go play in the woods and climb trees and go fishing, as every child should be able to do. This rapidly changed as I grew older. Developers started coming in; covering every inch of greenspace with apartment buildings, subdivisions, warehouses, gas stations, and dollar stores. It has turned my home into feeling like a wasteland. These developments also cause many environmental issues at the same time as removing greenspaces. By ignoring EPA guidelines, cutting corners, and using cheap labor, many of these developments end up having an abundance of issues including but not limited to floods, unstable foundations, and reservoir/river contamination. I have also been able to witness climate change in real time. I have watched as the intensity and number of storms in the southern United States specifically has increased. In the past 3 years I have seen multiple tornadoes but there were two major ones that took away lives and homes in a place that has not had this happen very often. I have also witnessed the increasing strength and intensity of hurricanes as well as how important an effective response in humanitarian aid is. From Katrina, to Harvey, and Helene, I not only have seen the storms get stronger from a distance, but I have also seen how the people have been impacted. I have volunteered and helped my church provide shelter and food for many people evacuating from these storms and have seen how appreciative and in need these people are. I initially went to school to study the environment and sustainability however throughout my first year I discovered my passion for film. It is one of my goals to spread awareness and bring about change for the environment in hopes of a healthier, greener future. I have always felt that if I could just get people to see things through my eyes, they would understand why the environment is so important; why our home is so important. I found that film is the perfect medium for this, allowing me to bring the same emotions and awareness to mind for an audience. Through my studies I am learning to be aware and knowledgeable about aspects of environmental injustice and degradation as well as searching for solutions and possible steps forward on how to gain community involvement. I have discovered that grassroots and local movements starting at the very household level can be one of the best solutions when it comes to environmental impacts. Simple things like using public transportation, walking, or biking not only cut carbon emissions but also help speed up traffic. Other things like gardening on a small scale and buying local/ethical are also great ways of supporting and being a part of change.

I missed 6 months of my senior year of highschool due to mental health issues. I spent three months in limbo with insurance and money issues trying to get help, and another three months in a program in which I was attending four group therapy sessions a day every day and two solo sessions per week. A main goal of this therapy was to rebuild a relationship with my father in which my therapist told me multiple times that it may be useless. Throughout these difficulties and struggles I have still found a way to succeed. After spending most of my life depressed and isolated it caused various mental health issues but they have also taught me a lot. They have taught me how to handle my emotions in different ways and how to help others with their mental health. It has caused me to have a feeling and love for others that I don’t think I’d have otherwise. It has caused me to care more about everything and everyone but also it has taught me that you must protect and take care of yourself or else you cannot move forward. My experience with mental health has caused me to care more about humanity, love, and community. It has caused me to care more about everything I do and a want to protect others and the planet.

From the moment I was born I have spent most of my time outside. From playing outside with my cousins on hay bales to fishing in creeks and ponds I was always outdoors. My grandparents are mainly to thank for this love of the outdoors as my mom’s dad would always take me fishing and my dad’s parents would always take me and my brothers camping. They each had their own seperate influences and are not the only ones that have brought about this passion in me though. My mother has also been very instrumental in my love of the outdoors. She has always supported it and we have bonded over the outdoors many times through fourteen mile hikes to waterfalls, kayaking through the marshes on the coast of Georgia or the time she dragged me and my brother to providence canyon. My mother has cultivated me to care for the outdoors and do my part always from recycling to picking up trash off Tybee island with the rest of the community. My father also used to take me fishing before he and my mother divorced and I stopped seeing him so much. Fishing has always been an important part of my life as it allows me to access the outdoors and the fact that people don’t bother you. Fishing is a way of meditation for me, it helps my brain process and think through things. I have been involved in my highschool’s agriculture program and the Future Farmers of America throughout my entire highschool career and earned a Greenhand degree. Growing up my family raised chickens and rabbits and kept a stocked garden. My love for agriculture comes from the effort that you put in and the reward reaped in the end. The effort and care required makes everything feel and taste better. Even if I do not pursue a career in farming or agriculture I very well will employ what I have learned and raise my own plants and produce for the rest of my life. Nearly every single person that I have grown up with or around have been a part of building my love and passion for the outdoors. Nearly every single memory I have from my childhood I was outside. Now that I am going on to college and becoming an adult I plan on continuing this path and pursuing a degree in environmental sustainability and public land management. During my time at school though I plan on working at a ski lodge and spending my time in the mountains.