When people think of impacts on the environment, they might think of the train derailment that spilled chemical materials into the soil, or oil spills to our precious bodies of water, the image of an avian covered in thick, dark oil embedded in everyone's mind. However, often, individuals' minds overlook our daily actions that have an impact on the environment too. From single-use plastics to fast fashion from Shein that took individuals by storm due to social media platforms such as TikTok. No matter how conscious someone might be about their environmental impact, little daily things we do can collectively have a negative impact on our Earth, which is why we must strive to live sustainably by holding ourselves accountable and recognizing that our actions are important. When I wake up in the morning, I used to eat a granola bar for breakfast. To some, this is a common statement, as granola bars are an ordinary breakfast item. However, one might overlook the fact that that granola bar was wrapped up in plastic, contributing to the plastic issue in our oceans. I used to paint with my mother, with apricot and burgundy-colored skies accompanying a black acrylic silhouette of a tree. After our paintings were done, we washed that acrylic paint down the drain, unknowingly to us that acrylic polymers were being carried out to the sea as a result. Every time I use my car to drive to school, wash my laundry using hot water and utilize a dryer unit, and eat a tuna fish sandwich from an endangered species of tuna, I am contributing to the environmental crisis, intentional or not. My daily choices impact the environment as I am just one out of billions of people who drive every day and use a dryer rather than hang up clothes. Altogether, our careless consumption can make a large impact on the environment, as our cars release harmful greenhouse gasses, our dryers consume energy, and lots of actions can contribute to the environmental issue of plastic waste. For these reasons, everyone must strive to live sustainably, as careless consumption regarding the daily choices we make can make a monumental impact on the world we need to protect for future generations, even if we are just one individual out of 7.8 billion. By being aware of the actions that we take, and holding ourselves accountable for the environmental issues we face, rather than blaming it on outside forces other than ourselves, communities can strive together to live more sustainable lives. Ways I strive to live sustainability is by being mindful of the products I eat, as I do not eat pork or beef products, and aim to avoid single-use plastics when grocery shopping. In addition, I take shorter showers, am mindful of my energy consumption, and continuously educate myself. Part of living sustainably is by recognizing ways in which you can improve, which for me, is by planning to cycle to my work, hang laundry outside, and avoiding fast fashion by thrifting clothes. Environmental impacts are on a scale, from disastrous chemical and oil spills to eating a candy bar that was wrapped in plastic. At a glance, one seems more harmful than the other, but that is not necessarily true. When millions of people eat a candy bar each day or buy an item that contains plastic, all that plastic contributes to the issue of waste in our oceans and our land. By educating ourselves and changing, we can leave behind a greener world to proudly bring new generations into.

I am a heavy believer in the idea that nature is healing, and can significantly improve mental health, providing calmness to those burdened with feelings of anxiety or depression. I manage my wellness while attending college by ensuring that I get to experience nature every day, whether it is sitting outside and letting the sun warm my soul and skin, or going barefoot in the dirt and practicing grounding. By going outside and enjoying nature, I ease my mental health struggles such as anxiety and depression, as I feel calmer and get reminded that everything will turn out okay. Being a student at an agricultural school, we have many beautiful sunsets to witness over pastures full of cattle or horses, and diverse plants and flowers to take in the beauty of. Apart from nature, I also manage my wellness while attending college by prioritizing my mental health, ensuring that I give myself time to assess my feelings and give myself to do activities I enjoy, so that my life isn't a cycle of just work, college, and studying. I utilize time management to ensure I stay up to date on coursework so that I can give myself the freedom and time to do my favorite activities, such as playing a game or watching a comforting show. A work-life balance is of significant importance to me. As for my physical wellness, every day I go on a walk, even if it is a 5-10 minute walk. I believe it is important to get up and moving to ensure that my physical health is well, as it improves cardiovascular fitness and has other benefits. As the weather gets warmer, I plan to manage my personal wellness by exploring and implementing new activities into my life, such as jogging or yoga. Overall, I have several ways in which I manage my personal wellness while attending college. Maintaining my wellness helps me succeed as a student as it gives me a necessary break from coursework so that when I need to focus on school, I have the mental capacity to do so. In addition, because my mental health is in a good state, I am more motivated to do well in my academics and can focus more of my time and attention on my classwork. At times, I still do go through poor mental health episodes, but having healthy coping mechanisms in the form of focusing on my mental and physical wellness has proved to be useful to maintain my success.

When I look back on my childhood, I remember the lush emerald grass and pastel blue skies in my backyard. I remember swinging as high as I possibly could in the sky, free of worry, the only anxiety in my mind being about my mom finding out that all of the clutter in my room was, in fact, messily hidden underneath my bed. My childhood was bright, but to me, the world was even brighter. But when I look back on middle school and high school, my world suddenly seems dimmer. I remember the first time I got social media, during middle school. I spent hours on Instagram and Youtube, watching teenagers do "day in my life videos" and scrolling through dozens of Instagram feeds, comparing myself to strangers that I wanted to be. I wanted to be that Youtuber. I wanted to be that girl with thousands of followers on Instagram. I remember changing my aesthetic to try and be someone who I was not, wearing band shirts from artists I did not even know a single song to, I remember trying to convince others to call me "Lee" instead of my actual name. I was so unhappy with the image of myself that I tried to convince others, even myself, that I was someone else. Things only went down from there, well into high school, as my mental health impacted me more. I began to struggle with anxiety, having panic attacks over instances that occurred years ago. I remember feeling like I was going to die in my sleep, checking my nails if they were blue before I went to bed, needing to cover my fingernails with a bright color to hide the urge to even check. I remember throwing up before school out of anxiety, not showering for a week, and distracting myself from the real world by spending hours on my computer playing mindless video games. Suddenly, my mom seeing my messy room didn't seem like the worst. As I began to find coping strategies for my feelings, as well as develop a support system through friends and my parents, my mental health significantly improved. I began focusing my time on academics, friendships, and hobbies that I found. I took to heart the idea that I can only live once, so I need to prioritize my happiness, as I cannot waste my time wishing things could be different, or feeling negative. Fast forward, as a second-year university student, when I look at the present, I see the beautifully colored sunsets lighting the land in which I travel, I see the beauty and strength of nature as it sends lightning down, but also allows flowers to bloom in the spring. Just like my childhood self, I see the beauty in the world, and now utilize nature as a source of healing for my mental health. I still struggle with my mental health, however, I use my story and my struggles as an experience for others to learn from, sharing with others how I believe that nature can be healing in lowering poor mental health.