I am interested in polymer science, fashion, and environmental issues. At a crossroads of these things is sustainable textiles. Many textiles that are common and affordable such as nylon (polyamide), polyester, and acrylic (polyacrylonitrile) are plastics that are not biodegradable. This means that after use clothes made from these plastics can end up in landfills for hundreds of years, excluding nylon which only takes around 35 years to degrade. America alone produces almost 3 billion pounds of textile waste a year, and a lot of that waste is in landfills. With the rise of fast fashion, more and more waste is made from plastics. As of right now, there aren't any plastics that biodegrade on their own, so rather than working on creating biodegradable plastics there should be a focus on recycling plastics. In high school, I did projects in a polymer class making fibers from renewable resources like algae. But, even these polymers don't biodegrade so the next best solution is to make them recyclable. Multiple synthetic textiles, like polyester and nylon, can be recycled. This process involves breaking or melting used items and turning them into "new" fibers for reuse. As a chemist, I would like to produce a synthetic polymer textile that is not only affordable but durable, sustainably made, and recyclable. I would initially like to be part of the team further developing algae-based bioplastics, and then work on making them recyclable. I would apply this knowledge and experience to developing algae-based textiles that are affordable, durable, and recyclable. Because algae can easily be produced at large scales a lot of my effort will go to making the production process efficient so that the product can remain affordable. Affordable sustainable products are important because they will ensure that sustainable fashion is accessible to anyone. A durable material will have a longer lifetime and in tandem with recyclability, these materials can be kept out of landfills, which will reduce environmental impact on underprivileged communities.

I have always valued giving back and empowering youth. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to volunteer in positions that I feel had an impact, and those have been some of the most rewarding of my life. In this essay, I will reflect on my personal experiences working in the community and how they have shaped my perspective on the importance of compassion and building connections. One of my earliest memories of working in the community was when I was in middle school, and I had graduated from camper to day camp counselor. For five days I would spend 6 hours with a group of kids, navigating around a park to various activities and keeping them engaged between classes. This experience taught me the importance of organization and empathy, and it opened my eyes to the importance of fostering confidence in children. I saw firsthand the positive impact that time to play and learn together could have on these children. I volunteered as a counselor every year until covid shut the camp down. I returned, year after year, to the camp because I was inspired by the people who came before me, and the connection to the group of people. Going to a place where people cared about my feelings and what I had to say had a profound impact on my self-esteem as a child. I want to pass that onto other kids who struggle to feel like they have a place where they belong. Feeling like you belong is vital to community. Returning every year, showing that you care, and showing that you’re passionate builds connections and keeps communities strong. Since then, I have had many other opportunities to work in my community. I have volunteered at food banks, local environmental clean-ups, and elderly homes. These experiences have been incredibly eye-opening, and they have reinforced my belief in the power of compassion and supporting others. Whether I am cleaning a park or simply listening to a kid talk about something they’re passionate about, I feel that I am making a meaningful difference in people's lives. In addition to leading summer camp, I have also worked with kids in a more structured capacity. Last year I volunteered to lead an after-school program for middle schoolers. In this role I had the opportunity to work on a variety of skills, from lesson planning to learning when to back off and allow kids to discover things on their own. Watching the kids build confidence with the tools we used was incredibly rewarding. I learned a lot about working with the people around me, solving conflicts, and improvising. In conclusion, my experiences working in the community have taught me the importance of giving back and making a positive impact early in life. Whether it’s through volunteering or just being there for someone, I believe that we all have a responsibility to work together to improve our communities. By coming together and building connections we can create strong communities that thrive.