Through the success of my efforts, I never thought that being in a low-income family came with the same restrictions that being in poverty did. I held good grades, was very active in my community, and held various leadership positions in clubs. I didn’t see my low-income status as a hindrance but more so as an opportunity to chase after my dreams and propel my success. As a child of an immigrant parent, I learned to take responsibility for my family and myself at a very young age. Although my mom had gone to some school back in Mexico, she was always working to support my little brother and me. Despite this, My mom always taught us to value education, and because she was born in Mexico, she had very limited parts of it. Because of this disadvantage, I made sure to take everything I do seriously and excel in my education. I had seldomly applied for University High School and got in, and continued to excel in clubs and extracurriculars. I was on Varisty for tennis and cross country and had even started volunteering outside of school as well. As I have grown, I’ve learned to value my education and fight my own battles. Looking back, I now fight the battles that had held back my mom, the battles of a world they were not born into. The battles of low-income status and the shackles that keep them stuck in this cycle of poverty. As I enter college, new problems and battles arise as the question to pay for college and its expenses creep closer as each day passes. I had not even thought about buying my books for college, but knowing that if I buy one book, I am going to be below poverty; I was going to be in debt. I had, ashamedly, used books my roommate had or had spent countless hours in the library. This scholarship will not only help me get the books I need but will allow me to thrive and persevere in the same place that my mom had tried time and time again. I find that money should not be the solution for everything, but in a world where money is the driving force of almost everything, it is hard to try and have that mentality. Furthermore, this scholarship will provide me with the means to get new materials like a laptop, notebooks, pencils, etc., and give me the means of continuing my education here at ASU. I was fortunate enough to have my housing covered, but as the new year rolls along, that feeling is starting to fade. I hope that by receiving this scholarship I can pursue my education at ASU and continue to volunteer and join extracurriculars, as well as secure a job at the end of my four years here at ASU

I have always dreamed of impacting the world in some way or another. I always wanted to be that person that shows up in the news with the new vaccine that cures a disease, or the person who discovered the carbon-free car. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. My views always differentiated me from people in terms of what I wanted to be involved in, and I always held my environmental passion to a higher degree than usual. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and help make the world a better place for future generations. Academically, I have maintained a 4.0 for my first two semesters at ASU and plan on doing so for the next three years. However, when considering my career goals, I always wanted to go into consulting or kickstart my own sustainability-related company. Through the various leadership positions I have now, I feel I will be prepared to do so when my four years at ASU are over. As an active CSSI executive board member (director of communications), I lead the development and management of the overall communications strategy of the club and contribute content to the club’s internet, social media, and online publications. Moreover, I am also president of a mentor program and the Sustainability Alliance at ASU. These experiences opened my eyes to the opportunities that ASU can give to students. This prior experience as president of the Sustainability Alliance and active CCSI executive board is something I hope to contribute and pass on to the future generations of ASU, and through this, I hope to leave an impact on sustainability students. I plan on making a difference in the world in some way or another and because of the life experiences and opportunities I have received, I always hold the world we live to a higher degree than most often do. The overall ecstatic and excitement of creating this change in the world and being that person in the news have motivated me to pursue the dreams and goals I have for my future. As for the vision of my future, I plan on securing various internships throughout my time at ASU and pursuing my master's in sustainability through the 4+1 program. After graduation, I hope to work in Arizona, but I do not mind working remotely or out of state. Overall, as a current freshman, my plans are not set in stone, so things may change in the future. However, I know that my life will be dedicated to changing the world and bridging the gap between people and sustainability.

Going into college I noticed what issues in diversity actually meant for students like me. I hope to create a platform where the Latino community can become leaders in their respective fields, challenging the ignorant and offensive comments said against Latino people at my school. I want to use my love of education and sustainability to help shape a world where we understand and acknowledge the positive sides of diversity, and move forward - together.

As a senior in high school, I was pretty undecided on what I wanted to study when I went to college. I knew I wanted to do something that revolutionized the world; however, picking a degree program that worked with my dream was something I was not ready to choose. I remember getting an email from Colin Tetreault, a Sustainability professor at ASU, asking me to join his seminar where he talked about Haiti and its people. During that presentation, he included many ideas and concepts regarding sustainability and sustainable food systems. I was fascinated by the amount of knowledge Colin dropped throughout the presentation, especially the concepts regarding sustainability. This seminar was the first time I was introduced to Sustainability and the varying concepts within it. As I further researched what sustainability is, I soon realized my definition of changing the world fit directly under sustainability. It showed me how sustainability can impact every single aspect of life, and gave me the very reason for furthering my own education. I have always dreamed of impacting the world in some way or another. I wanted to be that person that shows up in the news with the new vaccine that cures a disease, or the person who discovered the carbon-free car. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and help make the world a better place for future generations. As for the vision of my future, I plan to change this perspective that improving the world is reserved for special people. I hope to create a platform where everyday students like me can become leaders in their respective fields. When considering my career goals, I have always wanted to go into consulting or kickstart my own sustainability-related company. To do so, I plan on securing various internships throughout my time at ASU and pursuing my master's in sustainability through the 4+1 program. Overall, as a future sophomore, my plans are not set in stone, so things may change in the future. However, I know that my life will be dedicated to changing the world and bridging the gap between people and sustainability.

Before I chose to go to ASU, my family and I struggled financially. It was a hard choice to leave my family behind and move to college, but it was something my mom specifically wished for and encouraged me to do. Being part of a low-income family also came with its many challenges, but the struggles of being in one held a standard of guilt over me. Now as I enter college, I began to notice what issues in diversity actually meant for students like me. It felt very discouraging and lonely going into an environment where you have almost nothing in common with anyone else. However, coming from a cultural background, my family and cultural history have instilled in me a desire to push for a future that is open for all. Through my education and in my daily life, I strive to challenge the stereotypes and barriers that hold the Latino community down. When I hear the ignorant and offensive comments against Latino people at my school, I feel a responsibility to challenge that demeaning rhetoric. I started becoming involved in Latino and environmental clubs, changing the very perspective of what environmental justice entails. I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and kickstarted a project, the Diverse-Sustainability Coalition, to encourage ASU clubs to unite and collaborate in the field of sustainability no matter what background they may come from. There, and in other classes such as Equity Justice and Sustainability, did I begin to realize the power that Latino voices hold. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and help make the world a better place for future generations. As for the vision of my future, I plan to change this perspective that improving the world is reserved for special people. I hope to create a platform where everyday students like me can become leaders in their respective fields. When considering my career goals, I have always wanted to go into consulting or kickstart my own sustainability-related company. To do so, I plan on securing various internships throughout my time at ASU and pursuing my master's in sustainability through the 4+1 program. Overall, as a future sophomore, my plans are not set in stone, so things may change in the future. However, I know that my life will be dedicated to changing the world and bridging the gap between people and sustainability. Whether leading my school's mentor and sustainability programs or attending protests advocating for the rights of undocumented and immigrant people, I made sure that I was always uplifting the voices of my community. With Sustainability, I was given a chance to change the perspective that ‘Latino students cannot become leaders.’ With my degree, I hope to create a platform where the Latino community can become leaders in their respective fields as well. I want to use my love of education and sustainability to help shape a world where we understand and acknowledge the positive sides of diversity, and move forward - together.

Growing up in a Latino community, I never thought diversity issues were something that affected me directly. I did everything that everyone else did; I played soccer, got good grades, and went to church like every kid in my neighborhood. Only going into college did I notice what diversity meant. Being one of the students privileged to go to college, I noticed that there were almost no Latino students like me. I felt the weight of my community on my shoulders and felt the need to persevere in everything I do. I started becoming involved in Latino and environmental clubs, changing the very perspective of what environmental justice entails. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and social issues like diversity to help make the world a better place for future generations. I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, the Sustainability Coalition, to encourage ASU clubs to unite and collaborate in the field of sustainability no matter what major they may be. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing communications liaison while coordinating professional and business engagement. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU while maintaining connections with everyone involved. I also became the President of Sustainabilibuddies where I manage a group of undergraduates who will mentor future freshmen within ASU. With this, I also joined and become an executive board member of the Sustainability Alliance, which oversees sustainability-related clubs and organizations. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I am a representation of enduring and persevering in an environment that was not meant for Latino students to persevere. I do this to show everyone that my community CAN and WILL be the change necessary to make diversity a reality while achieving a status where diversity issues are not issues, but instead goals. With this, I noticed that diversity issues did affect me growing up but I just did not notice them. With limited options as to what I could do growing up, I plan to change this perspective and provide opportunities to every student of color and create a platform where they can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being that change, and with my experiences thus far, I will do everything to change the perspective on diversity.

Throughout my time at ASU, I have joined various clubs and organizations to further my impact on sustainability and ASU as a whole. To start, I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, break free from plastics, to encourage ASU's reduction of single-use plastics (implementing solutions and alternatives). As an active CSSI board member, I lead the development and management of the overall communications strategy of the club and contribute content to the club’s internet, social media, and online publications. I learned to communicate through teamwork, so having a cohesive team was key to making progress. This prior experience as an active executive board prepared me for unexpected situations, working under pressure, and learning to cooperate and communicate effectively as a team. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing, communications, and organizer while coordinating social media presence, professional and business engagement, venue acquisition, food, and equipment reservations, and day-of-event coordination. This, becoming a leader in this club has made me contribute to my surroundings and plan accordingly. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU. In doing so, I also find participating in organizations outside of ASU to be very helpful and insightful to my career experiences. I became the Community Outreach Manager at E-CO Alternatives, where I am currently creating an ambassador program and developing an outreach strategy to expand the company. So far I have learned to work remotely in a team and excel in individual projects while leading and maintaining an ambassador program. In doing so, I contribute to my community by joining and doing as many volunteer activities as I can. Through CSSI, we have done hike pickups where we clean up trash at A mountain (around ASU), educate students on sustainability and our initiatives, and collaborate with various other organizations on our initiatives and volunteer opportunities as well. I have also gone to Keep Tempe Beautiful events and have planted trees, fertilized plants, and cleaned up parks. On the other hand, I have also worked with gardens at ASU to fertilize palm walk and plant new plants along with ASU’s arboretum. I find joy in volunteering and keeping the planet clean and sustainable from trash and other pollutants. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I find that all of these experiences and volunteer opportunities made me the person I am today, and because of that, I hope to keep volunteering and joining more organizations as I continue my journey at ASU.

I am currently a student at Arizona State University studying a B.S. in sustainability with a track in energy, materials, and technology and pursuing a certificate in energy and sustainability. I have a good academic standing (4.0 GPA) and plan on pursuing a career in sustainability and energy-related technology. I am 19 years old and have been living in Arizona (Phoenix) for as long as I can remember. I felt like sustainability created a pathway for me in terms of being able to create change in the world one day. It showed me how sustainability can impact every single thing of life, and gave me the reason for furthering my education. I value my education (and education in general). I feel like education should be readily available for everyone, considering the times we are in right now. This further inspires me to continue down the road of sustainability because doing so, allows me to be able to change that one day. From the start, Sustainability has always enticed me in ways I never thought of, like making a real change in the world. However, I found out that changes often happen with small and unintended interactions in everyday life. For some context, I am currently the director of communications for CSSI at ASU (Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives), and now and then we have new people come to our club and see what sustainability is like. One of these days, A guy came to our club and said he was a business student, telling us that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him and his career. Since I am the director of communications, it was my job (in a sense) to make him feel welcomed in this club, despite him having some initial drawbacks from it. I told him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. We also have this roundtable talk in our club where we discuss anything related to sustainability, and he was also really into it. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability (even the ones that a typical business student would not be able to get into). He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends, showcasing my ability to influence one another. Small events like these are what make being a sustainability student so rewarding. Seeing people's faces light up and engage with the rest of us is something I hope to keep doing for the rest of my time at ASU. I plan to change this perspective that changing the world is reserved for special people and provide opportunities for every student. I hope to create a platform where everyday students like me can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being part of that change and will do everything to impact the perspective on what changing the world means, one small interaction at a time.

Throughout my time at ASU, I have joined various clubs and organizations to further my impact on sustainability and ASU as a whole. To start, I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, break free from plastics, to encourage ASU's reduction of single-use plastics (implementing solutions and alternatives). As an active CSSI board member, I lead the development and management of the overall communications strategy of the club and contribute content to the club’s internet, social media, and online publications. I learned to communicate through teamwork, so having a cohesive team was key to making progress. This prior experience as an active executive board prepared me for unexpected situations, working under pressure, and learning to cooperate and communicate effectively as a team. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing, communications, and organizer while coordinating social media presence, professional and business engagement, venue acquisition, food, and equipment reservations, and day-of-event coordination. This, becoming a leader in this club has made me contribute to my surroundings and plan accordingly. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU. In doing so, I also find participating in organizations outside of ASU to be very helpful and insightful to my career experiences. I became the Community Outreach Manager at E-CO Alternatives, where I am currently creating an ambassador program and developing an outreach strategy to expand the company. So far I have learned to work remotely in a team and excel in individual projects while leading and maintaining an ambassador program. In doing so, I contribute to my community by joining and doing as many volunteer activities as I can. Through CSSI, we have done hike pickups where we clean up trash at A mountain (around ASU), educate students on sustainability and our initiatives, and collaborate with various other organizations on our initiatives and volunteer opportunities as well. I have also gone to Keep Tempe Beautiful events and have planted trees, fertilized plants, and cleaned up parks. On the other hand, I have also worked with gardens at ASU to fertilize palm walk and plant new plants along with ASU’s arboretum. I find joy in volunteering and keeping the planet clean and sustainable from trash and other pollutants. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I find that all of these experiences and volunteer opportunities made me the person I am today, and because of that, I hope to keep volunteering and joining more organizations as I continue my journey at ASU.

I remember one particular day at the usual classroom area where my sustainability club meets every Wednesday. On this day, a shy and reserved kid came to our club and sat in the back, as if trying to stay out of everyone's way. I noticed him back there but waited to see if anyone else would notice or try and engage with him. After a few moments, I grabbed my things and went straight to the shy kid sitting in the back and sat next to him. I asked what he majored in and he said he was a business student. He told me that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him and his career but wanted to give this club a chance. I said to him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. We also have this roundtable talk in our club where we discuss anything related to sustainability, and he was also really into it. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability (even the ones that a business student would not be able to get into). He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends with all of us. This specific interaction helped me realize that I am confident and brave. Even though no one else came to help the new kid, I was not going to wait around and see if someone else would step up. I find situations like these everyone is looking for someone to guide and help them, and as someone who has been in those shoes, I know all too well what it feels like to not have that helping hand. So I found it easy to go up to him and strike up a conversation and build up that trust between us, even if it meant deviating from my friend group. Often I see myself becoming more ecstatic with every new person I meet, and even though people are always looking to see who goes out of their way to do what, I know that I am creating a change in someone who did not plan on meeting someone new. When push comes to shove, I will always step up and help regardless of circumstance or the person.

Growing up in a Latino community, I never thought diversity issues were something that affected me directly. I did everything that everyone else did; I played soccer, got good grades, and went to church like every kid in my neighborhood. Only going into college did I notice what diversity meant. Being one of the students privileged to go to college, I noticed that there were almost no Latino students like me. I felt the weight of my community on my shoulders and felt the need to persevere in everything I do. I started becoming involved in Latino and environmental clubs, changing the very perspective of what environmental justice entails. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and social issues like diversity to help make the world a better place for future generations. I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, the Sustainability Coalition, to encourage ASU clubs to unite and collaborate in the field of sustainability no matter what major they may be. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing communications liaison while coordinating professional and business engagement. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU while maintaining connections with everyone involved. I also became the President of Sustainabilibuddies where I manage a group of undergraduates who will mentor future freshmen within ASU. With this, I also joined and become an executive board member of the Sustainability Alliance, which oversees sustainability-related clubs and organizations. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I am a representation of enduring and persevering in an environment that was not meant for Latino students to persevere. I do this to show everyone that my community CAN and WILL be the change necessary to make diversity a reality while achieving a status where diversity issues are not issues, but instead goals. With this, I noticed that diversity issues did affect me growing up but I just did not notice them. With limited options as to what I could do growing up, I plan to change this perspective and provide opportunities to every student of color and create a platform where they can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being that change, and with my experiences thus far, I will do everything to change the perspective on diversity.

Throughout my time at ASU, I have joined various clubs and organizations to further my impact on sustainability and ASU as a whole. To start, I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, break free from plastics, to encourage ASU's reduction of single-use plastics (implementing solutions and alternatives). As an active CSSI board member, I lead the development and management of the overall communications strategy of the club and contribute content to the club’s internet, social media, and online publications. I learned to communicate through teamwork, so having a cohesive team was key to making progress. This prior experience as an active executive board prepared me for unexpected situations, working under pressure, and learning to cooperate and communicate effectively as a team. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing, communications, and organizer while coordinating social media presence, professional and business engagement, venue acquisition, food, and equipment reservations, and day-of-event coordination. This, becoming a leader in this club has made me contribute to my surroundings and plan accordingly. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU. In doing so, I also find participating in organizations outside of ASU to be very helpful and insightful to my career experiences. I became the Community Outreach Manager at E-CO Alternatives, where I am currently creating an ambassador program and developing an outreach strategy to expand the company. So far I have learned to work remotely in a team and excel in individual projects while leading and maintaining an ambassador program. In doing so, I contribute to my community by joining and doing as many volunteer activities as I can. Through CSSI, we have done hike pickups where we clean up trash at A mountain (around ASU), educate students on sustainability and our initiatives, and collaborate with various other organizations on our initiatives and volunteer opportunities as well. I have also gone to Keep Tempe Beautiful events and have planted trees, fertilized plants, and cleaned up parks. On the other hand, I have also worked with gardens at ASU to fertilize palm walk and plant new plants along with ASU’s arboretum. I find joy in volunteering and keeping the planet clean and sustainable from trash and other pollutants. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I find that all of these experiences and volunteer opportunities made me the person I am today, and because of that, I hope to keep volunteering and joining more organizations as I continue my journey at ASU.

The most important problem facing our nation is accessibility. I find more often than not that people are ignorant of what is going on around the world, and find that schools and governments are not doing enough to bring education to their people. It is hard to try and revolutionize a world that resists change, and one of the main ways to do this is to make accessibility more affordable. It is concerning how little this problem is being addressed, especially when education has become so readily available with online learning. As fast as education can be a problem, it can also be a solution. For example, my mom has always instilled in us that education comes first no matter what, and because of that, education is a top priority in our household. However, getting access to education after high school proved more difficult than I thought it would be. Without money, who was going to pay for my education? I did not have the means to pay and neither did my family, so giving up on education was becoming all too real in so little time. In a last-ditch effort, I scheduled a meeting with a financial advisor at ASU to see what my options for paying for school were; In that meeting, I learned that I was given the Obama Scholar Scholarship, a scholarship that pays for half of my college expenses. However, I was more fortunate than others when it came to last chance opportunities. The problem with education is not that people do not want to get educated, but that people cannot access education. In a world that has changed time and time again, why is education only reserved for those who can afford it? I find that education is not the issue, but accessibility.

I am currently a student at Arizona State University studying a B.S. in sustainability with a track in energy, materials, and technology and pursuing a certificate in energy and sustainability. I have a good academic standing (4.0 GPA) and plan on pursuing a career in sustainability and energy-related technology. I am 19 years old and have been living in Arizona (Phoenix) for as long as I can remember. I felt like sustainability created a pathway for me in terms of being able to create change in the world one day. It showed me how sustainability can impact every single thing of life, and gave me the reason for furthering my education. I value my education (and education in general). I feel like education should be readily available for everyone, considering the times we are in right now. This further inspires me to continue down the road of sustainability because doing so, allows me to be able to change that one day. From the start, Sustainability has always enticed me in ways I never thought of, like making a real change in the world. However, I found out that changes often happen with small and unintended interactions in everyday life. For some context, I am currently the director of communications for CSSI at ASU (Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives), and now and then we have new people come to our club and see what sustainability is like. One of these days, A guy came to our club and said he was a business student, telling us that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him and his career. Since I am the director of communications, it was my job (in a sense) to make him feel welcomed in this club, despite him having some initial drawbacks from it. I told him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. We also have this roundtable talk in our club where we discuss anything related to sustainability, and he was also really into it. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability (even the ones that a typical business student would not be able to get into). He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends, showcasing my ability to influence one another. Small events like these are what make being a sustainability student so rewarding. Seeing people's faces light up and engage with the rest of us is something I hope to keep doing for the rest of my time at ASU. I plan to change this perspective that changing the world is reserved for special people and provides opportunities for every student. I hope to create a platform where everyday students like me can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being part of that change and will do everything to impact the perspective on what changing the world means, one small interaction at a time.

I remember one particular day at the usual classroom area where my sustainability club meets every Wednesday. On this day, a shy and reserved kid came to our club and sat in the back, as if trying to stay out of everyone's way. After a few moments, I grabbed my things and went straight to the shy kid sitting in the back and sat next to him. I asked what he majored in and he said he was a business student. He told me that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him and his career but wanted to give this club a chance. I said to him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. We also have this roundtable talk in our club where we discuss anything related to sustainability, and he was also really into it. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability (even the ones that a business student would not be able to get into). He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends with all of us. This specific interaction helped me realize that I am confident and brave. Even though no one else came to help the new kid, I was not going to wait around and see if someone else would step up. I find situations like these everyone is looking for someone to guide and help them, and as someone who has been in those shoes, I know all too well what it feels like to not have that helping hand. I found it easy to go up to him and strike up a conversation and build up that trust between us, even if it meant deviating from my friend group. Often I see myself becoming more ecstatic with every new person I meet, and even though people are always looking to see who goes out of their way to do what, I know that I am creating a change in someone who did not plan on meeting someone new. When push comes to shove, I will always step up and help regardless of circumstance or the person. Small events like these are what make being a sustainability student so rewarding. Seeing people's faces light up and engage with the rest of us is something I hope to keep doing for the rest of my time at ASU. I plan to change this perspective that changing the world is reserved for special people and provides opportunities for every student. I hope to create a platform where everyday students like me can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being part of that change and will do everything to impact the perspective on what changing the world means, one small interaction at a time.

I remember one particular day in my sustainability club a shy and reserved kid came to our club and sat in the back as if trying to stay out of everyone's way. After a few moments, I grabbed my things and went to him, and sat next to him. He told me that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him or his career but wanted to give this club a chance. I said to him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability. He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends with all of us. This specific interaction helped me realize that I am confident and brave. Even though no one else came to help the new kid, I was not going to wait around and see if someone else would step up. I find situations like these everyone is looking for someone to guide and help them, and as someone who has been in those shoes, I know all too well what it feels like to not have that helping hand. When push comes to shove, I will always step up and help regardless of circumstance or the person.

Before I chose to go to ASU, my family and I were struggling financially. It was a hard choice to leave my family behind and move to college, but it was something my mom specifically wished for and encouraged me to do so. Being part of a low-income family also came with its many challenges, but the struggles of being in one held a standard of guilt over me. I knew that I should further my career interests in a college setting and gain a well-paying job, but I also knew that I should be back home helping pay for necessities and preparing my brother for his college applications. If anything, as the oldest son and significant role model of the family, it is my responsibility to make sure my family survives and thrives well above the poverty line. But I was riddled with guilt and shame in having to choose myself over them. Having to leave my family vs choosing an education seemed like an easy choice, but I knew I would 100% wait a few years before getting an education to help my family even by just a little. Moreover, my mom had taught us strong educational values, and put education as a number priority, so making this decision on their behalf carried unintended emotional consequences. In doing so, I had scheduled a meeting with a financial advisor at ASU to see what my options for paying for school were and if anything could be done. In that meeting, I learned that I was given the Obama Scholar Scholarship, a scholarship that pays for half of my college expenses. Although this meant I could go to the university I have always wanted to be at, it meant my family would have to survive without me. I was dumbfounded when my mom turned to me, with tears in her eyes, telling me I should go. I knew that with any doubt my mom had I would stay home, but instead she encouraged me and let me pursue my dreams. Although this situation was very tough, leaving my family and expanding my career interests has let me grow into the person I am now. I currently hold various leadership positions within organizations and clubs at ASU, and even hold a job within the school as well. I send part of my paycheck back home for necessities, and our family dynamic has even improved. Although it is saddening to think that I had to leave my family and learn to depend on my own, it provided me with the skills necessary to excel in life and my academic studies. I do feel that the support my mom showed me has given me the strength to achieve all of the opportunities I have had in just my first year, and I am appreciative of the life experiences I was able to have because of that. On the other hand, I am currently a student at Arizona State University studying a B.S. in sustainability with a track in energy, materials, and technology and pursuing a certificate in energy and sustainability. I have a good academic standing (4.0 GPA) and plan on pursuing a career in sustainability and energy-related technology. I am 19 years old and have been living in Arizona (Phoenix) for as long as I can remember. I felt like sustainability created a pathway for me in terms of being able to create change in the world one day. It showed me how sustainability can impact every single thing of life, and gave me the reason for furthering my education. I value my education (and education in general). I feel like education should be readily available for everyone, considering the times we are in right now. This further inspires me to continue down the road of sustainability because doing so, allows me to be able to change that one day. From the start, Sustainability has always enticed me in ways I never thought of, like making a real change in the world. However, I found out that changes often happen with small and unintended interactions in everyday life. For some context, I am currently the director of communications for CSSI at ASU (Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives), and now and then we have new people come to our club and see what sustainability is like. One of these days, A guy came to our club and said he was a business student, telling us that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him and his career. Since I am the director of communications, it was my job (in a sense) to make him feel welcomed in this club, despite him having some initial drawbacks from it. I told him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. We also have this roundtable talk in our club where we discuss anything related to sustainability, and he was really into it as well. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability (even the ones that a typical business student would not be able to get into). He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends, showcasing my ability to influence one another. Small events like these are what make being a sustainability student so rewarding. Seeing people's faces light up and engage with the rest of us is something I hope to keep doing for the rest of my time at ASU. I plan to change this perspective that changing the world is reserved for special people and provides opportunities for every student. I hope to create a platform where everyday students like me can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being part of that change and will do everything to impact the perspective on what changing the world means, one small interaction at a time.

Throughout my time at ASU, I have joined various clubs and organizations to further my impact on sustainability and ASU as a whole. To start, I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, break free from plastics, to encourage ASU's reduction of single-use plastics (implementing solutions and alternatives). Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society, serving as the primary marketing, communications, and organizer of HSS liaison while coordinating the HSS social media presence, professional and business engagement, venue acquisition, food, and equipment reservations, and day-of-event coordination. I also became the Community Outreach Manager at E-CO Alternatives, where I am currently creating an ambassador program and developing an outreach strategy to expand the company and customer use of sustainable products. In doing so, I have attended various speaker events about sustainability and participated and contributed to my community by joining and doing as many volunteer activities as I can. Through CSSI, we have done hike pickups where we clean up trash at A mountain, educate students on sustainability and our initiatives, and collaborate with various other organizations on our initiatives and volunteer opportunities as well. Another way I contribute is by going to changemakers' day of service. I have gone to Keep Tempe Beautiful events and have planted trees, fertilized plants, and cleaned up parks. On the other hand, I have also worked with gardens at ASU to fertilize palm walk and plant new plants along with ASU’s arboretum. Through my church, we have also gone to homeless shelters and packed and given them food supplies as well as necessities.

Growing up in a Latino community, I never thought diversity issues were something that affected me directly. I did everything that everyone else did; I played soccer, got good grades, and went to church like every kid in my neighborhood. Only going into college did I notice what diversity actually meant. Being one of the students privileged to go to college, I noticed that there were almost no Latino students like me. I felt the weight of my community on my shoulders and felt the need to persevere in everything I do. I became the President of Sustainabilibuddies where I manage a group of undergraduates who will mentor future freshmen within ASU. With this, I also joined and become an executive board member of the Sustainability Alliance, which oversees sustainability-related clubs and organizations. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I do this to show everyone that my community CAN and WILL be the change necessary to make diversity a reality while achieving a status where diversity issues are not issues, but instead goals. With limited options as to what I could do growing up, I plan to change this perspective and provide opportunities to every student of color and create a platform where they can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being that change, and with my experiences thus far, I will do everything to change the perspective on diversity.

I started becoming involved in environmental clubs, changing the very perspective of what environmental justice entails. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity through the sustainability program. I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and kickstarted a project, the Sustainability Coalition, to encourage ASU clubs to unite and collaborate in the field of sustainability no matter what major they may be. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing communications liaison while coordinating professional and business engagement. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU while maintaining connections with everyone involved. With this, I also joined and become an executive board member and Team Lead of the Sustainability Alliance, which oversees sustainability-related clubs and organizations. In doing so, I contribute to my community by joining and doing as many volunteer activities as I can. Through CSSI, we have done hike pickups where we clean up trash at A mountain (around ASU), educate students on sustainability and our initiatives, and collaborate with various other organizations on our projects and volunteer opportunities as well. I have also gone to Keep Tempe Beautiful events and have planted trees, fertilized plants, and cleaned up parks. On the other hand, I have also worked with gardens at ASU to fertilize Palm Walk and plant new plants along with ASU’s arboretum. I find joy in volunteering and keeping the planet clean and sustainable from trash and other pollutants. I find that all of these experiences make me the person I am today, and because of that, I hope to keep it going as I continue my journey at ASU.

When I was young, my mother faced domestic abuse. She only stayed with our biological father to raise a “family.” She left him not so long after, full of bruises and pain, yet hopeful for a bright future. I felt what my mom went through, and even though I did not feel her pain, I noticed it. Her longing for change and a change of lifestyles helped me see what was necessary at the end of my journey. While growing up, it became clear the significance my mom became to me and her importance in my life. It had grown to be more than a connection, it had become protection; It was my life. Having to grow up in a life where a father figure was nonexistent and a single mother was struggling to keep her kids fed, my emotions and characteristics became desensitized. Although desensitizing my emotions and characteristics meant losing focus of who I am, it meant that I could suppress my pain and anger for some time longer. As the years went by, it started to become clear that the more I ran from my anger, the more I strayed away from myself. I often walked away from uncertain situations knowing that my self conscious and self-degradation prompted me to dissociate from the people who meant good in my life. I felt that my association with those people would make me confess to them about my life, and in return, infect them with my poison. The need for someone to be there for me while simultaneously trying to stay independent often clashed with one another, reminiscent of an ocean with no calm. I knew that someday I would become tired of this calamity and that someday I would have to face the problems that clashed. The pain often drowned me away and took me from my happiness and safety net. It had become too much for me to bear alone, and I wholeheartedly decided that I cannot keep up this lifestyle that had drowned me for so long. Even though it meant that I would have to come to terms with my own emotions and accountability, it felt like an option that meant I could start living and finding out who I am. During my moment of self-discovery, I found that sometimes it's ok to ask for help and be guided along the correct path. I learned that my friends, who have become people of the utmost importance to me, could help guide me along the path of finding my existence and developing characteristics that I could make my own. After all this time, the anger that chased me and dragged me for so long became something so insignificant that I learned to control and manage more easily than ever before. With this confrontation, I learned to face my realities and find out how to cope with change. I learned to face my life decisions instead of running from them. These new changes in my life helped me find the missing puzzle piece of my self-discovery, something my past self could never have found. And thanks to my mother's endurance in staying by my side every step of the way, I grew from my past and became someone who does not drown from their anger and pain any longer.

The most important problem facing our nation is accessibility. I find more often than not that people are ignorant of what is going on around the world, and find that schools and governments are not doing enough to bring education to their people. It is hard to try and revolutionize a world that resists change, and one of the main ways to do this is to make accessibility more affordable. It is concerning how little this problem is being addressed, especially when education has become so readily available with online learning. As fast as education can be a problem, it can also be a solution. For example, my mom has always instilled in us that education comes first no matter what, and because of that, education is a top priority in our household. However, getting access to education after high school proved more difficult than I thought it would be. Without money, who was going to pay for my education? I did not have the means to pay and neither did my family, so giving up on education was becoming all too real in so little time. In a last-ditch effort, I scheduled a meeting with a financial advisor at ASU to see what my options for paying for school were; In that meeting, I learned that I was given the Obama Scholar Scholarship, a scholarship that pays for half of my college expenses. However, I was more fortunate than others when it came to last chance opportunities. The problem with education is not that people do not want to get educated, but that people cannot access education. In a world that has changed time and time again, why is education only reserved for those who can afford it? I find that education is not the issue, but accessibility.

I remember one particular day at the usual classroom area where my sustainability club meets every Wednesday. On this day, a shy and reserved kid came to our club and sat in the back, as if trying to stay out of everyone's way. I noticed him back there but waited to see if anyone else would notice or try and engage with him. After a few moments, I grabbed my things and went straight to the shy kid sitting in the back and sat next to him. I asked what he majored in and he said he was a business student. He told me that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him and his career but wanted to give this club a chance. I told him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. We also have this roundtable talk in our club where we discuss anything related to sustainability, and he was really into it as well. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability (even the ones that a business student would not be able to get into). He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends with all of us. This specific interaction helped me realize that I am confident and trustworthy. Even though no one else came to help the new kid, I was not going to wait around and see if someone else would step up. I find situations like these everyone is looking for someone to guide and help them, and as someone who has been in those shoes, I know all too well what it feels like to not have that helping hand. So I found it easy to go up to him and strike up a conversation and build up that trust between us, even if it meant deviating from my friend group. Often I see myself becoming more ecstatic with every new person I meet, and even though people are always looking to see who goes out of their way to do what, I know that I am creating a change in someone who did not plan on meeting someone new. When push comes to shove, I will always step up and help no matter the circumstance or the person.

Before I chose to go to ASU, my family and I were struggling financially. It was a hard choice to leave my family behind and move to college, but it was something my mom specifically wished for and encouraged me to do so. Being part of a low-income family also came with its many challenges, but the struggles of being in one held a standard of guilt over me. I knew that I should further my career interests in a college setting and gain a well-paying job, but I also knew that I should be back home helping pay for necessities and preparing my brother for his college applications. If anything, as the oldest son and significant role model of the family, it is my responsibility to make sure my family survives and thrives well above the poverty line. But I was riddled with guilt and shame in having to choose myself over them. Having to leave my family vs choosing an education seemed like an easy choice, but I knew I would 100% wait a few years before getting an education to help my family even by just a little. Moreover, my mom had taught us strong educational values, and put education as a number priority, so making this decision on their behalf carried unintended emotional consequences. In doing so, I had scheduled a meeting with a financial advisor at ASU to see what my options for paying for school were and if anything could be done. In that meeting, I learned that I was given the Obama Scholar Scholarship, a scholarship that pays for half of my college expenses. Although this meant I could go to the university I have always wanted to be at, it meant my family would have to survive without me. I was dumbfounded when my mom turned to me, with tears in her eyes, telling me I should go. I knew that with any doubt my mom had I would stay home, but instead she encouraged me and let me pursue my dreams. Although this situation was very tough, leaving my family and expanding my career interests has let me grow into the person I am now. I currently hold various leadership positions within organizations and clubs at ASU, and even hold a job within the school as well. I send part of my paycheck back home for necessities, and our family dynamic has even improved. Although it is saddening to think that I had to leave my family and learn to depend on my own, it provided me with the skills necessary to excel in life and my academic studies. I do feel that the support my mom showed me has given me the strength to achieve all of the opportunities I have had in just my first year, and I am appreciative of the life experiences I was able to have because of that.

The most important problem facing our nation is education and learning. I find more often than not that people choose to be ignorant of what is going on around the world, and also find that schools and governments are not doing enough to educate people about the environment and the problems facing it. It is hard to try and change a world that resists change, and one of the main ways to do this is to educate people with active learning. I also think it's concerning how little this problem is being addressed, therefore the most important problem facing our nation is education. As fast as education can be a problem, it can also be a solution. For example, I have always dreamed of impacting the world in some way or another. I always wanted to be that person that shows up in the news with the new vaccine that cures a disease, or the person who discovered the carbon-free car. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. My views always differentiated from people in terms of what I wanted to be involved in, and I always held my environmental passion to a higher degree than usual. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and help make the world a better place for future generations. It does keep me up at night that I am not doing enough (or anything) to help the world and its people be/do better. It scares me what type of future we will live in, especially my involvement in it. I hope that by becoming socially aware and involved with conscious clubs and organizations, then my impact on the world will be heard everywhere. It does keep me thinking about how many people do not believe in sustainability or even care about it, especially how close we are to our tipping point and the point of no return. But one thing is for sure, I plan on staying within sustainability for the rest of my life. I chose this major because I wanted to do something that would change the world. I found that political science was not enough to quell my fight for creating change, I felt like something was missing. Even though political science was something I wanted to do, it didn't bring me the satisfaction that sustainability brings. I felt like sustainability created a pathway for me in terms of being able to create change in the world one day. It showed me how sustainability can impact every single thing of life, and gave me the reason for furthering my education. I value my education (and education in general). I feel like education should be readily available for everyone, considering the times we are in right now. This further inspires me to continue down the road of sustainability because doing so, allows me to be able to change that one day.

When I was young, my mother faced domestic abuse. She only stayed with our biological father to raise a “family.” She left him not so long after, full of bruises and pain, yet hopeful for a bright future. I felt what my mom went through, and even though I did not feel her pain, I noticed it. Her longing for change and a change of lifestyles helped me see what was necessary at the end of my journey. While growing up, it became clear the significance my mom became to me and her importance in my life. It had grown to be more than a connection, it had become protection; It was my life. Having to grow up in a life where a father figure was nonexistent and a single mother was struggling to keep her kids fed, my emotions and characteristics became desensitized. Although desensitizing my emotions and characteristics meant losing focus of who I am, it meant that I could suppress my pain and anger for some time longer. As the years went by, it started to become clear that the more I ran from my anger, the more I strayed away from myself. I often walked away from uncertain situations knowing that my self conscious and self-degradation prompted me to dissociate from the people who meant good in my life. I felt that my association with those people would make me confess to them about my life, and in return, infect them with my poison. The need for someone to be there for me while simultaneously trying to stay independent often clashed with one another, reminiscent of an ocean with no calm. I knew that someday I would become tired of this calamity and that someday I would have to face the problems that clashed. The pain often drowned me away and took me from my happiness and safety net. It had become too much for me to bear alone, and I wholeheartedly decided that I cannot keep up this lifestyle that had drowned me for so long. Even though it meant that I would have to come to terms with my own emotions and accountability, it felt like an option that meant I could start living and finding out who I am. During my moment of self-discovery, I found that sometimes it's ok to ask for help and be guided along the correct path. I learned that my friends, who have become people of the utmost importance to me, could help guide me along the path of finding my existence and developing characteristics that I could make my own. After all this time, the anger that chased me and dragged me for so long became something so insignificant that I learned to control and manage more easily than ever before. With this confrontation, I learned to face my realities and find out how to cope with change. I learned to face my life decisions instead of running from them. These new changes in my life helped me find the missing puzzle piece of my self-discovery, something my past self could never have found. And thanks to my mother's endurance in staying by my side every step of the way, I grew from my past and became someone who does not drown from their anger and pain any longer.

When I was young, my mother faced domestic abuse. She had only stayed with our biological father to raise a “family.” She left him not so long after, full of bruises and pain, yet hopeful for a bright future. I felt what my mom went through, and even though I did not feel her pain, I noticed it. While growing up, it became clear the significance my mom became to me and her importance in my life. It had grown to be more than a connection, it had become protection. Having to grow up in a life where a father figure was nonexistent and a single mother was struggling to keep her kids fed, my emotions and characteristics became desensitized. As the years went by, it started to become clear that the more I ran from my anger, the more I strayed away from myself. I often walked away from uncertain situations knowing that my self-consciousness made me dissociate from the people who meant good in my life. I knew that someday I would become tired of this on-and-off situation, but the pain often drowned me away and took me from my safety net. It had become too much for me to bear alone, and I wholeheartedly decided that I cannot keep up this lifestyle. Even though it meant that I would have to come to terms with my own emotions and accountability, it felt like an option that meant I could start living and finding out who I am. I found that sometimes it's ok to ask for help and be guided along the correct path. I learned that my friends, who have become people of the utmost importance to me, could help guide me along the path of finding out who I am. This sense of community is something I felt I needed to bring forth and share with the world as well. Growing up alone and afraid only further prompts me to find a major that encourages relationships and community in a world while also doing good. In other words, I want safety. I know now that I want to work in the energy sector and become a sustainability consultant. I plan on securing various internships throughout my time at ASU and pursuing my master's in sustainability through the 4+1 program. After graduation, I hope to work in Arizona but I do not mind moving around as well. Overall, as a current freshman, my plans are not set in stone, so things may change in the future according to what I want to do. But one thing is for sure, I plan on staying within sustainability for the rest of my life. I chose this major because I wanted to do something that would change the world. I found that political science was not enough to quell my fight for creating change, I felt like something was missing. Even though political science was something I wanted to do, it didn't bring me the satisfaction that sustainability brings. I felt like sustainability created a pathway for me in terms of being able to create change in the world one day. It showed me how sustainability can impact every single thing of life, and gave me the reason for furthering my education. I value my education and I feel that education should be readily available for everyone, considering the times we are in right now. This further inspires me to continue down the road of sustainability knowing that one day I will impact someone else's life as well.

With $1,000, I would use half of it to pay off tuition costs and the other half to support my family's bills. As someone who lives at college, I was burdened with guilt when I found out some of my mom's bills were going unaccounted for. Although I can send some money home with my job at the university, I find it is not enough to give my family relief. For example, my brother is currently a senior so that means college apps and extra costs surrounding the initial entrance costs for colleges. But without wifi, my brother cannot do any of that. I made an effort and paid for wifi at my house, and even though I will not benefit from it, I find peace knowing my brother and mom will. I also failed to mention that my household consists of three people: my mom, who has been a single mom since my brother was born, my brother, and me. As a first-generation college student, it is exceptionally hard to provide for my family and remain a top student at my university. In doing so, I find myself actively applying for scholarships like this one in hopes to pay off some of my school expenses while focusing on my family. With $1,000 I can give my family hope and myself relief; I can finally start focusing on one situation at a time and start achieving some of my hopes and dreams.

I remember one particular day at the usual classroom area where my sustainability club meets every Wednesday. On this day, a shy and reserved kid came to our club and sat in the back, as if trying to stay out of everyone's way. I noticed him back there but waited to see if anyone else would notice or try and engage with him. After a few moments, I grabbed my things and went straight to the shy kid sitting in the back and sat next to him. I asked what he majored in and he said he was a business student. He told me that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him and his career but wanted to give this club a chance. I told him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. We also have this roundtable talk in our club where we discuss anything related to sustainability, and he was really into it as well. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability (even the ones that a business student would not be able to get into). He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends with all of us. This specific interaction helped me realize that I am confident and trustworthy. Even though no one else came to help the new kid, I was not going to wait around and see if someone else would step up. I find situations like these everyone is looking for someone to guide and help them, and as someone who has been in those shoes, I know all too well what it feels like to not have that helping hand. So I found it easy to go up to him and strike up a conversation and build up that trust between us, even if it meant deviating from my friend group. Often I see myself becoming more ecstatic with every new person I meet, and even though people are always looking to see who goes out of their way to do what, I know that I am creating a change in someone who did not plan on meeting someone new. When push comes to shove, I will always step up and help no matter the circumstance or the person.

I am currently a student at Arizona State University studying a B.S. in sustainability with a track in energy, materials, and technology and pursuing a certificate in energy and sustainability. I have a good academic standing (4.0 GPA) and plan on pursuing a career in sustainability and energy-related technology. I am 19 years old and have been living in Arizona (Phoenix) for as long as I can remember. I felt like sustainability created a pathway for me in terms of being able to create change in the world one day. It showed me how sustainability can impact every single thing of life, and gave me the reason for furthering my education. I value my education (and education in general). I feel like education should be readily available for everyone, considering the times we are in right now. This further inspires me to continue down the road of sustainability because doing so, allows me to be able to change that one day. From the start, Sustainability has always enticed me in ways I never thought of, like making a real change in the world. However, I found out that changes often happen with small and unintended interactions in everyday life. For some context, I am currently the director of communications for CSSI at ASU (Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives), and now and then we have new people come to our club and see what sustainability is like. One of these days, A guy came to our club and said he was a business student, telling us that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him and his career. Since I am the director of communications, it was my job (in a sense) to make him feel welcomed in this club, despite him having some initial drawbacks from it. I told him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. We also have this roundtable talk in our club where we discuss anything related to sustainability, and he was really into it as well. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability (even the ones that a typical business student would not be able to get into). He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends, showcasing my ability to influence one another. Small events like these are what make being a sustainability student so rewarding. Seeing people's faces light up and engage with the rest of us is something I hope to keep doing for the rest of my time at ASU. I plan to change this perspective that changing the world is reserved for special people and provides opportunities for every student. I hope to create a platform where everyday students like me can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being part of that change and will do everything to impact the perspective on what changing the world means, one small interaction at a time.

I am currently a student at Arizona State University studying a B.S. in sustainability with a track in energy, materials, and technology and pursuing a certificate in energy and sustainability. I have a good academic standing (4.0 GPA) and plan on pursuing a career in sustainability and energy-related technology. I am 19 years old and have been living in Arizona (Phoenix) for as long as I can remember. I felt like sustainability created a pathway for me in terms of being able to create change in the world one day. It showed me how sustainability can impact every single thing of life, and gave me the reason for furthering my education. I value my education (and education in general). I feel like education should be readily available for everyone, considering the times we are in right now. This further inspires me to continue down the road of sustainability because doing so, allows me to be able to change that one day. From the start, Sustainability has always enticed me in ways I never thought of, like making a real change in the world. However, I found out that changes often happen with small and unintended interactions in everyday life. For some context, I am currently the director of communications for CSSI at ASU (Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives), and now and then we have new people come to our club and see what sustainability is like. One of these days, A guy came to our club and said he was a business student, telling us that he is not sure what sustainability can do to help him and his career. Since I am the director of communications, it was my job (in a sense) to make him feel welcomed in this club, despite him having some initial drawbacks from it. I told him that sustainability is much more than a concept, but a community. I showed him around to the other members and let him talk to them as well. He seemed to enjoy having someone there to guide him around. We also have this roundtable talk in our club where we discuss anything related to sustainability, and he was really into it as well. As we were about to leave, I asked for his number and how he found out about us, saying he went to our social media and wanted to know if there were more clubs around like ours. In doing so, I sent him a whole list and explained in detail about every club that deals with sustainability (even the ones that a typical business student would not be able to get into). He thanked me and since then he has been coming to our club for the past three months and has become close friends, showcasing my ability to influence one another. Small events like these are what make being a sustainability student so rewarding. Seeing people's faces light up and engage with the rest of us is something I hope to keep doing for the rest of my time at ASU. I plan to change this perspective that changing the world is reserved for special people and provide opportunities for every student. I hope to create a platform where everyday students like me can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being part of that change and will do everything to impact the perspective on what changing the world means, one small interaction at a time.

Growing up in a Latino community, I never thought diversity issues were something that affected me directly. I did everything that everyone else did; I played soccer, got good grades, and went to church like every kid in my neighborhood. Only going into college did I notice what diversity meant. Being one of the students privileged to go to college, I noticed that there were almost no Latino students like me. I felt the weight of my community on my shoulders and felt the need to persevere in everything I do. I started becoming involved in Latino and environmental clubs, changing the very perspective of what environmental justice entails. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and social issues like diversity to help make the world a better place for future generations. I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, the Sustainability Coalition, to encourage ASU clubs to unite and collaborate in the field of sustainability no matter what major they may be. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing communications liaison while coordinating professional and business engagement. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU while maintaining connections with everyone involved. I also became the President of Sustainabilibuddies where I manage a group of undergraduates who will mentor future freshmen within ASU. With this, I also joined and become an executive board member of the Sustainability Alliance, which oversees sustainability-related clubs and organizations. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I am a representation of enduring and persevering in an environment that was not meant for Latino students to persevere. I do this to show everyone that my community CAN and WILL be the change necessary to make diversity a reality while achieving a status where diversity issues are not issues, but instead goals. With this, I noticed that diversity issues did affect me growing up but I just did not notice them. With limited options as to what I could do growing up, I plan to change this perspective and provide opportunities to every student of color and create a platform where they can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being that change, and with my experiences thus far, I will do everything to change the perspective on diversity.

Growing up in a Latino community, I never thought diversity issues were something that affected me directly. I did everything that everyone else did; I played soccer, got good grades, and went to church like every kid in my neighborhood. Only going into college did I notice what diversity meant. Being one of the students privileged to go to college, I noticed that there were almost no Latino students like me. I felt the weight of my community on my shoulders and felt the need to persevere in everything I do. I started becoming involved in Latino and environmental clubs, changing the very perspective of what environmental justice entails. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and social issues like diversity to help make the world a better place for future generations. I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, the Sustainability Coalition, to encourage ASU clubs to unite and collaborate in the field of sustainability no matter what major they may be. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing communications liaison while coordinating professional and business engagement. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU while maintaining connections with everyone involved. I also became the President of Sustainabilibuddies where I manage a group of undergraduates who will mentor future freshmen within ASU. With this, I also joined and become an executive board member of the Sustainability Alliance, which oversees sustainability-related clubs and organizations. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I am a representation of enduring and persevering in an environment that was not meant for Latino students to persevere. I do this to show everyone that my community CAN and WILL be the change necessary to make diversity a reality while achieving a status where diversity issues are not issues, but instead goals. With this, I noticed that diversity issues did affect me growing up but I just did not notice them. With limited options as to what I could do growing up, I plan to change this perspective and provide opportunities to every student of color and create a platform where they can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being that change, and with my experiences thus far, I will do everything to change the perspective on diversity.

Throughout my time at ASU, I have joined various clubs and organizations to further my impact on sustainability and ASU as a whole. To start, I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, break free from plastics, to encourage ASU's reduction of single-use plastics (implementing solutions and alternatives). As an active CSSI board member, I lead the development and management of the overall communications strategy of the club and contribute content to the club’s internet, social media, and online publications. I learned to communicate through teamwork, so having a cohesive team was key to making progress. This prior experience as an active executive board prepared me for unexpected situations, working under pressure, and learning to cooperate and communicate effectively as a team. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing, communications, and organizer while coordinating social media presence, professional and business engagement, venue acquisition, food, and equipment reservations, and day-of-event coordination. This, becoming a leader in this club has made me contribute to my surroundings and plan accordingly. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU. In doing so, I also find participating in organizations outside of ASU to be very helpful and insightful to my career experiences. I became the Community Outreach Manager at E-CO Alternatives, where I am currently creating an ambassador program and developing an outreach strategy to expand the company. So far I have learned to work remotely in a team and excel in individual projects while leading and maintaining an ambassador program. In doing so, I contribute to my community by joining and doing as many volunteer activities as I can. Through CSSI, we have done hike pickups where we clean up trash at A mountain (around ASU), educate students on sustainability and our initiatives, and collaborate with various other organizations on our initiatives and volunteer opportunities as well. I have also gone to Keep Tempe Beautiful events and have planted trees, fertilized plants, and cleaned up parks. On the other hand, I have also worked with gardens at ASU to fertilize palm walk and plant new plants along with ASU’s arboretum. I find joy in volunteering and keeping the planet clean and sustainable from trash and other pollutants. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I find that all of these experiences and volunteer opportunities made me the person I am today, and because of that, I hope to keep volunteering and joining more organizations as I continue my journey at ASU

When I was young, my mother faced domestic abuse. She only stayed with our biological father to raise a “family.” She left him not so long after, full of bruises and pain, yet hopeful for a bright future. I felt what my mom went through, and even though I did not feel her pain, I noticed it. Her longing for change and a change of lifestyles helped me see what was necessary at the end of my journey. While growing up, it became clear the significance my mom became to me and her importance in my life. It had grown to be more than a connection, it had become protection; It was my life. Having to grow up in a life where a father figure was nonexistent and a single mother was struggling to keep her kids fed, my emotions and characteristics became desensitized. Although desensitizing my emotions and characteristics meant losing focus of who I am, it meant that I could suppress my pain and anger for some time longer. As the years went by, it started to become clear that the more I ran from my anger, the more I strayed away from myself. I often walked away from uncertain situations knowing that my self conscious and self-degradation prompted me to dissociate from the people who meant good in my life. I felt that my association with those people would make me confess to them about my life, and in return, infect them with my poison. The need for someone to be there for me while simultaneously trying to stay independent often clashed with one another, reminiscent of an ocean with no calm. I knew that someday I would become tired of this calamity and that someday I would have to face the problems that clashed. The pain often drowned me away and took me from my happiness and safety net. It had become too much for me to bear alone, and I wholeheartedly decided that I cannot keep up this lifestyle that had drowned me for so long. Even though it meant that I would have to come to terms with my own emotions and accountability, it felt like an option that meant I could start living and finding out who I am. During my moment of self-discovery, I found that sometimes it's ok to ask for help and be guided along the correct path. I learned that my friends, who have become people of the utmost importance to me, could help guide me along the path of finding my existence and developing characteristics that I could make my own. After all this time, the anger that chased me and dragged me for so long became something so insignificant that I learned to control and manage more easily than ever before. With this confrontation, I learned to face my realities and find out how to cope with change. I learned to face my life decisions instead of running from them. These new changes in my life helped me find the missing puzzle piece of my self-discovery, something my past self could never have found. And thanks to my mother's endurance in staying by my side every step of the way, I grew from my past and became someone who does not drown from their anger and pain any longer.

Before I chose to go to ASU, my family and I were struggling financially. It was a hard choice to leave my family behind and move to college, but it was something my mom specifically wished for and encouraged me to do so. Being part of a low-income family also came with its many challenges, but the struggles of being in one held a standard of guilt over me. I knew that I should further my career interests in a college setting and gain a well-paying job, but I also knew that I should be back home helping pay for necessities and preparing my brother for his college applications. If anything, as the oldest son and significant role model of the family, it is my responsibility to make sure my family survives and thrives well above the poverty line. But I was riddled with guilt and shame in having to choose myself over them. Having to leave my family vs choosing an education seemed like an easy choice, but I knew I would 100% wait a few years before getting an education to help my family even by just a little. Moreover, my mom had taught us strong educational values, and put education as a number priority, so making this decision on their behalf carried unintended emotional consequences. In doing so, I had scheduled a meeting with a financial advisor at ASU to see what my options for paying for school were and if anything could be done. In that meeting, I learned that I was given the Obama Scholar Scholarship, a scholarship that pays for half of my college expenses. Although this meant I could go to the university I have always wanted to be at, it meant my family would have to survive without me. I was dumbfounded when my mom turned to me, with tears in her eyes, telling me I should go. I knew that with any doubt my mom had I would stay home, but instead she encouraged me and let me pursue my dreams. Although this situation was very tough, leaving my family and expanding my career interests has let me grow into the person I am now. I currently hold various leadership positions within organizations and clubs at ASU, and even hold a job within the school as well. I send part of my paycheck back home for necessities, and our family dynamic has even improved. Although it is saddening to think that I had to leave my family and learn to depend on my own, it provided me with the skills necessary to excel in life and my academic studies. I do feel that the support my mom showed me has given me the strength to achieve all of the opportunities I have had in just my first year, and I am appreciative of the life experiences I was able to have because of that.

Growing up in a Latino community, I never thought diversity issues were something that affected me directly. I did everything that everyone else did; I played soccer, got good grades, and went to church like every kid in my neighborhood. Only going into college did I notice what diversity meant. Being one of the students privileged to go to college, I noticed that there were almost no Latino students like me. I felt the weight of my community on my shoulders and felt the need to persevere in everything I do. I started becoming involved in Latino and environmental clubs, changing the very perspective of what environmental justice entails. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and social issues like diversity to help make the world a better place for future generations. I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, the Sustainability Coalition, to encourage ASU clubs to unite and collaborate in the field of sustainability no matter what major they may be. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing communications liaison while coordinating professional and business engagement. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU while maintaining connections with everyone involved. I also became the President of Sustainabilibuddies where I manage a group of undergraduates who will mentor future freshmen within ASU. With this, I also joined and become an executive board member of the Sustainability Alliance, which oversees sustainability-related clubs and organizations. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I am a representation of enduring and persevering in an environment that was not meant for Latino students to persevere. I do this to show everyone that my community CAN and WILL be the change necessary to make diversity a reality while achieving a status where diversity issues are not issues, but instead goals. With this, I noticed that diversity issues did affect me growing up but I just did not notice them. With limited options as to what I could do growing up, I plan to change this perspective and provide opportunities to every student of color and create a platform where they can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being that change, and with my experiences thus far, I will do everything to change the perspective on diversity.

Growing up in a Latino community, I never thought diversity issues were something that affected me directly. I did everything that everyone else did; I played soccer, got good grades, and went to church like every kid in my neighborhood. Only going into college did I notice what diversity meant. Being one of the students privileged to go to college, I noticed that there were almost no Latino students like me. I felt the weight of my community on my shoulders and felt the need to persevere in everything I do. I started becoming involved in Latino and environmental clubs, changing the very perspective of what environmental justice entails. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and social issues like diversity to help make the world a better place for future generations. I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, the Sustainability Coalition, to encourage ASU clubs to unite and collaborate in the field of sustainability no matter what major they may be. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing communications liaison while coordinating professional and business engagement. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU while maintaining connections with everyone involved. I also became the President of Sustainabilibuddies where I manage a group of undergraduates who will mentor future freshmen within ASU. With this, I also joined and become an executive board member of the Sustainability Alliance, which oversees sustainability-related clubs and organizations. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I am a representation of enduring and persevering in an environment that was not meant for Latino students to persevere. I do this to show everyone that my community CAN and WILL be the change necessary to make diversity a reality while achieving a status where diversity issues are not issues, but instead goals. With this, I noticed that diversity issues did affect me growing up but I just did not notice them. With limited options as to what I could do growing up, I plan to change this perspective and provide opportunities to every student of color and create a platform where they can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being that change, and with my experiences thus far, I will do everything to change the perspective on diversity.

Growing up in a Latino community, I never thought diversity issues were something that affected me directly. I did everything that everyone else did; I played soccer, got good grades, and went to church like every kid in my neighborhood. Only going into college did I notice what diversity meant. Being one of the students privileged to go to college, I noticed that there were almost no Latino students like me. I felt the weight of my community on my shoulders and felt the need to persevere in everything I do. I started becoming involved in Latino and environmental clubs, changing the very perspective of what environmental justice entails. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and social issues like diversity to help make the world a better place for future generations. I became the Director of Communications for Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives (CSSI) and helped kickstart a project, the Sustainability Coalition, to encourage ASU clubs to unite and collaborate in the field of sustainability no matter what major they may be. Furthermore, I also became the communications and event planning officer at Honor Sustainability Society (HSS), serving as the primary marketing communications liaison while coordinating professional and business engagement. I find this position especially meaningful as it provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with various other clubs and organizations within ASU while maintaining connections with everyone involved. I also became the President of Sustainabilibuddies where I manage a group of undergraduates who will mentor future freshmen within ASU. With this, I also joined and become an executive board member of the Sustainability Alliance, which oversees sustainability-related clubs and organizations. If my actions can create a difference in the world, then I will continue to do my part in making this a better place for my generation and the countless generations that come after. I am a representation of enduring and persevering in an environment that was not meant for Latino students to persevere. I do this to show everyone that my community CAN and WILL be the change necessary to make diversity a reality while achieving a status where diversity issues are not issues, but instead goals. With this, I noticed that diversity issues did affect me growing up but I just did not notice them. With limited options as to what I could do growing up, I plan to change this perspective and provide opportunities to every student of color and create a platform where they can become leaders in their respective fields. I plan on being that change, and with my experiences thus far, I will do everything to change the perspective on diversity.

I have always dreamed of impacting the world in some way or another. I always wanted to be that person that shows up in the news with the new vaccine that cures a disease, or the person who discovered the carbon-free car. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. My views always differentiated from people in terms of what I wanted to be involved in, and I always held my environmental passion to a higher degree than usual. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and help make the world a better place for future generations. Academically, I have maintained a 4.0 for my first two semesters at ASU and plan on doing so for the next three years. However, when considering my career goals, I always wanted to go into consulting or kickstart my own sustainability-related company. Through the various leadership positions I have now, I feel I will be prepared to do so when my four years at ASU are over. As an active CSSI executive board member (director of communications), I lead the development and management of the overall communications strategy of the club and contribute content to the club’s internet, social media, and online publications. Moreover, I was also the vice-president, lead lifestyle editor, and co-editor in chief of the yearbook club just last year, Although I was not the president, I had to lead the lifestyle section entirely on my own. On the other hand, these experiences opened my eyes to the opportunities that ASU can give to students. This prior experience as vice president of the yearbook team and active CCSI executive board is something I hope to contribute and pass on to the future generations of ASU, and through this, I hope to leave an impact on sustainability students. I plan on making a difference in the world in some way or another and because of the life experiences and opportunities I have received, I always hold the world we live in to a higher degree than most often do. The overall ecstatic and excitement of creating this change in the world and being that person in the news have motivated me to pursue the dreams and goals I have for my future. As for the vision of my future, I plan on securing various internships throughout my time at ASU and pursuing my master's in sustainability through the 4+1 program. After graduation, I hope to work in Arizona, but I do not mind working remotely or out of state. Overall, as a current freshman, my plans are not set in stone, so things may change in the future. However, I know that my life will be dedicated to changing the world and bridging the gap between people and sustainability.

I have always dreamed of impacting the world in some way or another. I always wanted to be that person that shows up in the news with the new vaccine that cures a disease, or the person who discovered the carbon-free car. I found that ASU provided me with that very opportunity, through the sustainability program, and I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. My views always differentiated from people in terms of what I wanted to be involved in, and I always held my environmental passion to a higher degree than usual. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and help make the world a better place for future generations. However, choosing college over my family was not something I was prepared to do. Having to leave my family vs choosing an education seemed like an easy choice, but I knew I would 100% wait a few years before getting an education to help my family even by just a little. Moreover, my mom had taught us strong educational values, and put education as a number priority, so making this decision on their behalf carried unintended emotional consequences. In doing so, I had scheduled a meeting with a financial advisor at ASU to see what my options for paying for school were and if anything could be done. In that meeting, I learned that I was given the Obama Scholar Scholarship, a scholarship that pays for half of my college expenses. Although this meant I could go to the university I have always wanted to be at, it meant my family would have to survive without me. I knew that with any doubt my mom had I would stay home, but instead she encouraged me and let me pursue my dreams. Although this situation was very tough, leaving my family and expanding my career interests has let me grow into the person I am now. I currently hold various leadership positions within organizations and clubs at ASU, and even hold a job within the school as well. I send part of my paycheck back home for necessities, and our family dynamic has even improved. Although it is saddening to think that I had to leave my family and learn to depend on my own, it provided me with the skills necessary to excel in life and my academic studies. I do feel that the support my mom showed me has given me the strength to achieve all of the opportunities I have had in just my first year, and I am appreciative of the life experiences I was able to have because of that. When considering my career goals, I always wanted to go into consulting or kickstart my own sustainability-related company. Through the various leadership positions I have now, I feel I will be prepared to do so when my four years at ASU are over. The overall ecstatic and excitement of creating this change in the world and being that person in the news have motivated me to pursue the dreams and goals I have for my future. As for the vision of my future, I plan on securing various internships throughout my time at ASU and pursuing my master's in sustainability through the 4+1 program. Overall, as a future sophomore, my plans are not set in stone, so things may change in the future. However, I know that my life will be dedicated to changing the world and bridging the gap between people and sustainability.

I have always dreamed of impacting the world in some way or another. I found that ASU provided me that very opportunity, and through the sustainability program, I have found a community that has helped and guided me to who I am today. Through sustainability, I can showcase my passion for the environment and help make the world a better place for future generations. Academically, I have maintained a 4.0 for my first two semesters at ASU and plan on doing so for the next three years. However, when considering my career goals, I always wanted to go into consulting or kickstart my own sustainability-related company. As an active CSSI executive board member (director of communications) and the vice-president, lead lifestyle editor, and co-editor in chief of the yearbook club just last year, I hope this prior experience is something I hope to contribute and pass on to future generations of ASU, and through this, leave an impact on sustainability students. I plan on making a difference in the world in some way or another; The overall ecstatic and excitement of creating this change in the world have motivated me to pursue the dreams and goals I have for my future. As for the vision of my future, I plan on securing various internships throughout my time at ASU and pursuing my master's in sustainability through the 4+1 program. After graduation, I hope to work in Arizona, but I do not mind working remotely or out of state. Overall, as a current freshman, my plans are not set in stone, so things may change in the future. However, I know that my life will be dedicated to changing the world and bridging the gap between people and sustainability.