I have always been interested in every scientific discipline. During high school, I loved every science course from biology to physics. This made me want to study environmental science in college, as it is an interdisciplinary scientific field that aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of how the earth functions. After discovering this interest, I joined multiple student organizations related to this field, which led me to discover that my scientific interests were also related to governmental policy. Creating effective environmental policy requires extensive scientific knowledge and research to determine how to simultaneously meet the needs of human communities and the natural environment. My extracurricular involvements have shown me that one of the best ways to learn about the environment is to advocate for it. At my school, I currently serve as the branch president of the Student Environmental Education Coalition and a leader of the entomology and wildlife clubs. I am working with other members of these groups to create a pollinator and native plant garden on our school’s campus, which would support native biodiversity and local wildlife. This project has given me an in-depth understanding of the importance of local gardens and green space. Last year, I also planned a clothing drive to bring awareness to sustainable fashion, which helped me learn about the environmental impact of “fast fashion” and unsustainable fabrics that require extensive resources to produce. I believe that the initiatives I have contributed to at my school can evolve into meaningful environmental policy when applied on a larger scale. Many residential and commercial buildings have an excess of unused outdoor space, which is often occupied by empty lawns. If this space were converted into usable gardens for environmental conservation and food cultivation, significant progress could be made towards combating both habitat destruction and food insecurity. In turn, this would allow for more sustainable development, as integrating aspects of the natural ecosystem into cities would reduce the environmental stress of building. Growing food in these spaces would also reduce transportation time to grocery stores and the number of food deserts, as food would be more evenly distributed throughout communities. Equitably distributing resources could also combat the environmental impact of “fast fashion,” as many people are currently forced to support this industry in order to access clothing. By making sustainable clothing options more accessible and reducing the resource consumption allowed for clothing production, the economic power of environmentally destructive business practices can be reduced. Implementing these changes would help shift our cultural perception of the role of humans in the environment from one of opposition to one of collaboration, and this can be achieved through local policy changes. For example, local governments can require apartment complexes and businesses to include space for native plants on their properties, establish gardens on government property, create incentives for citizens to cultivate gardens in their yards, offer financial support to small, sustainable businesses, and regulate the amount of resources that businesses can consume for clothing production. Human rights advocacy also plays a major role in these initiatives because in order to support the environment, we must support the people that live in it as well. Citizens are more willing to support environmental initiatives when they feel their individual needs are being met, and several environmental policy changes would benefit the overall health of communities and make resources more accessible. Throughout my career, I want to contribute to the development of these policies by contributing to scientific knowledge of the environment and using my work to support grassroots activism and education.

This is my dog, Gizmo doing one of his favorite activities: tearing up cardboard boxes! He’s had boundless energy since he was a puppy, which gets him into trouble sometimes. However, he also puts his energy to good use at agility classes. He also loves chasing sticks and insects, walking on the beach, and taking long naps during the day. Animals are an important part of my life, and watching Gizmo grow has taught me the importance of patience and empathy. I also love drawing animals, and some of my art can be seen on my Instagram page, @coolbugdoodles.

I never truly understood depression until I experienced it. I used to believe that mental illnesses only affected a small group of people and the chances of them being relevant in my life were extremely slim. This is why it took me so long to recognize when I was struggling with my own mental health. As a child, my value was always attached to my productivity, which led me to develop severe anxiety related to academics. I was encouraged to be in constant competition with my peers, and devoting time to self-care and enjoyment felt like a moral failing. During eleventh grade, I experienced an episode of major depression. I could not sleep for days on end, and I would spend hours staring at my computer screen without accomplishing anything. It was clear that something was wrong, and after opening up to my mom, we sought medical advice. However, the medical professionals I spoke to doubted my experiences. I was still forcing myself to get high grades, and it seemed as if they could not believe that someone who seemed so productive and “successful” was struggling so much. Thus, I could not access adequate treatment, and my mental health continued to decline. This ultimately led to my hospitalization after attempting self-harm, and it felt like reaching this extreme was the only way I could access the healthcare I needed. After returning home, I realized that mental health struggles were far more common than I thought they were and that many of my peers had similar experiences. This motivated me to found a chapter of Active Minds, a national organization dedicated to mental health awareness, at my school. With this chapter, I coordinated initiatives with my school’s counseling department, hosted events for the student body, and planned educational programs to facilitate productive dialogue. I hope to continue this activism throughout my life and form another Active Minds chapter at the college I attend. I will use the insights I gained through my experiences to connect with others in similar circumstances and continue working to destroy stigma and create accessible resources.

“It’s vital to remember who you really are. It’s very important. It isn’t a good idea to rely on other people or things to do it for you, you see. They always get it wrong.” This quote is from Terry Pratchett’s novel Sourcery and remains one of my favorite Pratchett quotes after reading his books for nearly four years. As a neurodivergent person, remembering who I am has been essential in overcoming ableism and advocating for my personal growth. These words remind me that I cannot let others’ limited perceptions of me define the way I live. As a child, speaking was often difficult for me because my verbal communication style differed from that of my peers. In large group settings, I never knew what to say or when to start talking, so people labeled me as “quiet” and often talked about me as if I could not understand what they were saying. This ostracization led me to develop severe social anxiety, and eventually, I barely spoke to anyone at all because I wanted to avoid judgment and rejection by making myself as small and convenient as possible. I lived like this for several years, but my circumstances changed when I went to boarding school in eleventh grade. At boarding school, I suddenly had a high degree of control over my schedule rather than constantly following a predetermined routine. I found that instead of using this freedom to pursue the things I enjoyed, I often felt completely aimless when I had no tasks to complete. Nearly everything I did felt like work, even socializing and pursuing hobbies. This made me realize that my childhood experiences had left me with no sense of personal identity. However, my social environment also changed along with my living environment. My peers would actually talk to me and include me in group activities even when I struggled to speak, and I started discussing my personal interests with a small group of people. I was far more engaged with the world when I focused on what I wanted instead of trying to meet everyone else’s expectations. Rather than forcing myself to do what I thought I “had” to do, I started pursuing activities based on my personal interests and eventually took on leadership roles in several student organizations. The same traits that people had judged and ostracized me for also made me an excellent, insightful leader. For the first time in my life, I was part of a community, and I did not have to change anything about myself in order to do this. Pratchett’s quote is special because I believe it verbalizes my experiences so simply yet so effectively. These words helped me grow into my own independence, as I constantly had to remind myself that I deserved to be heard and take up space even when others failed to acknowledge or accept me. My identity comes exclusively from my rich internal environment, and I no longer define myself based on temporary external factors.

Throughout my life, I have seen the growth of a narrative that the environment is doomed to destruction from human activity and there is nothing that can be done about it. This attitude of hopelessness is particularly strong regarding vulnerable ecosystems, such as marine habitats. I realized the pervasiveness of this mindset during a conversation with a friend in which they casually declared that all of the fish in the sea would be dead by the year 2030 as if this were an inevitable truth. After hearing countless examples of fragile marine life declining at an alarming rate, such as mass coral bleaching, I was almost inclined to believe them. Fortunately, there were people out there to change my mind. One weekend, I decided to view a webinar from the University of Miami on careers in marine science in between my usual chores and social calls. One information session I attended was about coral restoration. Expecting to hear the typical narrative, I was amazed to learn that coral was just as resilient as it was fragile. Tiny fragments from larger corals could grow on their own, and PVC pipes could provide the framework for an entire reef. This process was employed by the Rescue a Reef program, which was bringing these accessible practices to communities across the globe. After hearing from scientists who contributed to this project, I knew that research had the power to change the world, and I wanted to be a part of it. After coming to this revelation, I now plan to pursue a career in marine science. I plan to obtain a degree in biology and environmental science at a college with strong undergraduate research programs and then work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or a similar environmental organization after college. In order to do this, I am already conducting research in marine science through a mentorship program at my high school. In this program, I am working with a researcher from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study magnetic field detection in sea turtles. Equipped with the scientific literacy I gained from this program, I know that I am prepared to join a university lab or even propose my own independent study. Once I have obtained my degree, I will start changing the world. My ultimate career goal is to lead my own marine science research. Over eighty percent of the ocean is still unexplored, and I want my life’s work to help protect this rich environment. However, I also want my findings to be accessible to the general population. There is a plethora of wonderful research on the possibilities of science and conservation efforts, but much of it is inaccessible to the public due to technical language and paywalls. At a time where it is crucial for the entire population to engage in sustainability, I envision science communication becoming just as prominent in marine science as the research itself. I can do this through a variety of means, including social media pages, community workshops, or webinars of my own. Additionally, serving the environment involves serving the people that live in it. People are generally more supportive of the environment when their own needs are met, so I also want to sponsor projects that help vulnerable populations obtain adequate resources and elevate the voices of marginalized communities that have been fighting for environmental justice for decades. My vision for the future is multifaceted, combining technical, communicative, and humanitarian efforts to replace the narrative of helplessness with one of ambition.

I never knew I had severe depression until I found myself being driven to the emergency room after attempting self-harm. Throughout my life, I had always struggled with social anxiety and low self-esteem, but I had never fully understood the importance of mental health treatment. This experience forced me to face the reality of my situation and finally made me determined to prioritize my mental health. I ended up spending one week in a residential behavioral health facility, and while I was there, I met several other people my age who were experiencing similar issues. These kids had come from a variety of backgrounds, but most of them experienced traumatic life events or unstable home lives. Nevertheless, they maintained a sense of incredible optimism and determination for recovery. Even though I will never see them again, I will always remember every person I met while I was in that facility. I witnessed firsthand how incredible and brave each one of them was, and I hope to work towards a society where people like this can receive the support and encouragement they need to build positive futures. Mental health issues are still highly stigmatized, and I know of many people, including myself, who are left feeling completely lost and hopeless when the people they turn to for help are unable to fully understand them. After I was discharged from the hospital, I knew that I wanted to use my own experiences to form stronger connections with the people around me. I made a conscious effort to strengthen my relationship with my father and grandparents, and I now make a conscious effort to provide positive encouragement to my friends and family. At my school, I help support my community by volunteering as a tutor. Through this volunteer work, I can provide important positive encouragement to children that is crucial to their self-esteem as they pursue early learning. Mental health issues can impact anyone at any time, so it is crucial that every person is treated with respect and compassion.

Leonard Cohen’s “Anthem” was the song I selected as my inspiration for this playlist, primarily because of the lines “Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering.” To me, this means that you should always strive to move forward with whatever you have. As someone who currently struggles with depression and has attempted self-harm, this song encourages me to keep going when I am at my lowest. The rest of the songs carry similar messages by acknowledging the hardships and cruelties present in the world but also discovering immense beauty in it at the same time.

In this picture, I am holding Britta, one of my two pet Madagascar hissing cockroaches. Ever since I was a child, I have always had a fascination with insects and the natural world. This has led me to keep insects as pets for several years. Years ago, I was afraid to pick up insects with my bare hands, worried that I would somehow get bitten or stung. However, I now have the confidence and knowledge I need to safely handle certain species of bugs, which allows me to foster a deeper, more personal understanding of these fascinating creatures.

Ever since I was a child, dogs have always been a part of my life. In this photo, my most recent dog, Gizmo, can be seen doing what he loves best: getting into trouble! Every time he sees a cardboard box, he will grab it, run around the house with it, tear it up, and make a big mess. Even if it means I will have to vacuum, I love seeing the joy in Gizmo’s eyes when he can freely wreak havoc. On my Instagram page, @m.kane04, I enjoy looking at other animals who also have funny little habits.

Parents play a central role in the development of nearly every person’s life. They are responsible for ensuring that their children are well taken care of and teaching them how to eventually live on their own in society. I have been fortunate enough to have a wonderful mother who has always gone above and beyond to support me throughout my entire life. My mother has encouraged the growth of my interests and made many sacrifices to ensure that I would have every opportunity to pursue them. I live in a highly isolated location, and it takes nearly an hour to drive from my house to the surrounding towns and communities. This means that whenever I wanted to play a sport or pursue an extracurricular activity, my mom would have to drive for two hours every day just so that I could get to and from practices. Nevertheless, she was always willing to do this whenever I was passionate about something. I was able to play basketball in third grade, participate in teen court in middle school, and play tennis in high school solely because my mom was willing to spend so much time driving just to get me to and from practices. Additionally, my mother is one of my closest friends and confidants. Throughout my life, I have struggled greatly with my mental health. As a young child, I experienced severe social anxiety, and I am currently struggling with anxiety and depression. This has made it difficult for me to connect with people, and I sometimes lose control over my mental state. However, I was able to seek counseling and as a result of support from my mother. I can freely discuss my troubles with her without judgment, and she has worked hard for many years to ensure that I can get the support and treatment I need to overcome these obstacles. Talking to her helps keep me grounded when I feel my mind running away with me. For over sixteen years of my life, my mother has continuously worked hard to support me as much as possible. Without her, I do not think I would be the person I am today. She has sacrificed so much of her own time and energy solely for my well being. Her unconditional love and support have enabled me to feel comfortable expressing myself and created a positive environment for my growth and personal development. I am truly grateful for everything she has done for me throughout my life, and in the future, I hope that I can give back to her and support her as well. She is one of the most intelligent, kind people I have ever known, and every day I am reminded of how much of a blessing it is to have her in my life.