“Environmentalism without class action is just gardening.” — Chico Mendes This quote from a famous Environmental activist explains my philosophy towards my interest in Environmental Studies. I am drawn to this field because I believe environmental work is inseparable from justice, equity, and accountability, and needs to be studied and pursued. As urbanization and globalization continue to accelerate, environmental harm is not experienced equally. Communities shaped by racial and socioeconomic inequality, particularly Black and other marginalized communities, are the most vulnerable to climate change, pollution, and inadequate environmental infrastructure. My decision to study Environmental Studies is rooted in a desire to confront these inequities directly and help contribute towards the solutions through community organizing, research, and public education I am particularly interested in how cities can be reimagined as spaces where environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and community well-being coexist. I am inspired by the idea of a solarpunk future, one in which technology works in harmony with nature rather than against it. Through my studies, I hope to learn how environmental policy, urban planning, and sustainable technologies can be applied in ways that prioritize people who have historically been excluded from environmental decision making. While research shows that racial minorities express deep concern for environmental issues, there remains a significant lack of investment and attention focused on environmental problems in minority and low-income communities. Climate change, toxic exposure, and failing infrastructure disproportionately affect Black communities, not because of individual choices, but because of long-standing purposeful structural neglect. This injustice motivates my academic and professional goals. I plan to use the knowledge and skills I gain through my degree to work directly with underserved communities, ensuring that environmental protection and innovation are not privileges reserved for wealthy or predominantly white cities. In the future, I hope to work in community centered environmental advocacy and urban design, both locally and globally. I want to collaborate with communities facing socioeconomic inequality to help design cities that are healthier, safer, and more sustainable. Whether through policy work, research, or grassroots organizing, my goal is to ensure that environmental solutions are informed by the voices and needs of the people most affected, like my loved ones. The advice I give to my family has to be nuanced because we are a low-income, people of color family. Environmentally friendly options often are the most expensive and are frankly out of budget for most people including my family; however that means that they do not overconsume. However, luckily, personal individual choices are not the main drivers of climate change are manufacturing, industrial sectors, and oil and gas energy sectors are the problem and the ones that we need to focus on regulating.