History of the Peloponnesian War (Thucydides): "I have often before now been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire, and never more so than by your present change of mind in the matter of Mytilene. Fears or plots being unknown to you in your daily relations with each other, you feel just the same with regard to your allies, and never reflect that the mistakes into which you may be led by listening to their appeals, or by giving way to your own compassion, are full of danger to yourselves, and bring you no thanks for your weakness from your allies; entirely forgetting that your empire is a despotism and your subjects disaffected conspirators, whose obedience is ensured not by your suicidal concessions, but by the superiority given you by your own strength and not their loyalty. The most alarming feature in the case is the constant change of measures with which we appear to be threatened, and our seeming ignorance of the fact that bad laws which are never changed are better for a city than good ones that have no authority; that unlearned loyalty is more serviceable than quick-witted insubordination; and that ordinary men usually manage public affairs better than their more gifted fellows. The latter are always wanting to appear wiser than the laws, and to overrule every proposition brought forward, thinking that they cannot show their wit in more important matters, and by such behaviour too often ruin their country; while those who mistrust their own cleverness are content to be less learned than the laws, and less able to pick holes in the speech of a good speaker; and being fair judges rather than rival athletes, generally conduct affairs successfully. These we ought to imitate, instead of being led on by cleverness and intellectual rivalry to advise your people against our real opinions.” This excerpt, taken from Thucydides’ account of the war between Athens and Sparta in History of the Peloponnesian War, centers on a debate concerning the conflict between Mytilene and Athens. Like most of Thucydides’ works, this debate revolves around certain social ordering principles, which the participants in the discussions acknowledge, or have been forced to recognize, as their guiding norms. The purpose of this essay is to add to the inquiries addressing chapters in Thucydides’ History as disclosing and reflecting on issues of a moral and socio-political nature. Specifically, I will demonstrate that Thucydides utilizes dialogue to analyze the prioritization of self-interest in international relations and the divergence between political priorities and morality in politics. To accomplish this, I will analyze aspects of the Mytilenian Debate and the Melian Dialogue to infer changes in the relationship between Athenian morality and political actions. When Mytilene, an oligarchic city–state belonging to the Delian League, planned a revolt, Athens swiftly encircled the city and decried the whole of the male population would be killed and the women and children taken as slaves. However, the Athenian assembly retried the case the following day, with two orators, Cleon and Diodotus, debating each side of the decision (3.36). In his speech, Cleon establishes his main line of reasoning on the necessity of Athens’ continued dominance among the Greek city-states, stating if Athens did not respond to Mytilene’s actions accordingly, “[Athens] will be passing judgement on [them]selves. For if [Mytilenians] were justified in revolting, [Athens] must be wrong in holding power” (3.40). According to Cleon, matters had evolved to the point where the Athenians must choose between resolutely putting down any attempt at disrupting their power or surrendering their rule entirely, which carries implications for betraying their sense of selves. Thus, Athenians must deliver a rightful punishment which conveys Athens continued superiority; in this instance, it so happens to be characterized by a distinct lack of mercy. Diodotus’ argument, on the other hand, is characterized by a denial of Cleon’s stance of Athenian power and how it may be upheld. Like Cleon, Diodotus centers his argument around continued endorsement of Athenian self-interests, but, unlike Cleon, argues for the exact opposite of Cleon’s proposal regarding what will be most expedient for the Athenians: “If we are sensible people, we shall see that the question is not so much whether they are guilty as whether we are making the right decision for ourselves…” (3.44). Although remaining outwardly compliant to the supremacy of expediency, Diodotus manages to implicitly introduce and defend an alternative moral perspective, one which calls for the counterbalancing of injustice through sound political strategy. After all, as he later implies in his speech, the butchering of their ally would only result in a weakening of Athens’ imperial domain (3.47). In effect, this means that Diodotus’ true intention is to argue that it is actually more harmful to Athens to conduct injustice than to suffer it. Through this debate, we can infer that justice may only be achieved when it aligns with the personal interest of the ruling group of a state. The Melian Dialogue is Thucydides’ account of the debate between Athenian ambassadors and the oligarchic elite ruling Melos, another revolting city–state that the Athenians believe must be subdued forcibly. In their argumentation against the Melians, the Athenian ambassadors twice appeal to the view that justice and rightfulness may only prevail against equals, and between unequal subjects, the less powerful must yield to the stronger party (5.89, 5.111). Underlying the Athenians’ rejection of all presented forms of righteousness, however, lies the assumption that in such a predicament, the overriding principle will center around safety and survival first and foremost. By assigning this as the fundamental principle guiding the whole of the discussion, the Athenians essentially create a logical fallacy which allows them to disqualify any argument that may be conceived as counter-productive to maintaining their city-state’s safety and survival. Furthermore, it is also important to analyze how Athenians present the notion of a universal will as having been a “necessary law of nature” (5.105). By proclaiming this supposed universal law of nature, the Athenians are thus able to presume themselves to counter normative claims derived from religious beliefs, or, alternatively, any claims that cannot be supported using clear and distinct knowledge of human nature that the Athenians believe only themselves to possess. Despite this, however, the Melians refuse to fulfil what the Athenians conceive of as marking the only path towards safety and survival for the whole of the Melian city-state. Thus, they meet the fate the Mytileneans had managed to escape due to their unwillingness to conduct themselves in accordance with the moral frames set down by their Athenian rulers. It is worth noting by this point in Thucydidean narrative, the self-assured political rationale of the Athenians – which previously had absolved the Mytileneans, but which now decided on the opposite fate for the Melians – has become incapable of correcting its own faulty decisions. For what the Athenian ambassadors in the Melian Dialogue seem unable to understand, but what was seen clearly by the Athenian assembly in the Mytilenean case, was that the destruction of a neutral territory could only serve to weaken Athens further. As a result, Athens own self-interests and its political actions appear to conflict. In conclusion, the Mytilenian Debate and the Melian Dialogue demonstrate power to be a central focus of the Athenian demos, a value prioritized over justice regardless of whether it is used for expedience or force. However, the dissimilar decisions reached in both the debate and dialogue point to a political shift of priorities within the polis wherein the role of ethics in politics and the self-interest of the Athenian demos diverge. Ultimately, this singular focus on the balance of military power, with an emphasis on systemic forces that drives toward an almost law-like equilibrium, can only result in an eventual disruption of political priorities and morality as city-states establish their self-interests in terms of further power.

Every day humans make choices in our lives that have the potential to affect everything from the ants in our backyards to the climate. While our individual choices may not seem like much, our collective carbon footprints can have devastating impacts on the world we live in, and as an aspiring marine scientist, I have had the unfortunate pleasure of witnessing such impacts. From the marine heatwave that decimated coral populations in the Florida Keys last summer to animals of all kinds dying after being trapped in plastic or other debris, I have grown more passionate about living sustainably in order to do my part in keeping such events from occurring again. In an effort to reduce my impact, I have several ways of living more sustainably. Firstly, shopping: I try to only shop for items I need and only replace items when they no longer serve their original purpose. This especially includes clothes, and I learned sewing so that I could expand the lifetime of my clothing. When clothing does need to be replaced, I shop secondhand, and when I no longer need something, I donate. Additionally, I try to repurpose old items into something I can use. For instance, a towel that has too many holes to be patched up might become several dish cloths. A plastic container that held my strawberries might become a desk organizer or a small storage container. Any plastic bottle is typically turned into jewelry, and recycled paper and cardboard is used to make paper mâché sculptures; in fact, almost all the décor in my dorm is made from recycled materials. I also use an app, Remora, which helps me track my plastic use, showing me where I might need to cut down my consumption. When it comes to food shopping, I also try to use smart, planned meal shopping to reduce food waste. Furthermore, I shop locally, grow small herbs in my college dorm, and reduce my meat consumption. Another area of my life I try to be self-conscious about is energy use. I tend to only take five-to-ten-minute showers, use cold water for washing clothes, and almost never turn on lights during the day. I also try to walk where I can, such as walking the half-mile to my favorite coffee shop. I also try to research the brands I use in order to avoid products that might endanger wildlife, such as un-safe reef sunscreen. Perhaps most importantly, however, I try to start conversations about sustainable livelihoods in my community and use my voting power to gain more legislation focusing on sustainable living. By making conscious, sustainable choices every day, I believe a meaningful difference is made in reducing my carbon footprint and protecting the environment.

Big, beautiful, and blue—all are words that come to mind when thinking about our oceans. But more than just a picturesque beach vacation, oceans are an incredibly valuable component of our planet. The oceans’ global circulation system plays a key role in distributing heat energy, regulating weather and climate, and cycling vital nutrients in the water column. This supports an astonishing array of species that humans rely on for everything from food to pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, despite its beauty and global importance, our oceans face numerous threats. From climate change to pollution to unprecedented rates of extinction, more than 40 percent of the ocean has been severely affected in recent decades. My career objectives were greatly shaped by the film Finding Nemo, a children’s film about family, but also about the frequency of marine life displaced by human efforts and misunderstanding. At only the age of four, I did not fully comprehend the severity of such issues, nor their importance, but I did walk away with an understanding of several fundamental facts: (1) if one clownfish’s disappearance could disrupt the productivity of a reef, then conservation science should focus on the little guys too, and (2) the entire situation could have been avoided had the diver that abducted Nemo been more educated on conservation practices, so perhaps there is a lack of overlap in conservation education and citizen science. While I arrived at these conclusions through admittedly childish rationalizations, they have greatly shaped my career goals. As I’ve grown, I’ve gained a more comprehensive knowledge of marine displacement, both its impacts and causes. As a result, I have become particularly interested in studying the anthropogenic effects on the physiology and behavior of nekton coral reef species in an effort to protect natural habitats and their inhabitants. After all, due to the complex nature of marine ecology, especially coral reef ecology, seemingly isolated issues often create a domino effect in the structure of an ecosystem. For example, the abduction of Nemo resulted in the clownfish family abandoning their sea anemone for an indefinite amount of time, which, due to the strong mutualistic relationship between the two species, could have resulted in a shorter or ailing lifespan, especially had the clownfish never returned. Yet, sea anemones and clownfish are far from the only important relationships in coral reef systems. As oceanic systems undergo change, the traditional migration and larval settlement patterns of numerous species are being actively disrupted. The Florida Stone Crab is no exception. Often overlooked, this crustacean not only carries out important ecological services such as recycling essential nutrients via decomposition but is also a uniquely sustainable commercial fishery species. As a result, stone crab research has the unique opportunity to contribute to currently important areas of conservation science. Much of its potential lies in creating and managing sustainable fisheries, a dynamic process that is dependent on new scientific information that can guide management actions. Sustainable fishing practices are not only vital for the continued economic prosperity of coastal communities but support biodiversity, which allows marine ecosystems to be more productive, resilient, and adaptive to environmental changes. Furthermore, sustainable fishing is only possible if there is enough overlap between science and conservation education. As a result, a prominent goal of my research would be developing outreach opportunities and encouraging relationships between scientists and fisheries. Ultimately, I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact and utilizing my degree to contribute to the ongoing efforts in preserving our precious marine environments for future generations.

Studying is probably one of the most frustrating aspects about going back to school, so how do you overcome the challenge? You need more than one study place! A quiet library or a well-stocked desk is occasionally key, but the same area day after day begins to get a bit too repetitive and you need variety. Coffee shops, parks, or even an empty classroom will give a nice change of scenery and may prompt your brain to retain information better. Also, while your bedroom may be comfortable, don't make a habit studying there. Studies have shown we correlate the stress of our homework with the stress of the environment we complete that homework in. For even more motivation, hang out with friends and quiz each other or simply offer companionable silence; its much more fun and relaxing to be around friends and can actually decrease the stress of studying. Social Handle: gogators04

Oceans constitute over 70% of the earth’s surface, and the marine environment and ecosystems are central to many global challenges, yet more than 80% of the oceans are unexplored and unmapped. Not only are oceans an important food source for humans and other organisms, but they also provide crucial ecosystem services and play important roles in earth’s climate, from weather and the atmosphere to where we live, what we eat, and other fundamental processes. As our world advances, man-made environmental concerns grow ever more prominent, affecting both oceans and people. Now, more than ever, exploration and true understanding of the vital functions of all the world’s habitats and species interactions with each other and the climate is essential to environmental conservation. Technology is one of the best approaches to monitor the environment and ensure sustainable exploration of marine resources, collect extensive data, and form analysis efforts to form the backbone of management programs on global or regional levels. Technological advances in sensor technology, autonomous platforms, and information and communications technology now allow marine scientists to collect data in much larger volumes then once ever thought possible. Innovations have even brought rapid advances in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and—in particular—deep learning systems able to solve complex tasks that once required human expertise. This technology is directly applicable to many important data analysis issues and could provide many complicated challenges in marine science and resource management. Unfortunately, this capacity for data analysis has not progressed comparably and this growing inconsistency has created a bottleneck for effective use of available data and scaling data collection further. Furthermore, despite growing advantages in technology, many aren't applying their infinite applications beyond how it improves human lives or space exploration. Technology such as this has near endless potential in many different fields, enough that it is only our creativity that imposes limitations. As our world continues to advance, man-made issues become ever more prevalent. I long ago decided—if our societal leaders would not interfere--I would create change myself and turn the world for the better. This fall, I will be attending Eckerd College as a double major in marine science and exploration is foremost key to increasing our understanding of the ocean, so we're better able to environmental studies, focusing on ocean conservation and expanding ocean exploration. Ocean manage, conserve, regulate, and use ocean resources, which allows us to combat modern environmental issues. While the advancements in technology have made this more possible than ever before as mentioned above, improvements are still glaringly obvious, such as requiring less invasive options than autonomous machines yet more detailed observations than current sonar devices. Yet, while exploration is important, it ultimately accomplishes nothing if more sustainable alternatives are not created, especially regarding plastic pollution and current fishing practices. So serious is this problem becoming that I plan—and have even begun, as part of a school STEM project—to create a sustainable, biodegradable fishing net in order to negate or decrease the impact of ghost fishing. Technology has demonstrated on many occasions to be the future, therefore I plan on merging the world of environmental conservation and technology in ways that have not been thought of before. For example, scientists recently extended our solar system's timeline by approximately eight million years after using a drillship and deep-sea sediment cores to acquire the necessary calculations. But let's go further and take autonomous machines and specifically creating them to traverse the twilight zone, a zone we know next to nothing about; the possibilities are endless. STEM is the future, and with it I can change our world for the better.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had this dream of changing the world, but growing up, I had no idea how. So, I tried different things: I became part of an international high school travel group, I volunteered at the local library, I backpacked for lengths at a time, I turned my hobbies into serious passions. I kept on looking outward, never truly feeling any sense of contentment or peace and felt disappointed in myself, wondering “What was I doing wrong?” Then I arrived at these words by 13th century poet Rumi: “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” And just after I first read this quote, I was told during a school lecture “Don’t follow your dreams. Do what you’re good at, not what you have a passion for.” I remember thinking, “What?” and felt little else but disbelief. I couldn’t understand why people would subject themselves to a life of no passion, no contentment, simply because they might not be the best at their craft. Because the truth is, whether others want to admit it or not, we are all capable of creating whatever we please and being good at it; we stand in our way. Not time, not money, not circumstances—ourselves. Because, ultimately, we are our greatest obstacles. And this is when I began to fundamentally understand Rumi’s quote. If I ever wanted to accomplish amazing things, I had to get out of my own way. Here I sat, wanting to leave my mark upon this earth, but how many times had I contributed to my own failure by doubting myself? True, I've certainly pushed myself in academics and my personal life, I couldn’t and wouldn’t deny that, but I can also think of too many missed opportunities—too many regrets. Most of these regrets stemmed from believing myself “lesser” --less intelligent, less humorous, less ambitious. Often, I’m ashamed to admit I made excuses for myself. “Perhaps if my family was more finically secure, I could have participated in that program,” or, “My school didn’t offer those clubs. I’ll be so behind.” The list continued, and perhaps there was some kernel of truth in every statement, but I’m still the one who backed out. I’m still the one who didn’t even try to push by my limitations. As I’ve grown, all I can think about is “What if?” and I finally come closer to understanding the deep feelings so often lamented by my grandmother or even my mother. What if I asked out that girl I’ve had a crush on since freshman year? What if I went to that festival last June? What if I had realized life experience was more important than grades just a bit sooner? But most importantly, what if I stopped creating situations for me to have regrets? So senior year, I decided to take every leap. I took online courses for the first time (COVID does not count), I went to my first football game, I finally participated in STEAM and won awards as far as regionals. Even though I can’t say with 100% honesty I’m perfectly happy with the choices I made and how everything turned out, I can say I tried. I tried, and now I know what I can do better. I know where I want to go from here. My goals and ambitions in life are clearer than they have ever been without doubts and regrets clouding my view. I'm just a bit closer to changing the world than before.

I have had a vision of what my life would entail since the age of five when I first watched a National Geographic documentary, quickly developing an interest and awareness of the complexities in nature and threats to the biosphere. I became fascinated by community dynamics and utterly befuddled that over 80% of our oceans weren't even remotely explored when our moon's surface was so detailed despite the critical roles the ocean provides, from the weather and atmosphere to where we live, what we eat, and other fundamental processes that govern life as we know it. So immense and mysterious are these bodies of water that even today scientists discover dozens of new species and many other unknown information every year. For example, European glass eels can use their magnetic sense to “imprint” a memory of water currents in the estuary where they become juveniles and if the mantis shrimp was the size of a human, it could hit a baseball from New York to the moon. It might not sound important at first glance, yet with each new piece of information, we come just a bit closer to mapping the mysteries of our world and understanding them. Unfortunately, many remain ignorant to the harmful impacts they have upon the world, and the environment has suffered for it. Today’s generation faces many never before seen problems that have only grown in severity, such as ghost fishing, ocean acidification, and the all-too-real possibility of depleting the world’s resources before we can replace them. And, as more and more people are experiencing first-hand everyday, these issues impact humans just as much as the environment. From desolate fishing communities being outcompeted by the growing scarcity of certain species in a global market to the presence of microplastics in seafood that can be transferred to the fetuses of pregnant women, the world is irrevocably changing. Science is constantly expanding and has proven on numerous occasions to be the future, arguably contributing the most to the world out of numerous fields. With such seemingly insurmountable problems lining our future, I realized the world could not continue as it is, and—if the current leaders of society would not step in—I’d make the change myself. So, while my passion in STEM may have originated from an interest in nature, it continues and expands out of necessity. My focus continues to be on ocean conservation, as I believe our oceans to be earth’s most vital feature with its many irreplaceable processes, and as such plan to major in marine science and environmental studies. Ocean exploration is foremost key to increasing our understanding of the ocean, so we're better able to manage, conserve, regulate, and use ocean resources, which allows us to combat modern environmental issues. Advancements in technology have made this more possible than ever before, yet improvements are still glaringly obvious, such as requiring less invasive options than robots yet more detailed observations than current sonar devices. Yet, while exploration is important, it ultimately accomplishes nothing is more sustainable alternatives are not created, especially regarding plastic pollution and current fishing practices. As one school project demonstrated all too well, pollution is much more abundant in our oceans than once thought. One such pollutant not afforded the attention it deserves is ghost fishing, a problem with a surprising amount of consequences, which ultimately inspired me to create a sustainable, biodegradable fishing net in order to conserve fish species and decrease the harmful impacts on not only the environment but on humans, as well. STEM is the future, and with it I can change our world for the better.

As I'm sure many others can attest too, passions often come and go like seeds carried on the wind, yet, when they are planted and allowed to grow, can become something truly wonderous. I was once asked, “What would you be doing for the rest of your life, even if you didn’t get paid for it?” Answers would change with every sleepover, but I believe it wasn’t because I didn't find any enjoyable, but because I recognized my passion was no use if my subconscious mind did not possess the necessary patience to make myself believe following my passion would be more fulfilling in a world that stressed financial security at the cost of happiness. Even mere months ago, I couldn't narrow down such a list to one simple answer because the truth is I had a hard time figuring out what I wanted—well, perhaps that is an untrue statement. Rather, the passions I had above all else seemed so unattainable, so impossible to reach, that it seemed much easier to follow society’s standards—that is, get a conventional 9 to 5 job and work for the benefit of society as a whole instead of following my individual dreams and passions. With the realization of such a monumental task, my determination once slipped like water through a crack in the floor, and it took many years to accept my dreams and goals as something I genuinely wanted. However, with COVID-19 came another realization summed perfectly in the quote “The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.” As demonstrated quite well the past two years, life is going to be difficult, and I was going to struggle no matter the path I took, so I decided to attain the impossible. With my new outlook emerged my passion once more: Creating a world where my children’s children would not suffer for the mistakes of their predecessors. My entire life—though the past three years specifically--I've been affected by other’s actions. Because my parents were not serious about their education, I'm forced to seek outside help and still feel blind when navigating college...everything. Because my elementary and high school's standards were low and opportunities were scarce, I was disadvantaged in rigorous and competitive academic programs, forced to play catch up. Because I am female, my academic successes are seen as “lucky” and my male peers are seen as better by virtue of being the opposite gender. Because the world believes their opinions are more important than a person’s rights and safety, if I did not hide my sexual orientation I would be ridiculed, threatened, or fetishized. Because the few wanted a rich lifestyle, the many suffer and face a desolate world. With each challenge outside my control, I lost hope and faith in both myself and the world, and I want no generation after me to feel such emotions. It is these insurmountable odds that drive my passion, and now my life. I originally became interested in the marine world because sharks and whales were “cool,” yet the growing ecological concerns have opened my eyes to a future where there is very little to live for. If such issues do not end with my generation, it will only grow worse from here, and no child should live in a world without hope. As a result, I plan to major in marine science and environmental concerns, focusing on ocean conservation to protect the diverse wildlife and facilities that regulate much of life on earth. My passion drives me forward in such uncertain times and paves the path of my future.

Until my fourth birthday, I didn't know it was not normal to live in a one-parent household. Until my fifth birthday, I didn't know it was not normal for a daughter to spend more time with a stepmother than her own father. Until my ninth birthday, I didn't know it was not normal for a child to rely on one person for all their needs and wants. My parents divorced in the winter following my third birthday, and I didn't comprehend the monumental change my life had suddenly underwent for many, many years. Yet, when I look back upon that time, years later, I understand why I was so oblivious to the conflict: as far as my three-year-old brain was concerned, nothing was different because nothing had changed. So my father’s things were moved to a different house? Why did it matter, I rationalized, he was never home. So he suddenly lived half-way across town, now twenty minutes away? We never spent time together beforehand anyway. So I never saw him at my awards or dance recitals? Nothing new because he never bothered to come even before the divorce. While my blasé attitude and cold rationalization may have seemed off-putting or deserving of pity, I was genuinely unaware of his presence or influence because of the impact of one person on my life: my mother. As a daughter who had grown up without a father, she was determined to give me the best life a child could ask for, even giving up on her ambitions and pursuit of a higher college degree to place me first. With little help from family or friends, she worked a demanding job and was forced to adapt to the schedules of my father and her family. Many times, I remember doing homework or even sleeping in her office on school nights because my father was working—or "had better things to do”—, others were “too busy,” and babysitting services would be too expensive for the amount of time I would need to be kept. Despite this, I never missed school or a doctor’s appointment or a birthday party with friends. She found ways to let me attend dance lessons when I become interested and later on cheer and basketball practices. She never missed an awards ceremony or a school competition, even when it required me to travel across Tennessee or even to different states. When I became interested in marine biology, she enrolled me in a Sea Camp that was geared towards building interest in the marine world in children and teens. Even now, as an adult, she finds ways to help me further my passions and strengthen my wellbeing, wether that be by commissioning an artwork because I loved painting but was too shy to actually start a small business or slipping me candy when I was upset and didn't want to talk. I freely attribute my work ethic and lofty goals—both personal and educational—to my mother and her unrelenting determination. She has supported me through thick and thin, never allowing me to give up on myself or my goals. It's largely because of this that I walked across the graduation stage at my high school as a valedictorian graduating with both honors and distinction and am prepared to attend my dream college with majors I decided when I was eight. She has faced near insurmountable challenges so I could build a vision of a better world and take steps towards making this vision a reality. I genuinely do not think I would be where I am today without her guidance and love.

At the end of my freshmen year, I was a member of McMinn Goes International, an educational traveling program for “above and beyond students” where each year our director chooses a country to travel to; that year, it was Iceland. From the moment we arrived off the 12-hour plane ride, I fell in love. We visited many different locations while there, included but not limited to: Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon, Reynisfjara, Gullfoss Falls, Geysir, Myvatn, and the Solheimajokull glacier. Perhaps the location which made the largest impact on me, however, was not the nature, but Hellisheioi, a geothermal power plant. What is so interesting about a power plant? They have those everywhere. And this would be correct to an extent. Power plants can be found in nearly every developed county, but geothermal power plants are a different story. Iceland is one of the leading pioneers in clean energy. For example, Iceland generates 99.6% of their electricity from geothermal power plants, which have a near negligible carbon footprint. In contrast, 63% of American electricity is generated using fossil fuels in various power plants. Fossil fuels are largely responsible for our carbon footprint. Yet what really influenced me was something the tour guide said during our tour of the geothermal plant. It was explained in a very long-winded speech which I honestly don’t remember very well, and I can’t find much on, but I understood enough to be amazed. They were still trying to reduce their carbon emissions even though they were the lowest in the world (not counting either of the poles). Since I arrived in Iceland, I have been reevaluating everything I knew about environmental issues. Iceland made me realize how much the world still has to protect nature and solve environmental problems.

From the moment my mother tired of watching Finding Nemo and decided nature documentaries were at least more educational, I've been fascinated with the environment. Since the age of six, I've been determined to work with animals, though since I've realized my interests include environmental advocacy for the role habitats play in the balance of nature. Not only does nature literally keep us alive—from the oxygen in the atmosphere to the fruits and animals we eat—it is a balm to the soul. From breathtaking views to colorful flowers in the fields, it never fails to calm me. Nature gives me an experience to know more about myself and has a way of putting everything into perspective. The fresh air can clear the mind—and the body—while teaching us the values of harmony and balance, showing us how to appreciate the smaller things in life. It brings forth inspiration (which I can attest to as an artist) and gives you a peace of mind so hard to find in the modern climate. My personal ways of enjoying nature are ultimately simple in day-to-day life: taking a small walk through the woods or hiking up to the ridge to watch the sunrise or sunset, and along the way maybe I’ll find a covering of soft moss to sit on or a bright flower blooming through the leaves of the floor. The best ways to admire nature, however, is to keep it healthy. Therefore, I recycle often (plastic and CDs I commonly make into jewelry), reduce my use of water as much as possible, and pick up litter when I can. Currently, I’m working on finding a sustainable and biodegradable material to replace plastic/nylon fishing nets to reduce ghost fishing. Nature does so much for us and it’s only right we keep her healthy.

Everyone wants to be remembered for something, to be known as more than merely ordinary, to be seen as someone who truly made a difference. We all want to leave an imprint on this world, something that can make the world a little brighter. Being an only child and a girl, I was always told that I could do whatever I chose as long as I was successful and as long as I made the world better in some way—big or small. From the very moment I was introduced to the environment—properly in school, at least—I have been utterly fascinated with marine community dynamics, the origins of the very rock we stand on, etc. I found my calling in marine science and environmental advocacy. Here were people who combined my fascinations with creating true change in the world. Their research, their passion, their effort in sharing their knowledge could truly inspire change, and I'm determined to be a part of this growing revolution and save the planet along the way. I look at the various figures who have inspired me: Malala, with her unending determination and desire for education, Greta Thunberg, who's so young but already causing change, even Dr. Richard Smith, a man who focused on the deemed ‘insignificant’ parts of the marine world grew the field of marine science and biology greater than many could imagine. I want my legacy to inspire geeky girls in high school and young boys that find happiness in drawing and kids who feel there is nothing they can contribute. To inspire others to continuously bounce back and fight because giving up isn’t an option. Someday, I want people to say mu efforts proved crucial in protection the environment and ocean conservation. Someday, I want people to say my impact on society mattered.

Joy is a feeling we all seek in life, easy to sense but hard to describe and even harder to find. Ultimately, I would have to say joy is a sense of happiness, of contentment. It is a love of life in its purest form without sorrow or regret clouding the way. For many, joy is elusive, perhaps because they spend so much time and effort in planning and working towards goals they believe will make them happy, a mistake I often made earlier in life. However, discovering true joy is dismantling these beliefs and realizing happiness does not come in the form of a destination, but rather in the little things throughout the journey. Instead of chasing the large aspirations, I focus on the small details of my life, asking what hobbies or what sights gave me the most joy. Often, when my mind blanks, I think about what I enjoyed as a child, from getting excited to bubbles in my bath to laughing as I jumped in puddles. When I can literal stop and smell the roses, I am giving myself the opportunity to remind myself of the little things that once brought me joy. I take small risks, such as sitting down to finish that one book even if I have laundry or listening to a podcast that I normally wouldn’t glance at. Sometimes I play my favorite song or wake up a little earlier to watch the sunrise from my ridge. I have a favorite mug I drink tea or coffee from every morning and buy a new plant to celebrate. Other times, I just lie on my bed and cuddle with stuffed animals, maybe indulging myself with a special treat. All I have to do to find my joy is look to the little things.

The world’s first known author is widely considered to be Enheduanna, an ancient Mesopotamian woman largely unknown to modern history. A remarkable woman, she was a princess, a priestess of the moon deity Nanna-Suen, as well as a writer and poet. Enheduanna composed several works of literature, including two hymns to the goddess of love Inanna and wrote the myth of Inanna and Ebih (which was a collection of 42 hymns!). Even more impressive, scribal traditions were considered an area of male authority, yet Enheduanna’s works were considered an important part of Mesopotamia’s illustrious literary history. Furthermore, despite the anonymity surrounding works of earlier authors, she was known in her time and by modern historians, yet she is almost entirely unknown in the modern day and her achievements largely overlooked. This includes the importance of her praise of celestial deities in the field of modern astronomy (her descriptions of stellar measurements and movements have been noted as possible early scientific observations; a crater on the planet Mercury even bears her name in recognition of this). In spite of this, however, the most relatable characteristic of Enheduanna that originally drew me towards her was her comments on the difficulties of the creative process—apparently, writer’s clock was a common problem even in ancient Mesopotamia. Even more alluring was the skill and elegance of her poetry, which possessed a reflective quality that emphasized the superlative qualities of its divine muse, highlighting the artistic skill required for such a compostion. Ultimately, in the figure of Enheduanna, we see a powerful figure of great creativity, whose passionate praise of the goddess of love continues to be known even now, over 4,000 years after being carved into a clay tablet.

As a student involved in multiple higher-level courses—some of which are online—effective studying strategies are a must. Many of my favorite study tactics involve several of my friends in an almost game format. For example, when we’re truly stuck on a topic, we play “assumption busting,” but make it follow a similar structure to Cards Against Humanity, where each card must logically connect to the line/question, and points are given for the more creative answers—this was an incredible help in AP Human Geography. When reviewing many terms/theories/etc., we’ll sometimes print out each term and try to arrange them into a quilt where each term must logically ‘link’ to another in a version of “concept mapping.” I’m also rather fond of “brain-sketching,” where the group will be given a term/theory/question and make a sketch within the allotted timeframe before passing it to the next person once time is up. It really makes sure we know the topic (and it’s also funny to see who the artists of the group are). Perhaps my favorite activity, however, is “exaggeration,” which is very helpful when it comes to creating and applying solutions to real world problems. In this strategy, you can ‘magnify’ or ‘minimize’ the problem or characteristics of the problem, testing unspoken assumptions about its scale. Not only is it funny, but it helps you think about if the solution would be appropriate if the problem was operating on a different scale. Also, in relation to problem-solution topics, “fishbone” is extremely beneficial. You simply start by drawing one horizontal line—this is the backbone of the fish—and spurs from the backbone, representing each problem in your topic. This technique discourages partial or inadequate solutions while demonstrating the relative importance and interactions of a problem. These effective methods prove learning can be fun, too.

Ghost fishing has become a danger to the world’s ecosystems and a focus of concern for environmental conservation experts. Like all threats to our oceans, ghost fishing has myriad impacts on the environment, conservation efforts of both habitats and species, and local economies, especially those that rely on marine supplies and trade. Ghost fishing refers to any lost or abandoned fishing gear, also known as derelict fishing gear or DFG, that continues to entangle or kill marine organisms after a fisherman no longer has control of it. The amount and type of gear vary geographically. While the most common types of DFG are crab pots/traps and gillnets, other fishing gear such as longlines and trawls can also ghost fish if they become DFG. Fishing gear usually is “targeted” towards a specific species called target species; however, when gear becomes derelict—or even when it is still in control of fishermen—it often captures non-target species, or ghost catch. With ghost fishing, an organism is implied to have specifically died from starvation, predation, or cannibalism; ghost fishing cannot technically occur unless an organism, or multiple organisms, die. DFG can remain active for months or even years, and large nets can take over 600 years to fully decompose, polluting the water with microplastics and responsible for killing over an estimated 100,000 whales, dolphins, seals, and turtles every year. I have loved nature my entire life and have known I wanted to work in a field related to the environment since I was eight. I have only recently discovered the issue of ghost fishing when I began research in order to find a STEAM project for this school year. I stumbled across an NOAA report detailing the causes and effects of ghost fishing, a term I had never heard before. Further research determined this would—somehow—be my project, and I set out to answer the question: How can you stop ghost fishing? The answer, it seems, is not easily. I conducted a two-fold experiment: the experiment itself was to determine the best biodegradable option, while literary research was to answer which material(s) would be the most realistic and sustainable options. This experiment was performed over an approximately one-month period—November—during 2021. Four natural materials—hemp, jute, linen, and nettle—were tested over this period in separate containers of seawater to measure the biodegradability and durability of each. Due to a lack of saltwater fishing opportunities (I live in a landlocked state), I was unable to measure all aspects of the experiment; further, in-depth studying is required before synthetic nets can be replaced. While I could only officially conduct the experiment for a short amount of time due to my school’s deadline for STEAM, I have decided to continue the experiment afterward, as well. Moving forward, I have decided to reach out to researchers conducting similar experiments to ask if anyone has thought of using natural materials instead of creating biodegradable material; interestingly, most experiments I found attempting to create biodegradable fishing nets made biodegradable, bio-based polymers instead of trying to use natural materials. It is my hope, when I go to college, I will be able to set a proper, official experiment to test all aspects I have as of yet been unable to, and raise awareness of this largely ignored global issue.

Motivation is defined as the driving force behind a person’s actions. Everyone is motivated by at least one thing, one passion. In this, I am no different. I have been captivated by nature’s wonders for as long as I can remember. Initially, it was the animals themselves, who had their own dynamics and chaotic balance with one another unlike anything that could be observed in humans. From the age of eight, I have been determined to work with animals like Jane Goodall is famous for, and I believed working for National Geographic would be the best path to my dream. I devoured articles on animal behaviors and loved watching documentaries of them in their natural habitats. I’ve pushed myself to excel in school and have taken as many science classes as possible, all on the off chance that it may one day help me achieve this goal. Lately, however, I have found my motivations shifting. Freshman year, I was given the amazing opportunity to travel to Iceland. There, I began to realize how badly humans hurt the environment. I was able to see first-hand how determined others were to change this, and I was able to see how they were actually succeeding. From then on, I didn’t just want to study animals; I wanted to help them face challenges such as climate change, pollution, and many more as well. Now, I’m determined to inspire others for this cause and discover solutions to these problems in order to keep our world as beautiful as it is.