REFLECTION

Before entering Florida International University (FIU), I had a passion for protecting the environment, but it was under a narrow lens. I wanted to learn biology, ecology, and chemistry, to better understand how the environment works and why it is so necessary for our survival. But, I did not know exactly what I wanted to do with this knowledge in science. Education? Law? Scientific Research? Policy? Communications? I also did not understand the connection between the environment and people as I do now. I came into FIU with the notion that the environment was a separate reserve for us. I now understand that we are a part of the environment, and that we are deeply interconnected to planetary processes. In addition, I have learned how social justice is inextricably linked to environmental threats and the climate crisis, and that the solutions to these problems must not only protect our resources, but also our communities. These realizations extended my passion for environmental protection to a passion for environmental justice. While studying environmental science and sustainability at FIU, the courses I’ve taken, programs I’ve participated in, and the experiences I’ve had have widened that narrow lens. They have granted me an undergraduate education built on a global lens. My learning, inside and outside of the classroom, improved my global awareness, perspective, and engagement, with particular classes and programs that influenced me. Because of this, I have found what I want to do with my passion for the environment.

Because of my Global Learning classes, I learned about the relationship that humans have with the environment from the earliest civilizations to what we know today as modern society. Because of my experience studying abroad in Costa Rica, I was able to see real environmental and climate solutions in action, through sustainable agriculture, community-led eco-tourism, and the preservation of land. Because of my internship with FIU’s Office of University Sustainability, I gained my first taste of professional work in the environmental field, by helping to increase environmental awareness of FIU’s student body and staff. Because of my experience in FIU’s fly-in program in Washington, D.C., I exposed myself to the world of government and advocacy, and left with a desire to learn more about my possible role in bridging science and policy to protect our air and water. Because of my internship and position with The CLEO Institute, I became an expert communicator of the climate crisis, have been helping to increase the climate literacy of students in Miami-Dade County, and found the niche topic that I want to tackle in my graduate and professional careers. Because of my climate activism, I found that using my voice works, and I connected with some of the most incredible people I know, all of us sharing the same common ground of wanting to protect our city from climate catastrophe.

Post-graduation, I will be integrating what I have absorbed over the past four years into my academic, professional, and personal goals. Academically, I will pursue graduate school in the Fall of 2021 to study climate science, its societal impacts, and solutions that protect people and the planet. I am particularly interested in how we protect, uplift, and give leadership to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, as we transition into a green energy economy, through education and policy efforts. We have many solutions to the climate crisis, but social justice must be weaved throughout them all to avoid further environmental injustice. Professionally, I would like to work with agencies, institutions, or organizations that are advancing climate action and social justice hand-in-hand, such as the United Nations. As I learn more about policymaking and civic engagement, I am also considering the idea of running for office. Personally, one thing has stayed the same throughout my years at FIU: I want to help people and the planet thrive, not just survive. In the last four years, I’ve learned that my calling is to help protect the people and places we love.

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My last four years at FIU turned me into a global citizen. In the past four years, I have gained knowledge in environmental sciences and sustainability and skills in community-based education and outreach. Because of this, I feel that I have high competency in civic responsibility, communication, and group dynamics. From speaking at government meetings for climate action, to collaborating with students on environmental initiatives at FIU, I have been able to greatly grow in these areas. But, I know there is still so much for me to learn. I want to grow my skills in advancing grassroots advocacy and policy making, and in weaving intersectionality throughout the environmental and climate movement. Because of this, I see myself growing in the areas of strategic planning and interpersonal interaction. I imagine myself improving in these areas as I further explore the role of policymaking in the climate crisis and working with BIPOC communities to ensure their protection and leadership.