I like to think of my relationship with the environment, or natural world, like the nature around us. From the moment I first entered this world, someone or something planted a passion for the environment within me. From that moment forward, I have tended to and cared for that passion, providing it with what it needs to not only survive, but thrive. Today, I like to think of that passion as having grown into a small tree. It can only grow higher from this point forward.

As the prior paragraph suggests, my adoration for the natural world has lived within me for as long as I can remember. Preserving the natural world, making cities more sustainable for both nature and humans — these are not only professional aspirations, but also personal ones that are the very reason I chose to pursue a career in environmental science. So, I will identify a few of the most memorable and impactful moments in my life that I believe have helped prepare for a career in which I preserve the ecological services and biodiversity of nature; including its relationship with humanity.

Prior to my collegiate career, I spent countless hours with my family exploring National Parks, nature centers, forest preserves, zoos, and aquariums. From cross-country family vacations to local destinations, I always made it my goal to immerse myself within the natural environment around me. This initial passion ultimately led to a volunteer opportunity at the Brookfield Zoo (Chicago Zoological Society). Throughout high school, I volunteered over 360 hours as a King Conservation and Science Scholar at this local zoo. As a Scholar, I spent much of my time interpreting exhibits of endangered species and informing visitors of climate change and conservation practices. For the past 6 years I have taken summer trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) wilderness. My admiration for these pristine lakes and serene landscape continues to grow. Trips to this wilderness have truly played an integral role in my passion and motivation towards preserving large nature areas. I find that the simplest things in life, I appreciate the most. Nature is simple, yet also complex. It’s provides me with a sense of calmness and collectiveness. Knowing that humanity has put tremendous pressure on the natural world, it is hard for me not to feel responsible.

I aspire towards enhancing the quality of life and resilience of communities burdened by climate change. With so many communities facing increasing environmental injustices and climate- related hazards, there will be many opportunities for improvement in these regions. I hope to lead these communities and regions down a more sustainable path where both the environment and society are harmonious. As an urban planner or landscape consultant, I can support the

creation of sustainable infrastructure projects that benefit both the environment and society. Through understanding and applying the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, cities around the world can address an array of issues and holistically upgrade the quality of life.

In my fall semester of 2020, I served as the leader for my capstone course project team. We spent months researching, conducting interviews, presenting, and formulating our report. Our final product was a 39-page report titled, “Zoning for Sustainable Buildings” which was tailored toward and presented to a municipal city council. In my environmental policy analysis course this spring, my project groupmates and I are were tasked with creating a policy for enhancing pollinator habitats in a lower-income community in Minneapolis – facing many environmental injustices. Our policy would establish a payment for ecological service system in an effort to incentivize the construction and maintenance of pollinator habitat. Another goal of ours is to create an advocacy coalition including community participants, city council members, and pollinator advocacy organizations. We have been conducting research daily, meeting with key informants/political actors, and developing presentations. From October 2020 to present, I have served as an Impact Consultant through Net Impact at the University of Minnesota. My team and I continue conducting research, interviewing partners, and creating recommendations for a sustainable social benefit corporation - NETZRO. Our project’s focused on conveying the significance of upcycling spent grain and developing marketing strategies (social crowdfunding campaigns) for attracting investors.

Since returning from my study abroad in Denmark (spring 2020) and after growing ever closer to completing my undergraduate degree (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management), I have found myself eager to address climate change and support the creation of sustainable cities. Visiting some of the most sustainable cities in the world opened my eyes to the profound opportunities for solving economic, social, and environmental issues. When in Copenhagen, I truly felt as if I was living in a Utopian society where there is little waste, circular economies, renewable energy, green roofs on city buildings, sustainable policies, pedestrian-oriented infrastructure, and so more much more. While I found it difficult coming back to the US, I saw so much potential for change.

My aspiration to work in the sustainable development field as a sustainable urban planner, ecological restorationist, natural resource manager, or environmental consultant — like the nature around us – has only evolved because of all of these experiences and educational opportunities, and I would like nothing more than to begin my professional career in this field.

Both storytelling and creativity have shared a profound impact on the evolution of humanity. They both provide an outlet for sharing diverse perspectives, creating cultures, and understanding history. As humans, we share enjoyment through art; it creates richness within cultures and allows humans to explore reality. Creativity allows us to express ourselves in unique fashions, thus adding a richness to our lives. Without creativity, life would simply be dull. Innovative technologies that led to multimedia platforms, such as social media, have paved new paths in demonstrating creativity. Throughout our lives, including my own, creating stories has played an integral role in personal development.

Fortunately, throughout my life I have accumulated tremendous experiences that have shaped both my personal and professional development. These experiences not only allow for great storytelling but also present opportunities for sharing knowledge and perspectives. My friendships and family have shaped many of these experiences. My passion for preserving the natural world grew from my childhood memories exploring nature. Studying sustainable development abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark really opened my eyes to the potential future of the United States. I also would love to connect others with nature, whether in urban or rural settings, by sharing my environmental awareness, passion, travel experience, and stewardship experience. Collaborating with The Creative Process allows me to facilitate important and relevant environmental discussions with diverse professionals. I hope to partake in these unique interviewing opportunities not just in the United States, but around the globe. I am eager to gain new cross-cultural perspectives on environmental issues and movements. Through this position I will gain valuable project management experience. Acquiring a project management certificate is a goal of mine this summer. While the pandemic has restricted social interactions for quite some time, I am excited to collaborate with my project team virtually and in-person. There are many opportunities to share my passion for the environment, build new skills, expand my network, and produce a high-quality creative product that can be shared with others.

Capstone course project “Zoning for Sustainable Buildings”.

“Zoning for Sustainable Buildings” report.

Best-of-SNO award-winning HS newspaper article “Contaminating the ECOnomics”.