Viviana

Viviana

Civil Engineering Major,
From Moreno Valley, CA

In relation to sustainability, my family did not instill a ‘go green’ foundation in me; however, I was introduced to and began to practice more Earth-friendly habits at UCI through my interaction with classes and people who radiated them. With this trip, I’d like to learn more techniques that will go beyond recycling plastic bottles, with a hands-on perspective. As a Civil Engineering major, I can bring back to my soon-to-be workforce and community a more sustainable insight when it comes to infrastructure and societal habits.

What excites me most about this trip is the opportunity to share my passions of wildlife and hiking, as well as my compassion for the Costa Rican culture, with my peers and Costa Rican locals. Not only that, but I am looking forward to finding the connections between STEM related teaching and the learning process for primary school students so that when I participate in outreach programs in Irvine, I can take what I learned and raise awareness with students in the U.S.