Hello! My name is Kerri and I am a 3rd year Education major with a minor in Psychology and Social Behavior. I spent most of my adolescence in western Washington where the green went as far as the eye can see and the trees tower high above. Being outside in nature is a passion of mine and something I love to share with others. I even joke to people that I am solar powered because of the love and energy I feel when being outside! Throughout my life, as a kid growing up in a military family, I have lived and traveled around quite a bit before I finally settled into sunny southern California to go to UCI. But my need for travel and discovery is a thirst I cannot quench. When I learned about the opportunity to participate in the Costa Rica Program through my old roommate and my current job as a Resident Advisor in Mesa Court, I knew that I couldn’t pass it up. Being able to do research and learn more about sustainability is really what drew me to the program. In today’s social and political climate it can be difficult for people to recognize the importance of sustainable practices and the impact humans have on the environment.
My passion for the environment stems from a love for the outdoors and a belief that humans have the capability to shift the way we treat the land we live on. Personally I’m looking forward to learning about the ways I can make an impact on my local community because I really believe change starts at home. I have seen first-hand the effects of global climate change from the dying corals at the Great Barrier Reef to the scorched trunks of trees in California and I want change.
While in Costa Rica I want to learn more about what I can do to create that change and motivate others to follow suit.
In the future I plan to be an elementary school teacher and want to share my passion for travel and the environment with the next generation so they can see sustainability as the valuable asset it is. Education is at the core of understanding the issues we face as a society and helps facilitate creative thinking and problem solving to fix them. I’m so excited to go to Costa Rica with my team and share the things I learn about sustainability with everyone I know!