Environmental Science Major/
Global Sustainability Minor
From Riverside, CA
Throughout my last two years of high school, a wonderful teacher presented me with many opportunities to become involved in the study of Environmental Science, not just through a class, but through an international competition known as Envirothon. Thanks to her, and many other coaches, I discovered that I was most passionate about learning about the environment, the effect we have on our planet, and the different ways in which we can minimize our impact.
When I was informed about the UCI Costa Rica Program I thought it would be a great way to learn more about the strategies a different country is implementing in leading the way towards a more sustainable world. I am excited to be travelling to a country I would have otherwise never had the opportunity to visit, to see an ecosystem unlike any we have in California, and to further my desire to become an environmental lawyer. I am also eager to be surrounded by Costa Ricans who are accustomed to living a sustainable life, unlike the lifestyle many of us here in the states lead.
In the past I’ve gone without using a cell phone or a computer for weeks while camping in Yosemite and throughout Southern California. It feels good to be disconnected from a world that thrives on an instant need for communication, so I am even more excited to not only be disconnected from people back home but to be connected to nature and the individuals that I get to share this experience with.