Environmental Knowledge for the Human Soul by Angela

Environmental Knowledge for the Human Soul by Angela - June 2018 Scholarship Essay

I took Environmental Science and Environmental Ethics as a seminar class. I believe these should be a joint requirement because the Earth is our home, and it is just as important to know how to take care of it as it is our own bodies. When I took these classes, I had no clue how my life would change for the better. I learned how to care not only about the world more, but other humans and other species. The importance of this class, besides the knowledge it gives you, is the insight you leave with. You are left with a connection to the world and the things living in it. You leave caring about things you never even thought about before. After taking these classes, living sustainably became a large part of my life. I started to watch how much energy I consumed and tried to cut back on things that emit and contribute to the release of green house gases. I started to watch what I eat, as eating certain foods like meat are not only cruel but contribute to the release of green house gases such as methane release from cows, water consumption in each hamburger, and depletion of natural resources. Many humans, myself included, don't see the meaning behind things. We see something how it is, and absorb it that way. We don't see a hamburger and think of how much water was used in the making of it and why it's an issue to use that much water, or how unsustainable and anti-environmentally friendly factory farms are, or how much energy is being used in the process. We don't see leather and think of the animals that were sacrificed for it. These classes teaches you how to value things, how to label and perceive things, and how to make decisions on how you want to live your life. I am not vegan, I still use energy, and I still buy from companies that aren't environmentally friendly. I am not arguing that we need to become extremists, but I am arguing that we need the knowledge on how our actions everyday affect the entire world. With this knowledge I hope that others, like me, decide to cut back on supporting companies that aren't environmentally friendly, promote those that are and help those that aren't, and do little things each day that can reduce our human footprint. Most importantly, I saw myself as part of the world for the first time. I saw myself as an equal individual that mattered to a society and belonged to the world. I think that is a very important thing in life to feel and to have. It makes you care in ways you haven't about yourself, about others, and makes you more empathetic. I am going to school for a business technology degree and would like to get a minor/certificate in sustainable business practices. The world is leading towards sustainable innovation, and I plan to be a part of that.