My Journey to Become a Biological Engineer by Brionna

My Journey to Become a Biological Engineer by Brionna - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

My passion for the environment began when I was in middle school. Ignorant of the beauty of the natural world, I became passionate about the environment after a camping trip with the science club.
On the bus ride to the camping site, I remember being nervous about camping outside in the forest. I was scared of the thought of animals, insects, and poisonous plants, as that is the relationship my family influenced with nature. After pitching a tent with my teachers and friends, cooking on a campfire, and using a porta-potty a distance from camp, I felt overwhelmed by this new experience, but I was having fun at the same time. During the trip, I hiked a trail, observed different plant and animal life, saw a waterfall, and even filtered my water using sand and rocks.
I became fascinated by these new experiences, and I remember not wanting it to end. I loved the smell, touch, and the feeling of being surrounded by nature, especially with friends. I was also enthralled by how much my teachers knew about nature and the environment. They were very knowledgeable, and it felt like they knew all the answers to life. Their expertise and guidance throughout the camping trip molded my passion for the environment. And I remember the feeling of yearning to include my family in camping, to let them know that they didn't have to be scared of nature anymore. Since then, my interest in water, conservation, and sustainability began.
My excitement for the environment continued in high school. I took Intro to Environmental Science, and as a class, we would go outside and walk around the trail behind the high school to pick up trash, occasionally plant trees and flowers, and discuss why the environment is vital to our daily lives. I was surprised to know the dynamic between the environment and our everyday lives is interconnected. The earth provides oxygen, food, water, and shelter and supplies the economy.
I learned to contribute to my environment by reducing my carbon footprint and encouraging others to do the same, picking up litter, recycling, and maintaining the garden on school grounds. I wanted to do more on campus, so I helped my school harvest rainwater for the garden and started a composting station to reduce waste. With the skills and interests I acquired, one of my high school teachers recognized how closely they interconnected with sustainability and referred me to look into becoming an environmental scientist.
When researching what sustainability was, my mind began to wonder about the future possibilities climate change may have on the world and humans, leaving me to ask myself how I can contribute.
I am majoring in biological engineering, as atmospheric and oceanic science has captured my attention, and the dynamic between the two needs further development. My contribution to STEM is rooted in research on climate change and the link between aerosols and the ocean. Becoming a biological engineer is the perfect career for me because I want to protect people from the effects of an unpredictable future environment. Our environment is in need of scientists and engineers passionate about providing innovative and sustainable solutions to grant a stable future for generations to come. I am still in love with the feeling the natural world brings me, and I hope I can create that for others.