What Made Me Do What I Want To Do by Emily

What Made Me Do What I Want To Do by Emily - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

I remember going on a camping trip with my family a year ago. We drove up a hill just to hike down it, all because we wanted to go see a waterfall where we could sit, have lunch and go for a swim. When we got there, security stood next to bright orange tape blocking the view of the waterfall. According to them, tourists had made it a habit to dump garbage and leave belongings in and around the pool. So, to protect the natural habitat, no one was allowed to go near it. This situation made me so angry and disappointed. Obviously, at the time, I had a basic understanding of the dangers of litter pollution. But something sparked in me to protect and preserve that land. I basically grew up in the woods because my mother was such an avid outdoor enthusiast. No weather was bad weather; so we were always hiking, swimming, or dancing in the rain. These experiences are ones that I want to share with my children and hope they will continue to pass down. Sustainability, preserving our environment and resources for future generations, is so important to me because I believe that we can make the Earth an incredible place for people to live with other things, instead of on top of or around them,
This current school year, I enrolled myself in an advanced placement environmental science class. In this class, I learned and experienced the many different aspects of the environmental science field. I found my interest peaked when we discussed the topics of development and human impact. From something that seems so out of our control like the water cycle to something human-made like oil drilling, humans have found a way to involve themselves in every aspect of the Earth. We use resources to our most profitable advantage. I believe there is more to uncover on this planet and fear we could destroy it before we even find it.
For now, I plan on attending college for a bachelor's in this field with a minor in Education. I want to be in a place where I can work hands-on in the field; studying the life cycle of plants and animals or creating and preserving national wildlife reserves. I would be ecstatic to be able to teach more people about the Earth and believe I will take on teaching later in life. For a few years now, I have worked with kids through babysitting, daycare positions, and Sunday school. Kids and their wonder inspire me. Have you ever spoken with a toddler? Like, what on Earth is going on in their minds? My vision for the future looks like teaching kids of all ages the wonders of nature. Maybe through the Audubon in a reserve or on a national park, hold a little class where we press flowers, paint pinecones, bird watch and study animal behavior. I believe that sparking passion and creativity in kids will encourage them to care more about nature and its gifts. I want to prevent what happened to that waterfall, but more presently, I want to encourage the creation of a generation full of wonder.