To Contribute to the Best of my Ability for the Betterment of my Community by Grace

To Contribute to the Best of my Ability for the Betterment of my Community by Grace - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

I grew up in California’s Central Valley, known for its immense agricultural output. Ever since I was young I’ve heard farmers talk about the water crisis. During my 20 years on earth, California has been in a drought more times than it hasn’t. It has impacted the ability of the farmers to do their jobs. This had ramifications for both the livelihood of the farmers and food production. Many advocated for better water storage, but the environment groups kept lobbying against a dam infrastructure project. In their opinion, getting water to the crops is more important than preserving a few endangered species. It’s become this huge, complex problem for the Central Valley. Knowing what I know now, both sides are important. The formation of a dam is detrimental to the ecosystems it inhabits, an environmental nightmare that goes beyond the preservation of a few species. However, farmers need to be able to make their living. What they produce is not only instrumental in keeping their area food secure, but also feeding the nation. There was no solution. I am not going to advocate for a particular policy angle, because it is not that easy. However, this is a clear example of a trend that not only encompasses the nation, but the whole world, environmental injustice.
You can’t preserve the environment without any regard to the people who inhabit it. Doing so means the burden is disproportionately placed on people, oftentimes where those who are contributing the least are suffering the most. This is compound by historic racism, sexism, and other modes of oppression. A clear example of this is Louisiana's Cancer Alley, where a petrochemical company’s pollution of the predominantly African American area has led to astoundingly high cancer and mortality rates. This problem is also international, where the United States has historically contributed the most to carbon emissions, yet the impacts of climate change are felt more in countries who have emitted some of the least. Environmental justice is so important because it impacts every environmental problem and must be factored into every environmental solution.
It is from these experiences that I have chosen a double major in political science and environmental studies. I want a comprehensive and interdisciplinary study of the environment that dives into social science, natural sciences, and humanities to form a well-rounded understanding of people and the planet. Similarly, I want to understand the context to which change is enacted on state, national, and international levels in order to inform my advocacy. Both of these majors satisfy my curiosity. Similarly, I want to attend law school in an environmental law program, and both majors will give me a good background to have a firm understanding of the legal system and environmental issues.