A Not So Silent Conversation by Julia

A Not So Silent Conversation by Julia - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

Of all the people in history that I could have dinner with, I would choose to have dinner with Rachel Carson. She revolutionized the field of environmental science, and paved the way for women in this field, while overcoming personal struggles throughout her life. Carson’s incredible intelligence and commitment to the environment is something that I only dream of being able to achieve, but my goal is to try. Speaking with Carson about her own work and experiences would be fascinating, and I wish that it were possible.

Although simply talking to Carson about her life and work would be exciting, I would be even more interested in seeing her take on the world today. Rachel Carson observed environmental dangers over fifty years ago and tried to warn the world about the direction that we were heading. She studied the oceans, pesticides, and more, and made Americans aware of the impact of their actions on their own health. I would like to have dinner with Rachel Carson so that I could see her take on the current environmental situation. Would she think that we made progress, or would she simply see all the areas in which we need to improve? Following the publication of Silent Spring, people actually came together and banned the use of certain pesticides. Species were saved and one disaster was averted, or at least delayed. However, pesticides continue to pose a threat to human and animal health, so Carson was perhaps not quite as successful as one might have hoped. Regardless, she still made a bigger impact than anyone else before her, and if we want to have a livable planet for our children, we need someone like Carson to shock us into action once again. This is why I would want to have dinner with Rachel Carson.