Groundbreaking Career! Saving the Earth by Kaimana

Groundbreaking Career! Saving the Earth by Kaimana - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

Between the blur of elementary school birthday parties to high school proms, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” turned into “How will you contribute to society?” When it comes to choosing a college major, it's important to consider your interests and goals. This is why I have decided to pursue a major in Environmental Earth and Soil Science at Cal Poly. Although I was born into a human family, I will always feel that my real ties are to the earth.
“Mana, why are you so dirty?” and “Mana, leave the cat outside,” were common scoldings of my childhood. I was always the kid who was fist deep in the dirt, hypnotized by clear blue skies and sunshine. I loved spending every second I could outside, which made my bond with nature stronger. I picked green onions from the garden, and weaved rookie flower crowns from grass. The more time I spent outside, the more I realized that nature is something that constantly gives and that we selfishly take. Although as children, kids feel a deep connection and obligation to nature, as they grow older, it is often forgotten and replaced by new interests. As I watched my peers litter parking lots and waste school lunches, it made me realize how little society cares for our planet. The problem is that we are aware of anthropogenic issues like global warming and climate change, yet we push it to the end of our agendas, in the hope that someone else will fix it for us. I have had enough of earth day awareness posts on Instagram, and fast fashion. I am ready to shoulder the burden that so many refuse to acknowledge. This is why I have chosen a major in the environmental science field, with the hope that I will contribute to the solutions that we are desperately looking for.
There is a very large flaw in our society. Kids like myself are being conditioned to believe that success equates to being rich and that college leads to a guaranteed job. Students nowadays are shooting for careers that do not involve their self-interests, but careers that provide generous salaries, because, in a world of materialism, wealth equals happiness. I believe that this is the wrong way to go about things. My peers are aiming to be doctors and dentists, thinking only of the paychecks, and not the gratification of helping others, or the societal benefits. A heart surgeon should not be operating for the money but for the passion of helping people, and wanting to save lives. This is why when choosing a career, I wanted to break the status quo. Although a career in environmental science may not make the most money, I will be doing something I am passionate about. At the end of every day, I want to lie in bed and know that I did something to help the world. The truth is that our planet is dying at the hands of humans. It is an issue that needs to be curbed. Our oceans are rising at insatiable rates, animals of all species are dying everywhere, and we are ruining the earth's ecosystems, and sabotaging our futures. I am tired of hearing adults push their problems off to other generations to fix. I want to nip climate change in the bud and contribute to efforts that will restore our beautiful and giving planet.
As a Native Hawaiian, it has always been a passion of mine to give back to the earth. In my culture, it is essential to live sustainably and thank the land for everything it provides to us. I was raised thanking Kane for the sunlight he provided and praying to Lono for rain. I spent hours on end in the dirt beds in my backyard, toes squirming in the rich soil, immersed in nature. My mother who works in the environmental division of Cal Trans had an immense impact on my passion for the earth. Summers were filled with archaeological sites, excavations, hikes, and stewardship of the land. As I have grown older my mother’s experiences have matured my opinions on topics such as climate change. Growing up in San Luis Obispo which is a very environmentally conscious city, has made sustainability integral to my life. From accessible bike paths to beautiful hikes and community gardens I have grown up in a community that has shaped my values. A career focus in environmental science is the perfect fit for my desire to help the world.
I believe that my major in environmental science offers a variety of career opportunities and the chance to make a positive impact on the world. I have always been passionate about environmental sustainability and the importance of taking care of our planet. I know the pursuit to combat climate change and reversing the declining ecosystems across our planet will be a constant challenge society will face. There is no clear solution, but the more attention and help there is, the better the outcome. Before I die, I want to look back upon my life and know that I did something bigger than just helping myself, and left a lasting impact on the world. As my body decomposes and recycled into detritus, I want to return to mother earth and show her that I did the best I could to help save our beautiful world.