From Ashes to Action: My Journey Toward Environmental Engineering by Rulan

From Ashes to Action: My Journey Toward Environmental Engineering by Rulan - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

Last summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Wrightwood, California, to assist with trail management on Mormon Rocks. Despite the challenges of working under the intense California sun, the results of our efforts were incredibly rewarding. From base camp, we could see the newly installed posts and the clear paths above, a dramatic transformation from the overgrown and inaccessible trails we encountered when we first arrived. They had been neglected after a wildfire, with no resources allocated for maintenance.
After completing our work, we celebrated with an afternoon hike, only to be alerted with the devastating news that a brush fire had ignited nearby. In the distance, the sky thickened with smoke, turning into a hazy mix of orange and gray. We were quickly evacuated to safety. Days passed as the fires continued to grow, consuming a vast stretch of the forests. When the fire finally settled, the once vibrant landscape had been reduced to an ashen expanse of scorched earth. This harrowing experience deepened my understanding of climate change’s destructive power—not just ecologically, but for the people whose lives are intertwined with the land.
I had always been aware of climate change and its devastating impacts on many communities. Learning about it in school and reading the news were just words on a screen or in a textbook. Nothing compared to the impacts of witnessing its true effects firsthand. It was this real-life experience that reinforced my belief that addressing climate change requires urgent and sustained effort. For me, that means pursuing education and learning to develop sustainable innovations—and I want to be part of developing those solutions.
To contribute to addressing this challenge, I hope to pursue higher education, majoring in Engineering and Earth Sciences. For years, I have been captivated by the intricacies of our planet. Yet, I realized that understanding these processes alone was not enough to combat the environmental challenges we face. This realization drew me to environmental engineering, where I can develop sustainable solutions through scientific and technical innovations. I am particularly interested in exploring advancements like sustainable mining for renewable energy, a major factor in a more sustainable future. University will provide me with the resources and guidance needed to turn these ideas into reality.
I am deeply passionate about shaping the future of sustainability in the face of climate change. As a first-generation college student from a family where higher education seemed out of reach, this scholarship would support my academic journey—breaking barriers. This opportunity would empower me to turn my dreams of creating tangible environmental solutions into reality, taking that critical first step toward meaningful impact.