Hobbies and interests
Yoga
Running
Journaling
Reading
Art
Hiking And Backpacking
Travel And Tourism
Swimming
Basketball
Research
Cooking
Animals
Environmental Science and Sustainability
Meditation and Mindfulness
Reading
Education
Environment
Politics
History
I read books multiple times per week
Ashley Duran
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FinalistAshley Duran
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FinalistBio
My name is Ashley Duran. I attend Woodlake Union High School as a senior. I am a tree lovin', innovative, adventurous vegan who continuously questions the systems on this Earth! Either by creating an environmental club or practicing mindful meditation, I always seek ways to better the world around me. I plan to attend UC Berkeley or UC Santa Cruz in the fall of 2022. I plan to major in Environmental Studies with an emphasis on food systems. Growing up in a small town has taught me how to build off of little given and work hard to reach my seemingly far-reaching dreams. One day, I hope to be apart of organizations to help sustain low-income communities while simultaneously earning my certification for yoga instruction. I have an endless amount of aspirations and a myriad of lessons and steps I will be learning to achieve those goals.
Education
Woodlake Union High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Majors of interest:
- Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
Career
Dream career field:
Environmental Services
Dream career goals:
Land Managment
Sports
Tennis
Junior Varsity2018 – 20191 year
Swimming
Varsity2018 – 20224 years
Cross-Country Running
Varsity2021 – 20221 year
Awards
- Team Captain
Basketball
Varsity2018 – 20213 years
Awards
- Best Defensive Player, Best Overall Player
Research
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
Buddy Jones & Friends — Youth Representative2020 – 2021
Public services
Volunteering
Woodlake Botanical Gardens — Volunteer2020 – PresentVolunteering
Helping One Woman Community Dinner — Volunteer2019 – 2020Volunteering
Food Pantry Assistance — Volunteer2020 – 2021Advocacy
Woodlake Tree Huggers — Founder and President2020 – 2022
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Mark Caldwell Memorial STEM/STEAM Scholarship
When I first met my devotedly Christian best friends, Lizzie and Lydia, they were expert evangelists, converting me immediately. Soon, our entire friendship revolved around Jesus. We began reading the Bible every night, attending Youth Group every Monday, and we created an Instagram account, attempting to spread the word of God. As a closeted queer individual, I felt alone, unworthy, and angry due to who I was forcing myself to be, but I couldn’t destroy the relationships that I had tirelessly created. My friends and family had finally become proud of the Christian Ashley, after all. However, I eventually accepted that, from Jesus, I could never find the sense of purpose or grounding that I needed. Instead, I turned to my childhood love of nature. Mother Nature held space for me to heal, to express myself, and to find solitude in a turbulent world. I sought out religion for emotional support, and yet, Nature provided me with even more: the freedom to love whomever I choose and to exist as my natural self. Without homophobia, neglect, or social constructs, I was allowed to create the Ashley that represents who I am, and not what others expect me to be. Social constructs did not exist in the outdoors; I was simply another element in the ecosystem working through my own cycle of life. Nature is the foundation of my existence, providing me with everything from food to clothing. By fully appreciating Nature, I learned about independence and accountability. As I let go of religion, my aspirations in life became clearer than ever. With my newfound appreciation for individuality, I could create genuine connections without hopes of converting my friends. As my connection with Nature grew deeper, it became apparent that she needed my help, too. On the news appeared images of flooded cities, and my eagerness to protect the land and its inhabitants introduced a new purpose in my life. I began to focus on becoming more involved in, and enhancing my education of, environmental advocacy. I joined an environmental justice fellowship, Buddy Jones & Friends, led by the first Black ranger in Sequoia National Park. As the sole youth representative, I researched the contributions of Black contractors in California National Parks. Although it was frightening to conduct research with experienced activists, I now had the courage to explore my academic passions. Today, on social media and in seminars with environmental justice groups, I search for ways to spread awareness about Mother Nature’s mortality. As news of new pipeline projects becomes regular and my hopes and dreams seem to slowly fade away, I remind myself of the unwavering support that Nature provided to me when I, too, needed help.