When I was in Girl Scouts as an elementary school student, my troop and I visited the FEMA headquarters near our school in Lakewood. I remember them telling us about renewable energy, and I recognized the windmills they discussed when I would go to Boulder. On the way there, I was fascinated by the sheer size of the windmills. Now, continuing my passion for sustainability, I understand how important they are and what these advancements mean for us, the humans on planet Earth. I have dreams for the future of the environment. We can use renewable and traditional energy to ensure sustainable solutions for humankind through innovation and then, implementation. Renewable energy can help the natural and industrial environment work hand-in-hand. Nature serves us by providing its resources, so in turn, we must work with it rather than over it. One innovation that I am knowledgeable about is synthetic photosynthesis. For my english capstone project, I spoke to personnel at CSU and was curious about new technology in the field that could improve the future of a sustainable world and environment. He told me about synthetic photosynthesis as a way of creating energy, without needing the cultivation of plants or land. Therefore it will benefit living organisms and store sunlight as energy in chemical bonds. As a source of renewable energy, in this case, carbon dioxide absorbtion will replace processes that emit CO2, which is a harmful greenhouse gas infiltrating the atmosphere. This is a great long-term idea, and will solve lots of environmental and agricultural problems. To explain, since synthetic photosynthesis is a direct and powerful method to reduce CO2 emissions while creating liquid fuel, humans and the environment can benefit simultaneously. We, as humans, can continue to manage society and fuel cars and factories. However, unlike coal and fossil fuels, synthetic photosynthesis ensures that global warming factors like greenhouse gases are limited. Preservation and restoration of our atmosphere and environment can resume and prosper. While the technology is new and still being researched, the solution is very promising and over time, will hopefully be implemented into agricultural practices. On the other hand, we can also improve the sustainability of traditional energy that is already implemented. The oil industry, for example, can be altered to be more sustainable through law and transformation. While oil rigging techniques are baseline non-sustainable, our country and world have heavily relied on them for a long time. Better planning of digging sites can help solve problems like water safety. Eliminating reserve pits will reduce harmful VOC emissions and the risk of leaks into drinkable groundwater. By making the industry slightly more environmentally sound, the environment can slowly recover while global politics change as well. This is another case of how the planet and the people on it can help each other and, in this instance, compromise. In the future, I hope to advocate for the remodeling and compromising of the modern world. As the climate changes, we must change as well. By improving traditional methods and bringing forth renewable solutions, the contemporary field of energy will serve humankind and the environment together, making the world a better place and ensuring a sustainable planet.

Everything is Romantic is for the "Angels", the people who have a thirst for life, the independent, unique souls; and is my absolute favorite song on brat. I started listening to the album this June when it came out, and for me, it shaped a new attitude and motivated me to be adventurous and passionate every day. "Fall in love again and again" became a strong motto that drives me to appreciate and romanticize everything in my life, including both the overlooked and the extravagant. To me, the lyrics create a scene of a woman living her life to the fullest, covered in tattoos from all the places she has been, going where she wants to and manifesting her next steps. She is successful, and even when life has it's low points, she stays true to herself and focuses on what she finds joy in. She is free. This woman embodies the song and represents everyone with a "brat" mindset. I even got to see a Charli XCX concert live at her show in Denver with my best friend. We both enjoyed the energetic and bright (green) atmosphere that she created for the fans. It was definitley an experience that I will remember forever! As she performed Everything is Romantic, the arena filled with starry lights and the devotion that flows throughout the song. Every time I remember this moment, I fall in love again and again.

Many may not know that the core of society is agriculture. Its branches extend into every part of our lives. The ground we walk on, the air we breathe, our experience at the grocery store, and the food on our tables are all things greatly impacted by agriculture. Often, small communities are fed through local farms and rely on the land to sustain their lives. However with an evolving modern environment, climate change can largely affect the stability and health of these reliant communities. I firmly believe that local issues like food insecurity, as well as broader global issues such as world hunger and the quality of air and land can be solved through sustainable farming. I could make a future impact going into the field of agriculture, as I plan on making controlled environment practices and biofortification the contemporary standard, replacing the mainstream, harmful ways like plowing and tillage. Controlled environment agriculture occurs in greenhouses, a smaller geographic scale than most commercial farms, and it reduces the overtillage of soil, which is what reduces pores in the soil composition, therefore making the land no longer suitable to grow healthy, abundant plants. This shift will leave a positive impact on communities in several ways. First of all, it will revolutionize the way humans treat the land by protecting natural soil. Not only is the environmental impact vast, but food security is ensured and local produce is guaranteed to communities. By filtering the climate and growth of plants within a controlled space, food is available year-round rather than seasonally. Lastly, in addition to these benefits, an increase in greenhouses, especially as local gardens, benefits community inclusion and participation. Families and individuals of all ages gain a learning and cooperation opportunity with communal, controlled gardens. My future impact will include evolving biofortification as a means of reducing global hunger. According to the 2024 Global Hunger Index, hunger levels are ranked Serious in 36 countries. I predict this number to decline in coming years as I will ensure that biofortification makes its way through agriculture. My plan for utilizing the technology entails the production of a higher-yield, more nutritious rice breed. Rice is the most consumed food product world wide. A highly significant nutrient in rice is beta-carotene, which can be biofortified through implements of daffodil genes. By enhancing the nutritional profile of rice, more can be grown, and it will be more filling and nutritious for human consumption. Once this crop is transported, it will efficiently feed lots more people. I find great significance in these two agronomic techniques, as they foster a crucial balance of environmental, ecological, and communal benefits. Entering this field is important to me as I see agricultural advancement as the savior of both our planet and the people on it.

We, as humans, have a responsibility to serve our planet. It has served us long enough with its resources and room to live, and it's time we repay our debts. Since I was old enough to walk, I've always valued nature and spending time outside. Instead of Disney World trips, my parents would take me down to the creek by my house to collect rocks and get our feet wet. My upbringing fostered a deeply rooted passion for the outdoors and protecting the earth. As a young adult with a gas-fueled car, my own money to spend, and my own responsibilities, it is hard to live one hundred percent sustainably. However, due to my personal beliefs and love for the local Colorado environment that I live in, I feel that I owe something to the planet. Every day, I create a balance to entice me to do the things that will provide for the world around me while fulfilling my own lifestyle. For instance, thrifting. Over the past couple years I have narrowed down my closet to a select few outfits. I think that there is a surplus of clothing on the planet, we all have enough. By solely thrifting and donating my clothing to the thrift stores, I ensure that I can still buy the things I like while simultaneously being intentional with my sustainability footprint. I also withdrew beef and milk from my diet. I am allergic to milk, so that part is easy. Burgers are delicious, but it's a small sacrifice I make to help solve a much larger issue. It also helps to create that balance, as I am maintaining a healthy diet while committing to environmental stewardship. I know a lot about the carbon footprint of cows, and meat farms in general. Methane emissions are so harmful to the climate. I believe that making dietary choices is very important, as the agricultural industry works from the land to our tables. Sustainability in this sector of life is so significant due to the grand size and impact of the meat industry. Daily, simple choices like this are important because, well, look around. I live in Colorado, and never take my clear view of the mountains on the horizon for granted. I choose to be selfless in my mindset and choices when it comes to my beautiful home. I never take the food on my plate for granted. By just being grateful, in turn I am paying my part of the environmental debt, making a difference day by day, meal to meal, and purchase to purchase.