I love the diversity of life that exists on this planet, which is being threatened by rapid and ongoing climate change. I don't want to lose the sense that I am part of the environment. I am afraid of a world that is guided by human constructs alone rather than natural ones. Growing up on acreage, surrounded by forest and a wide array of wildlife, nurtured in me a passion for preserving the environment.

This summer, I have been interning remotely with the Institute for Applied Ecology, compiling research on various topics related to native plant conservation and creating a comprehensive "native plant manual" that incorporates information on a wide array of plant species native to New Mexico. I hope to major in Anthropology and minor in Urban and Environmental Studies in order to advance my research in the field of Environmental Anthropology. I'm eager to better understand the ways that different cultures interact with their natural environment to help guide public policy.

I think that storytelling creates a neutral and welcoming ground through which diverse experiences can be expressed, beliefs can be challenged, and hearts can be moved to change. For years, I have been writing and publishing poetry of resistance, many of which focus on our unfair treatment of the environment. By collaborating with The Creative Process, I am interacting with people of various backgrounds and experiences, learning about different environmental initiatives, and contributing my own creative voice and passion for storytelling to raising consciousness of what environmental justice would look like.