STUDENT INTERNS
 

Each fall, Kenyon College’s sole dining hall, Peirce Hall, has a full stock of bowls, dishes, cutlery, and most notably, Peirce cups. The Peirce cups and their tendency to disappear from the dining hall are something of a long-running joke among students. During orientation, upperclassmen beg the freshmen not to thieve the cups during a spirited series of skits, and clubs on campus sell buttons that read “bring our boys home” with a picture of the famous red cup, in the early days of the spring semester. Despite these efforts, at the same point each year-- around mid-April-- there are just not enough cups to go around. more

April 22nd, Earth Day, serves as a time for people everywhere to pay attention to the world around them and take action towards preserving our planet for the future. Schools across New Jersey celebrate Earth Day by educating their students on the importance of being conscious of their impacts on the environment. For example, in elementary school, students are taught about the “3 Rs” (reduce, reuse, recycle) to help them live more sustainably.       As an environmental activist, I sought to take action on a day that is regarded by many as the epitome of environmental protection, Earth Day. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has established the week surrounding Earth Day to be known as the Environmental Education Week in New Jersey. The environmental concepts and ideas introduced in classrooms during this period are designed to go more in depth and to last more than just one day. This year, with the help of many along the way, including Tanya Oznowich at the Department of Environmental Protection, I drafted a proclamation to promote education on environmental sustainability in schools across New Jersey. Once it was brought to the governor's office, this proclamation was signed and put into effect by the governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy.      The proclamation served to further advance actions that were being taken to promote Earth Day and sustainability in New Jersey. At the same time, it helped me learn more about myself and my passions in the field of environmental policy. I was able to further my skills as an activist and take action on a larger scale, this time at the governor's office. more

By preaching about anything controversial, you are bound to receive criticism. Often this criticism can be constructive and valid if it is received properly and offered with good intentions. Throughout my growth as an environmental activist, I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by other like-minded leaders. In observing the habits of others, I am always noticing ways that I can improve my own habits to more closely fit the ideals that I am trying to convince others to take on. more