“I will never forget the day I learned about climate change. It happened almost three years ago during my senior year of high school randomly during my personal fitness class. We had a presenter come and talk about the impacts our diet has on our planet. He emphasized three main points, the ethics of eating animals, the impacts it has on our health, and how it impacts the planet. Throughout the entire PowerPoint my jaw dropped because previously, I never heard of the complex relationship we have with our food beyond our taste buds. All of this information became engraved in my brain and I immediately decided to take action.

Shortly after, I spoke to everyone I knew about climate change and the impacts it had on our planet, health, and well being. There was not a day where I did not say the word climate change. I believed that everyone deserved the information that would dictate the fate of their future, their families, communities, and environment. Luckily, my passionate conversations lead to me pursuing a career in Sustainability. I wanted to cry when my cousin told me (while jokingly pestering him about working for an oil company) that there was a career field to tackle the issues involving climate change. I immediately gave him a hug and switched my declared major from nursing ( a career I had no desire for) to Sustainability and the Environment at Florida international University, which was probably one of the best days of my life.I am currently in my 3rd year loving my classes and discovering ways to teach climate change through art for people to understand and be inspired to take action.

3 years ago my life changed because someone took the time to educate me about my life, future and ability to make a positive impact. This drive is still in my heart today and inspires me daily to become a creative educator that can inform people about climate change, while empowering them with solutions towards our united goal of living in a better place.”