Sustainability isn’t just a thought, but a way I move through the world. It’s in the way I thrift, sew, and crochet, giving secondhand or leftover materials a second life. These acts aren’t loud or showy, but they’ve shifted how I approach the world. I’ve learned to value what’s already here, to move with intention, and to create less waste along the way. These are habits I’ve built into my everyday life, and they’re habits I plan to carry with me as I travel abroad.
Travel is a privilege, and I want to treat it as one. For me, that starts with how I move through space. I plan to avoid short-haul flights whenever possible and instead take trains, buses, and ferries. These options may take longer, but they offer something flying doesn’t: connection. You notice more when you move slowly. Choosing these lower-emission routes helps reduce my personal carbon footprint and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action.
I also plan to pack light and smart. That means solid toiletries, a filtered water bottle, reusable tote bags, and cutlery. It’s a compact kit that travels easily with me and helps reduce single-use plastics along the way, contributing to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. I’ll also be supporting small, local businesses as I go, not just because it’s more sustainable, but because it’s how I like to get to know a place. It’s about showing care through the choices I make.
But what excites me most is learning how other cities and communities approach sustainability in their daily lives. Even moving from Calgary to Vancouver opened my eyes to how much infrastructure, like public transit and composting systems, can shape sustainable habits. Abroad, I’m curious to see how water is managed, how waste is sorted, how green spaces are protected, and what initiatives make eco-friendly living possible for everyday people.
I’ll be keeping notes on my phone, quick reflections on systems I encounter, choices I admire, and ideas I could bring back. These small snapshots can enable conversations with friends back in Vancouver, spark ideas for student groups, or highlight everyday changes in how we do things at UBC. In this way, I hope to contribute to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, helping others understand how environmental awareness can be integrated into infrastructure and daily living.
I know I won’t do it perfectly. But that’s not the goal. I’m not chasing perfection, I’m committing to thoughtfulness. I want this exchange to be more than a chance to see the world. I want it to reflect the kind of world I want to help build: one where sustainability is a way of thinking, living, and moving, where the places we go are respected, and the footprints we leave are light.
