Growing up in London, I became familiar with something many people barely notice: pollution. Busy roads, crowded streets and poor air quality were simply part of everyday life. Yet some of my happiest childhood memories were not in the city itself, but in nature.
I remember going on walks through parks with my late father. He passed away when I was sixteen, but those moments remain some of the most important lessons he ever taught me. He understood the importance of nature long before I did. For him, green spaces were places of peace, reflection and connection. Without realising it at the time, he was passing those values on to me.
Today, whenever I walk through Jesmond Dene in Newcastle, one of my favourite places, I am reminded of those walks. Surrounded by trees, wildlife and the sound of the waterfall, I feel not only a responsibility to protect these spaces but also a deep appreciation for what they represent. The peace that nature brought my father is the same peace it now brings me. When I look at the trees around me, I see more than a landscape. I see a legacy.
My appreciation for the natural world extends beyond the UK. Having travelled to Nigeria several times, I have experienced the beauty of its greenery, wildlife and landscapes firsthand. These experiences have reinforced my belief that protecting our environment is a global responsibility. Whether in London, Newcastle, Georgia or Nigeria, we all share the same planet and a collective duty to care for it.
My commitment to sustainability developed further through a Carbon Literacy programme delivered by Pagoda, through which I earned a Carbon Literacy Certificate and Badge. The programme challenged me to think critically about climate change and inspired me to transform awareness into action.
As President of Newcastle University’s African-Caribbean Society, I sought to incorporate greener practices into our activities. We selected event locations within walking distance where possible, reducing transport emissions while encouraging community engagement. We increased the availability of vegetarian and vegan food options and organised a carbon awareness event to help students understand how everyday decisions can contribute to climate action.
As I prepare for my year abroad at Mercer University in Georgia, I intend to continue these efforts. My actions will align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through conscious travel choices, reduced waste and the sharing of sustainable practices, I hope to make my international experience as environmentally responsible as possible.
Travel has given me the opportunity to discover places I love. Sustainability is about ensuring those places remain for future generations to discover too.
My father taught me to value nature. My hope is to carry that lesson wherever I go and encourage others to do the same. That is the legacy I want to continue building, both during my year abroad and beyond.
