Nearly 6 years ago, the world witnessed the critically acclaimed activist Greta Thunberg sail across the Atlantic in an entirely eco-friendly craft to attend one of the world’s largest climate conferences in New York City. She braved a journey that very few would ever imagine repeating in a larger, safer, and well-equipped vessel. Greta Thunberg is the woman I admire most in my life. She harnesses a voice that people hear about critical issues that are left forgotten without her. She forced me to reflect on myself and my behavior and speak loudly about crises that would have scared me to even whisper about before.
The majority of my life, I had never been out of the country; I only applied for a passport when I began thinking about studying abroad in 2024. I have seen so few places in my short life, and I wish so deeply to my core to explore the world before I am unable to see the true beauty she has to offer. The climate crisis is imminent, and I am all too aware of how my actions in my short life will impact future generations.
There are actions that I will be taking to ensure I am deserving of studying abroad. During my time in England, I will be leaving my trusty car in the US and switching over to 100% public transportation with the amazing resources Europe has to offer.
I have been a vegetarian for over half my life, and I will continue to do so during my time abroad, diminishing my carbon footprint even more than a regular carnivorous English citizen. I am entirely against fast fashion, and I shop primarily at thrift stores for necessities, and I refuse to overconsume and accumulate things that are not crucial to my everyday life.
Although my flight to England will be quite a hefty emission of CO2, I believe my lack of flying for the first 18 years of my life leaves me far below the national average of CO2 emissions.
I strive to share the beauty of the world with people by sharing photos and stories with friends and family to prove to them that nature is something worth fighting for. Every time I see the beauty Earth has to offer, I become even more motivated and excited to help save her.
Although I am nowhere near as impactful as Greta Thunberg, I believe I could maybe someday be a fraction of what she is, and the only way I feel I can do that is by experiencing the world to a greater extent. The things and places I have seen are so small compared to the places I expect to see and the experiences I will have during my year abroad.
