When I arrived in Illinois for my summer research placement, sustainability was the last thing on my mind.
After flying from Hong Kong to Chicago and taking a six-hour bus journey to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I was exhausted and excited to begin my research experience. Instead, I opened the door to a room filled with dirt, mould, dust, and piles of abandoned boxes left behind by previous tenants.
My first instinct was simple: leave.
Instead, I stayed.
Armed with three bottles of cleaning solution, a pack of wet wipes, and determination, I spent the next forty minutes scrubbing floors, cleaning surfaces, and restoring a neglected living space. What began as an unpleasant surprise became one of the most important lessons I learned about sustainability.
Before studying abroad, I thought sustainable travel meant carrying a reusable water bottle, avoiding plastic bags, and taking public transport. These actions remain important. However, my experience taught me that sustainability is also about restoring rather than replacing, repairing rather than discarding, and contributing to a community rather than simply consuming it.
Throughout my placement, I tried to align my actions with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In support of SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, I avoided unnecessary purchases, reused existing household items whenever possible, cooked most of my meals, and reduced food packaging waste. Instead of constantly ordering takeaway meals, I walked to local supermarkets, bought fresh ingredients, and prepared simple meals myself.
My experience also reflected SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Rather than treating my placement as a temporary stop, I tried to become part of the local community. Fellow students helped me move furniture, clean shared spaces, and navigate daily life in a new country. In return, I contributed to maintaining our living environment and shared resources whenever possible.
Most importantly, I came to understand SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals in a very personal way. Sustainable travel is not only about reducing carbon emissions; it is also about building supportive communities across cultures. When I first arrived in the United States, airport staff helped me find my transportation, fellow students helped me settle in, and strangers showed kindness without expecting anything in return. Those small acts reminded me that sustainability depends not only on environmental responsibility but also on social responsibility.
To reduce my environmental impact, I regularly used walking and public transport, tracked routes using Google Maps, searched for sustainable travel options through Google Transit, reduced disposable products, and used university recycling facilities.
Before this placement, I believed sustainable travel meant travelling lightly.
Now I believe it means living responsibly wherever you go.
Sometimes sustainability looks like carrying a reusable bottle.
Sometimes it looks like spending forty minutes cleaning a room instead of abandoning it.
And sometimes it looks like people helping strangers simply because help is needed.
That is the version of sustainability I hope to carry with me long after my journey ends.
