introduction

My journey into sustainability was unintentional. What began as taking AP Environmental Science for a GPA boost ultimately led to a complete shift in how I see the world.

When I arrived at the University of Georgia, I realized I had both the opportunity and the responsibility to act on what I had learned. What started as a simple decision to ride my bike to get around campus quickly grew into a deeper interest in sustainable transportation and the systems that shape it. That curiosity eventually turned into an effort to improve how transportation works at the university level.

Through my experiences, I began to see sustainability from multiple perspectives. My work in biking and transportation showed me how change can start at a grassroots level, driven by individuals and small communities. At the same time, my role as a Zero Waste intern exposed me to the systems side of sustainability, where infrastructure, policy, and large-scale coordination play a critical role.

These experiences reshaped how I define sustainability. I no longer see it as a single concept or field, but as a balance between people and systems, between small actions and large-scale change.

While my understanding of sustainability has evolved over time, one thing has remained constant: my appreciation for the planet we live on and my desire to protect it.

This portfolio reflects that journey, from initial awareness to applied action, and the ways in which my understanding of sustainability continues to evolve.