Reflections

Anchor Course

My anchor course for the Sustainability Certificate was Introduction to Sustainability. What stood out to me immediately was how accessible it felt. Each lecture felt like a TED Talk on a different sustainability issue—engaging, focused, and digestible. Even the setting mattered. The dim lights and comfortable seating of the Jackson Street Building Auditorium created an environment that felt welcoming rather than overwhelming.

That experience reinforced one of my core beliefs: sustainability must be palatable to people who know nothing about it. If sustainability feels intimidating, overly technical, or accusatory, people disengage. This course demonstrated how powerful sustainability education can be when it invites people in rather than talks down to them.

Two projects in particular shaped my thinking.

The first was a mock United Nations climate summit, where we negotiated policies aimed at limiting global warming to 2°C. I represented India. What initially seemed like a straightforward exercise quickly became complex. While wealthier nations proposed aggressive limits on oil and gas, I had to confront a difficult reality: countries without established sustainable infrastructure cannot simply shut down traditional energy sources without risking economic and social instability.

This experience shifted my perspective. Sustainability is not just about ambition—it is about sequencing, infrastructure, and equity. Climate solutions must account for development stages, economic dependence, and historical responsibility. Sustainability cannot happen instantly; it requires deliberate transition.

The second project focused on identifying and analyzing our local watershed. Living near downtown Athens, I discovered that my area falls within the Upper Oconee Watershed. That realization changed how I viewed my surroundings. Every bottle, can, or microplastic swept into a storm drain does not simply disappear—it flows into the North Oconee River and eventually connects to larger bodies of water.

What felt local suddenly felt global.

This project grounded sustainability in my daily environment. It showed me that environmental impact is not abstract or distant—it is embedded in the ordinary spaces we move through every day.

This course did more than introduce sustainability concepts; it reframed how I think about change. I began to see sustainability not just as an environmental issue, but as a design challenge—one that requires accessibility, infrastructure, and human behavior to align. That perspective continues to shape how I approach sustainability in both academic and real-world settings.

environmental sphere

I received credit for my environmental sphere by taking AP Environmental Science (APES) during my junior year of high school.

This course was my first real exposure to sustainability, and it served as an inflection point in how I understand the world. I grew up in what I would consider a fairly typical American environment, driving everywhere, eating a resource-intensive diet, and not thinking much about the environmental consequences of everyday choices. I always enjoyed being outdoors, but I had never considered the long-term vulnerability of the systems that make those experiences possible.

APES changed that.

One of the most impactful ideas I encountered was the interconnectedness of environmental systems. I began to understand that actions in one place, whether it be pollution, deforestation, or resource consumption, can create ripple effects far beyond their point of origin. Environmental issues stopped feeling isolated and started feeling systemic.

At the same time, this awareness was initially overwhelming. Learning about climate change, habitat loss, and environmental degradation made the future feel uncertain. However, the course did not stop at problems; it also introduced solutions. Studying efforts like the Montreal Protocol showed me that coordinated, global action can lead to measurable environmental recovery. That example shifted my perspective from pessimism to cautious optimism.

If environmental damage can be caused by collective action, it can also be reversed by it.

The most important takeaway from this course was not a single concept, but a shift in mindset. Sustainability stopped feeling like someone else’s responsibility and became something personal. Instead of asking, “Why is it up to me?” I began to ask, “Why wouldn’t it be?”

That question continues to guide how I approach sustainability today.

economic sphere

For my economic sphere requirement, I took Sustainable Business. This course pushed me to confront a fundamental question: Is sustainability economically feasible?

Before taking the class, I often saw sustainability framed as a moral obligation—something businesses should do. This course challenged that framing by examining whether sustainability can also be strategically and financially sound. I came to believe that in many cases, the answer is yes.

One of the most important lessons I learned is that reducing environmental impact often aligns with reducing costs. When a company cuts down on wasted materials, improves energy efficiency, or redesigns packaging, it is not only lowering its footprint—it is lowering its expenses. Waste, in many cases, is simply inefficiency. That realization reframed sustainability for me as a design and optimization problem rather than a charitable add-on.

I was especially intrigued by the structure of B Corporations, certified by B Lab. Unlike traditional corporations that prioritize shareholder profit alone, B Corporations are evaluated on environmental impact, governance, and social equity alongside financial performance. The certification process is rigorous and measurable, embedding responsibility directly into corporate structure.

At the same time, the course introduced a concept that complicated my thinking: greenhushing. While much attention is given to greenwashing—when companies exaggerate sustainability efforts—greenhushing describes the opposite phenomenon. Some companies intentionally downplay or conceal legitimate sustainability initiatives, such as installing solar panels for long-term cost savings, out of concern that being perceived as “too sustainable” could alienate certain customers.

That idea fascinated me. It revealed that sustainability is not just an operational decision; it is a branding and cultural calculation. Businesses do not operate in a vacuum—they respond to social signals, political climates, and consumer perception. Even positive environmental action can become strategically sensitive.

This class ultimately strengthened my belief that systems shape behavior. Businesses respond to incentives, cost structures, and market demand. If sustainability is integrated into those systems—through operational efficiency, certification standards, and shifting consumer expectations—it becomes durable rather than performative.

If I pursue entrepreneurship in the future, I would want sustainability to be foundational rather than reactive. A company designed from the outset with environmental and social responsibility in mind has the potential to demonstrate that profitability and purpose are not mutually exclusive.

Seminar 1

I found the Sustainability Seminar to be far more engaging than I initially expected. Each speaker offered a unique perspective, but two in particular stood out to me: Andrew Bohenko, the Zero Waste Director at the Mercedes-Benz stadium, and Rashe Malcolm.

Andrew’s presentation shifted how I think about the practicality of sustainability. On a college campus, it can sometimes feel like sustainability initiatives succeed because the population is already open-minded and receptive. His work demonstrated that sustainability can be effective in much broader and more complex environments. The success of zero waste efforts at Mercedes-Benz is not dependent on individual motivation alone, but on system design. By simplifying waste disposal into just two clear options, bottles and cans or everything else, the process becomes intuitive. People do not need to think about making a sustainable choice because the system makes that choice for them. This reinforced my belief that convenience is one of the most powerful drivers of sustainable behavior.

Rashe Malcolm’s presentation offered a different, but equally important perspective. She spoke about the challenges of community-based sustainability work and the reality that even well-intentioned efforts can face resistance. Her experience being criticized for development work labeled as “gentrification” highlighted the importance of understanding how sustainability initiatives are perceived by different stakeholders.

I have encountered a similar dynamic in my own experience advocating for a crosswalk in my neighborhood. While the intention is to improve safety, not everyone views the change positively. Some see it as a disruption rather than a benefit. This experience has helped me better understand that sustainability is not only about designing effective solutions, but also about navigating differing perspectives and community concerns.

Together, these speakers reinforced two key ideas for me: that systems must be designed to make sustainable choices easy, and that people must be engaged thoughtfully in the process. Both are necessary for meaningful and lasting change.

Seminar 2

I found my second Sustainability Seminar to be more enjoyable than the first, largely because I better understood the structure and expectations of the course. Once the pre-class and post-class reflections became more routine, I was able to focus less on the assignments themselves and more on the learning process.

While the content of this seminar was similar to the first, my experience of it was different. Coming in with a foundational understanding of the sustainability competencies allowed me to engage with the material more deeply. I began to see how these competencies are not meant to stand alone, but instead are designed to work together. Systems thinking, strategic planning, collaboration, and self-reflection are all interconnected, and real progress in sustainability depends on their integration.

The way I began to understand this is through a simple analogy. The competencies are like the ingredients of a pizza. Dough, cheese, tomato sauce, and toppings each serve a purpose on their own, but they are far more impactful when combined. In the same way, each competency contributes something unique, but it is their interaction that allows for effective problem solving.

This idea was reinforced through conversations with my peers. Discussing how we each applied these competencies in our sustainability projects helped me better understand their practical value. Collaboration not only strengthened my understanding, but also highlighted how different perspectives contribute to stronger solutions.

As I conclude my second Sustainability Seminar, I find myself wishing there were more opportunities to continue this experience. The course may be low pressure in structure, but the insights gained are meaningful and lasting. It has strengthened my ability to think critically, work collaboratively, and approach sustainability challenges with a more integrated perspective.

Capstone reflection

Throughout my time in the sustainability capstone, I came away with two key realizations: meaningful sustainability work is inherently collaborative, and even well-designed projects do not always unfold as planned.

First, this project reinforced that sustainability cannot be accomplished alone. I often feel that if I want something done right, I should do it myself. This experience challenged that mindset. Our work depended on a combination of strengths within the team. From outreach and communication to writing and data analysis, each member played a distinct role. Without that collaboration, the project would not have been possible. Sustainability work operates much like a system, where different components must function together. No single person can connect all the pieces.

Second, I learned that project outcomes do not always align with initial expectations. Our original scope included implementing recycling across Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority stations, administrative buildings, and construction sites. Over time, that scope was narrowed to focus on five key stations in preparation for the World Cup. While this initially felt like a limitation, it ultimately made the project more focused and manageable.

As the project progressed, we encountered a larger constraint. Due to the complexity of contracting and infrastructure changes, it became clear that recycling would not be implemented in time for the World Cup. While this was disappointing, it did not diminish the value of our work.

Instead, it shifted how I define success. Our team conducted waste audits that demonstrated a clear need for recycling infrastructure. We developed data-driven recommendations for bin placement based on foot traffic patterns. We designed accessible, easy-to-understand signage for a diverse audience. Although we did not achieve immediate implementation, we created a foundation that can support future action.

This experience taught me that sustainability progress is often incremental. Even when outcomes fall short of original goals, building the systems, data, and ideas that enable future change is meaningful work. In many cases, that is where lasting impact begins.