What inspired you to take action for the planet?
My mom is an environmental science teacher, so I have been aware of and passionate about climate change for as long as I can remember. She inspires me, and all of her students, to protect our natural resources. She always says the Earth will recover no matter what, it’s humanity’s ability to survive on Earth that is in jeopardy. Most importantly, she taught me that we all have the power to make positive change.
What gives you hope or keeps you going when climate work feels hard?
When I was in the third grade, I collected coins during recess all year long. By the end of the year, I had enough to purchase one acre of land in the Amazon rainforest to protect it in perpetuity. Whenever I start to feel helpless or panicked about the state of climate change, I remember that girl. If she could do it, so can I. And she would have never given up, so I won’t either. To quote the Lorax, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
