What was your “wake-up moment” when climate issues started to feel real for you?
My wake-up moment was when wildfire smoke made the air outside look orange and we were told not to spend too much time outdoors. Before that, climate change felt like something happening far away. That was the first time it felt like it was affecting my actual day-to-day life.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed, sad, or anxious about climate change? What brought on those feelings?
I mostly feel angry. It’s frustrating knowing people have been warning about climate change for so long, but we’re still dealing with the same problems. Sometimes it feels like the people with the most power to make changes are moving way too slowly.
What gives you hope or keeps you going when climate work feels hard?
Seeing young people speak up gives me hope. I think our generation is less willing to just accept that this is how things have to be.
How do you talk to your family or friends about climate change?
My friends and I mostly vent about it. We talk about extreme heat, bad air quality, or something we saw in the news. It helps knowing other people are frustrated too.
How have your thoughts or feelings about climate change changed over time?
When I was younger, I mostly thought about things like recycling and turning off the lights. Now I understand that individual choices matter, but bigger systems and companies also need to change. Learning that made me more frustrated, but it also made me feel less like everything was my responsibility.
