I am extremely passionate about education. Being a teacher has always been one thing I hope to do because I believe inspiring kids really is a powerful social movement in itself. Instilling in kids the idea that they have the power to make a difference, to be driven, to shape their own lives is something I think is really powerful and important.
So far in Environmental Studies I’ve been hearing that individuals can’t make a larger impact, and I find this idea counterproductive. While perhaps it is worth noting that little things like turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, taking short showers, etc don’t make the largest dent in conservation efforts, I do wonder why my experience in the ENVS program thus far seems to advocate so strongly that the individual is, in a sense, powerless. Shouldn’t we be working to inspire students, make them feel empowered, driven, and capable?
One reason I’m passionate about education is because I believe the individual can make a powerful impact. Even if turning off the water faucet or taking short showers isn’t going to save the world, perhaps making personal efforts to live more sustainably is self-empowering, in which case the impact of that action is incredibly valuable. I think kids, students, and adults need to believe that their actions and choices do have an impact. Even if that impact is small, it is making some difference, and recognizing the positive or negative impact of that difference is imperative in order to cultivate a society that cares about living responsibly and understanding the domino effect of their choices.