When I started ENVS 160 I was unsure about whether I would want to continue in the major after the class was over. I admit there were a few moments when I considered dropping it and giving up. Now, so near to the end of the class I can confidently say that I want to continue down the track of the ENVS major. I surprised myself after coming to this conclusion. Ironically I decided to stick with the major almost immediately after talking to my parents about potentially switching to a major in sociology. Fortunately, this class, in conjunction with other classes I have taken this year, awakened something inside me that loves not only critical thinking, but the ever challenging task of turning abstract thoughts into something concrete that can be expressed. I realized that the study of environmental issues is something that holds my interest and sparks passion within me, even through hard times.
Coming out of this class, I plan to actively practice synthesizing different materials and disciplines to better aid the earth. For example, as I mentioned in a previous post I am passionate about finding ways to productively combine art and science. I hope to become an activist through art, after first becoming an expert in the field I am interested in. This applies to agriculture, international relations, city planning, communications, and many other interesting veils of study. So many different things connect to environmental studies, and with that knowledge, I can be confident in the value of playing to my own personal strengths throughout my studies. I will continue connecting my many other passions, all with the intention to make a contribution in the field of environmental studies.
In addition, I will actively practice being open to perspectives that directly refute my own. I beleive there is a lot of value in this because it creates an opportunity for learning. As I discussed in a previous post, there can be many contradicting truths within one issue. While this can be a hard thing to wrap one’s mind around, I will continue to search for multiple truths in complex issues, in order to consider all possibilities and come to open minded and multidimensional conclusions.
One incredibly important thing I learned in this class is that having an apocalyptic outlook on environmental issues is rarely productive. I used to hold a very apocalyptic view of environmental issues. I now realize that this kind of outlook is alienating to most of the public. Instead, more productive language can be used to inspire change. For example, WRE suggests that people connect with one another through positivity, stating, “When we make common cause by cultivating human relationships and building communities of shared concern… we feel the rush of excitement at realizing that we are onto something, and that our efforts may well lead to change”(Steinberg p.279). While individual action alone is not powerful enough to create the kind of change we need to alter practices that lead to environmental degradation, adopting a positive outlook is much more effective in building community. Not to mention, holding a hopeful outlook about the future is much better for ones mental health and productivity.
Steinberg, Paul. 2015. Who Rules the Earth? How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives Oxford: Oxford University Press.