When I was a kid I wanted to be a pop star and lawyer at the same time, and while the logistics of this occupation might not have been the most sensible, it still sounds like my dream job nonetheless. From an elementary student to a senior in high school, I have always wanted a job I truly care about– and what I care about is making a difference. 

As a pop star lawyer, I would have made a difference through what I thought were truly amazing vocals and court cases; now I am on a different path.

We live in an unprecedented time. A time when climate change will become irreversible. A time when the air we breathe becomes more toxic. A time when natural disasters happen every few months. Worst of all though, is a time when nobody cares.

Unfortunately, the few who care about where our Earth is going are left ignored and isolated for their “beliefs,” which are more like scientific facts. As one of the few who care about keeping Earth beautiful, it seems daunting when constantly bombarded with images of blazing wildfires and rampaging overconsumption every time you open a phone.

 I often must be reminded that I can only control my actions, and my actions can make a big difference, especially if we all make small steps to control our actions together.

 Every day I take steps to lower my carbon footprint and create as little waste as possible.

I have not eaten meat since sixth grade despite many doubts from family members that it would not be a lifestyle I could maintain. While missing out on the annual Thanksgiving turkey, I have cut my carbon footprint by half.

When telling people I am vegetarian I am often met with the same reaction- shock and almost a sense of disgust. I become bombarded with questions and statements like “how do you do that?,” “I could never, ever give up (insert meat of choice here)” or the most dreaded “would you eat meat if you were trapped on an island?” 

My answers are that I can “do that,” because it is not about me and I am okay making a small lifestyle change for the Earth’s sake. I do not care that one likes meat and I am not asking people to be a vegetarian. 

Obviously I would eat meat if I was trapped on an island and I think if one is willing to kill their meal, one actually understands the consequence of taking a life for sustenance and is actually more aware of their choices.  A diet change is not enough though.

I thrift a good portion of my clothing to cut down on textile waste, and I encourage others to do the same. It is one of the easiest and most fun changes for a more sustainable life. Thrifting is still shopping and can satisfy one’s need to be consistently consuming trends and changing a whole wardrobe to match what is in style. 

As I seem to consistently be reminding people in my writing on “The Orbit” is that you do not need everything social media is telling you. We live in a world where the consumption of goods feels necessary to maintain being happy and corporations have created methods of marketing that allow their products to be forced onto consumers without them knowing it for every second, of every hour, of every day.

My favorite part about thrift shopping is it takes longer to find what you are looking for, which to many seems inconvenient, but to me, it is more of a challenge and it makes me think twice as to whether I need it or the internet is telling me I need it.

A common misconception about the way I try to live my life is that I will shame or dislike anybody for not working as hard as I do to preserve our environment, but that is not the truth. 

Sustainability is not often the most accessible lifestyle, as often high-quality clothing that produces less waste is more expensive, and the same goes for environmentally friendly products and food. However, I can work to provide more accessible opportunities for sustainability within my school and community.

You can work too in order to help provide access to a more sustainable lifestyle through joining North Polk’s Environmental Club which creates opportunities to cut down on textile waste through our annual thrift sale which will take place in the Spring of this year. Additionally, we attend a field trip every year where we will cut down invasive species, collect and/or redistribute seeds and pick up trash.

As explained at the beginning of this article, my passions have changed and now I plan to attend the University of Iowa and major in Environmental Policy and Planning. My goal is to cement my place on this Earth as someone who cares about something greater than myself.

This is my Earth, but it is your Earth too and I beg of you, the reader, to understand that furthermore, this is our Earth in which our kids and grandchildren will have to cope with the mistakes of our past.