Loving Mother Earth by Lucinda

Loving Mother Earth by Lucinda - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Each summer growing up I spent three weeks at Gwynn Valley Camp, where my passion for the environment was sparked. At camp, we spent all day in nature, whether it was working on their farm, mountain biking, paddling, or swimming in the lake. By working on the farm and spending the days outside rain or shine, I fell in love with Mother Earth. I gained an understanding of basic agriculture, what it’s like to live in a temperate rainforest, and living in an environmentally conscious community.
Along with spending time at camp, I grew up helping my mom in our family garden; planting, weeding, and harvesting ripe vegetables. As our harvests became a plentiful rainbow of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, we shared our surplus of vegetables with neighbors. The bounties of urban gardening not only connected me with the earth but also with the neighborhood community and the people around me. Because of gardening, I became much more aware of how my actions, and those of others, can impact the trees, air, oceans, streams, ecosystems, and the environment we live in every day. I’ve learned that our connection with the environment is a give and take, and if we care for Mother Earth, she will care for us. Each little action can amount to a bigger positive, or negative change. I dream about being the positive change: giving back to the Earth and helping to harmonize the connection between humans and nature. Through spending time at camp and in our family garden, I realized my passion for the environment and my need to ensure a brighter future for upcoming generations.
My love for the environment has continued to grow as I’m an active member of the Student Action for the Environment Club and have volunteered on multiple urban farms in downtown Raleigh throughout high school. I cannot sit back and watch as humans destroy the earth, I need to take action and be a part of making a difference which is why I selected to major in Environmental Science. I want to learn about how we can use science to make informed decisions regarding the environment and make a positive change.