Environmental Club: Threads Between Humans and Nature

Along with animals, I’ve always had a soft spot for the environment. 

As President of our school’s Environment Club, my mission is simple: help people care about the planet without sounding like a walking documentary. Some of our projects (like designing reusable bird feeds with the Engineering Club or hosting a Sustainable Fashion Show with other schools) taught me more than I expected. Watching sparrows explore the feeders or seeing students walk the runway in outfits made entirely from recycled materials, I started to notice the connections between creativity, habit, and the natural world. These projects revealed how small actions can ripple outwards and shape the relationships we share not only with each other, but also with nature. 

My favorite project has been building the school’s courtyard garden. After months of planning layouts and convincing students to help, we cleared weeds, built raised beds, and planted vegetables. The garden became more than just a source of fresh produce: it became a quiet place to watch birds dart tree to tree, trace sunlight on the leaves, and notice the growth happening slowly but steadily around me. 

Outside of school, I’ve been a part of the City of Beaverton’s effort to collect youth perspectives on local environmental policy. Listening to peers talk about their daily choices, such as what they throw away, what type of transportation they use, and what environmental issues are personal to them, made me curious about how people shape the world around them, and how the world, in turn, shapes us. 

These experiences have taught me to notice the quiet but powerful threads that connect humans and nature. I’ve learned that small actions do more than change a space: they can inspire others, shift perspectives, and help build a more connected and sustainable community.