My experience as a Young Ambassador has significantly shaped my understanding of environmental stewardship and civics. Through the YA program, I learned of the crucial role that individuals from all backgrounds play in protecting, conserving, and rehabilitating the environment. The program's emphasis on litter prevention and cleanup reinforced my commitment to environmental stewardship. Additionally, meeting professionals dedicated to environmental stewardship was incredibly inspiring and motivated me to pursue a similar path in my own life. The Young Ambassador program provided a strong foundation in stewardship and civic engagement that will continue to guide me throughout my life.

Since my time as a Young Ambassador, I’ve continued to seek opportunities to make a positive impact in my community. As a Commonwealth University Bloomsburg Honors College student, I became an executive board member of the Bloomsburg, PA chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. In this role, I work alongside other citizens concerned with the climate crisis to empower the general public to engage in the political process. We encourage individuals to reach out to their legislators to drive meaningful environmental change through legislative action while we lead by example and do the same. As part of the Citizens' Climate Lobby, we regularly table to spread climate awareness, write letters to our legislators multiple times a week, and frequently publish Letters to the Editor in local newspapers.
I also contribute to my community through volunteerism. A minimum of sixteen hours of community service per academic year are required as a part of the Commonwealth University Honors College program, but from September 2024 to March 2025 I have accrued twenty eight hours. Volunteerism is something I am passionate about and actively advocate for. From serving cost free meals to those less fortunate to community cleanups, it has been a wonderful way for me to positively impact my community.
On a larger scale, I am undertaking a faculty-mentored research project with a professor from CU Bloomsburg that will be completed by Fall 2025. The research project aims to enhance hazard mitigation strategies and improve disaster preparedness for rural communities in Pennsylvania. This study examines historical trends and spatial patterns of natural hazards across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, focusing on their frequency and impacts on rural communities from 1960 to 2022. With climate change increasing the frequency and severity of natural hazard events, this research is particularly important in aiding rural areas in their mitigation of these extreme hazard events. The findings of this research will be presented at relevant university-sponsored events in addition to being submitted for publication and will positively contribute to the community of Pennsylvania.

My experience as a Young Ambassador has led to many valuable self-discoveries. First, I’ve learned that with dedication and effort, I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to. Before the YA program, I doubted myself and my abilities, but my time as a Young Ambassador gave me enough confidence in myself to propel myself towards my academic and professional ambitions. Second, I’ve realized that even as a non-elected citizen, I have a voice in the political process and can actively advocate for environmentally friendly legislation. The YA program provided me with networking opportunities with elected officials and an gave me an introduction into the citizen's role of the political process, which I make full use of today through my membership with the Citizens' Climate Lobby. Lastly, I’ve come to understand that growth in my professional, personal, and academic life requires stepping outside my comfort zone—and I am fully capable of doing so. Presenting my required public education event at my high school for the Young Ambassador program was a significant turning point in my ability to step outside my comfort zone. At the time, I was terrified of public speaking, but my passion for the topic helped me to overcome that fear. Now, I can confidently present my work in public settings, and this experience has made me more eager and self-assured in taking on new challenges in both my academic and professional pursuits.