Hanganh Vo, MCAS'23
Hanganh is a sophomore majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Political Economy and double minoring in Economics and Managing for Social Impact and Public Good.
What Sustainability Means to me:
Sustainability means to me making the most of what resources I have access to and making sure that I do my part to limit my carbon footprint and make conscious choices about the things I chose to spend money on. Being sustainable means more than just reusing, recycling, and reusing; it is a mindset where every action I take not only concerns me but the impact it will have on the environment as well. Small things such as making sure I pack reusable bags, bringing my own reusable water bottle, making the conscious effort to avoid products with plastic add up. Beyond personal choices that I have made to become more sustainable, I have also turned to advocating these practices to my peers and my family as well. Being sustainable is choosing to not be selfish, to think about others besides yourself.
I’m extremely interested in consumer sustainability as I feel this idea is constantly changing to benefit companies more than the Earth. If we as consumers can hold companies accountable for greenwashing and not following up on their promises, we show them that our morals can no longer be bought out of convenience. Fair labor practices and sustainability go hand in hand for me and they can not exist without each other in a just society.
Hanganh is a sophomore majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Political Economy and double minoring in Economics and Managing for Social Impact and Public Good.
What Sustainability Means to me:
Sustainability means to me making the most of what resources I have access to and making sure that I do my part to limit my carbon footprint and make conscious choices about the things I chose to spend money on. Being sustainable means more than just reusing, recycling, and reusing; it is a mindset where every action I take not only concerns me but the impact it will have on the environment as well. Small things such as making sure I pack reusable bags, bringing my own reusable water bottle, making the conscious effort to avoid products with plastic add up. Beyond personal choices that I have made to become more sustainable, I have also turned to advocating these practices to my peers and my family as well. Being sustainable is choosing to not be selfish, to think about others besides yourself.
I’m extremely interested in consumer sustainability as I feel this idea is constantly changing to benefit companies more than the Earth. If we as consumers can hold companies accountable for greenwashing and not following up on their promises, we show them that our morals can no longer be bought out of convenience. Fair labor practices and sustainability go hand in hand for me and they can not exist without each other in a just society.
Cynthia Ma, MCAS'22
Cynthia is a junior from Shanghai, China majoring in Environmental Studies with double minors in Economics and Global Public Health and the Common Good.
What Sustainability Means to me:
Sustainability is beyond just environmental protection. It emphasizes the interdependence between humans and the environment while recognizing the limits of an economic model that is based on exploitations of natural resources and human labor. Sustainability to me is conscious lifestyle choices at the individual level and collaboration across border lines at the societal level. With the care for the environment, future generations, and ourselves, people should be inspired to build a resilient society that is deeply integrated with the natural ecosystems and acknowledge that humans are a part of the environment instead of a separate community from nature.
Cynthia is a junior from Shanghai, China majoring in Environmental Studies with double minors in Economics and Global Public Health and the Common Good.
What Sustainability Means to me:
Sustainability is beyond just environmental protection. It emphasizes the interdependence between humans and the environment while recognizing the limits of an economic model that is based on exploitations of natural resources and human labor. Sustainability to me is conscious lifestyle choices at the individual level and collaboration across border lines at the societal level. With the care for the environment, future generations, and ourselves, people should be inspired to build a resilient society that is deeply integrated with the natural ecosystems and acknowledge that humans are a part of the environment instead of a separate community from nature.
Giovanna Eichner, MCAS'23
Giovanna is a junior majoring in History and minoring in German Studies.
What Sustainability Means to me:
Despite the fact that sustainability’s denotations may be with resource management, for me, it has always been synonymous with community. Sustainability encompasses hundreds, or even thousands, of interconnected systems and individuals working with each other and the environment. This is because living sustainably in every way requires the input of a diverse group of people being put towards one common goal. To understand one’s community is then a key step towards implementing sustainable solutions. Therefore, throughout my experiences with sustainability, being sustainable has led me to strive to include environments and people who are not necessarily familiar to me.
For example, my specific interests in sustainability lie in food and water management. From Boston College’s campus to the wider landscape of America, the sustainable production and equitable distribution of food and water would not be possible without many different people working together. Local farmers, communities, businesses, and students all interact with each other and try to create the best outcome for themselves and the planet. Work in the social and natural sciences illuminate the fact that when people work in diverse groups the best solutions are created. It is for this reason that sustainability also provides a unique opportunity for growth in interpersonal relationships beyond matters traditionally deemed as environmental. Reorganizing society in a way that is more ethical is a monumental task that will only be accomplished by changing how we interact with each other and the environment, thereby revealing the social nature to sustainability that has always compelled me.
Giovanna is a junior majoring in History and minoring in German Studies.
What Sustainability Means to me:
Despite the fact that sustainability’s denotations may be with resource management, for me, it has always been synonymous with community. Sustainability encompasses hundreds, or even thousands, of interconnected systems and individuals working with each other and the environment. This is because living sustainably in every way requires the input of a diverse group of people being put towards one common goal. To understand one’s community is then a key step towards implementing sustainable solutions. Therefore, throughout my experiences with sustainability, being sustainable has led me to strive to include environments and people who are not necessarily familiar to me.
For example, my specific interests in sustainability lie in food and water management. From Boston College’s campus to the wider landscape of America, the sustainable production and equitable distribution of food and water would not be possible without many different people working together. Local farmers, communities, businesses, and students all interact with each other and try to create the best outcome for themselves and the planet. Work in the social and natural sciences illuminate the fact that when people work in diverse groups the best solutions are created. It is for this reason that sustainability also provides a unique opportunity for growth in interpersonal relationships beyond matters traditionally deemed as environmental. Reorganizing society in a way that is more ethical is a monumental task that will only be accomplished by changing how we interact with each other and the environment, thereby revealing the social nature to sustainability that has always compelled me.
Catherine Passarello, MCAS'21
Katie is a graduating senior from Palo Alto, California majoring in International Studies.
What Sustainability Means to me:
When I think about sustainability I think about how every element of our lives, from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the politicians we support, is interconnected. When I pick up an apple at the grocery store, for example, I am choosing an entire supply chain that involves people, places, and carbon footprints I cannot see but am inherently impacting. More than anything else, sustainability is about being cognizant of the impact that our actions have. It is the active decision to live in a way that uplifts the communities and places around us, so that they are able to prosper even after our own individual time has passed. Sustainability is at the intersection of race, gender, income, geographical location, and many other things. Given its transcendent nature, it should also be at the root of everything we do.
Katie is a graduating senior from Palo Alto, California majoring in International Studies.
What Sustainability Means to me:
When I think about sustainability I think about how every element of our lives, from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the politicians we support, is interconnected. When I pick up an apple at the grocery store, for example, I am choosing an entire supply chain that involves people, places, and carbon footprints I cannot see but am inherently impacting. More than anything else, sustainability is about being cognizant of the impact that our actions have. It is the active decision to live in a way that uplifts the communities and places around us, so that they are able to prosper even after our own individual time has passed. Sustainability is at the intersection of race, gender, income, geographical location, and many other things. Given its transcendent nature, it should also be at the root of everything we do.
