In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Office of Sustainability’s ECOReps share their appreciation for the world around them, and how they are finding solace in the great outdoors.
''I feel super lucky to have the opportunity to spend so much time at home appreciating my trees and the woods I played in growing up. Usually Earth Day makes me think about the bigger picture: spreading awareness and lessening our environmental impact. But this year, I’m reminded exactly why all those efforts are so important by spending time reconnecting with the land that made me love nature in the first place.'' —Emily Ross ’22, chemical engineering ''While this time during COVID-19 has been challenging, one thing that it has shown me is the consistency of nature, the outdoors, and Earth. While the news, number of cases, and social situation around us is constantly changing, the ability to go outside and admire the trees and sky always remains. With the additional time on my hands, I've been able to clean out some closets and donate old clothes, shoes, games, etc., that I no longer use. I know these products will stay out of the landfill and go to someone who appreciates them more than I do.'' —Addie King ’21, chemistry ''I am thankful for nature because I am able to look to it for inspiration. I admire the balance and interconnectivity observable in nature, and I always have that in mind when examining issues we face in our society today. I recently started a garden in my backyard, and I’ve also been learning new recipes that are fun to make and good for the environment. I definitely will feel more connected to Earth this Earth Day because of my new garden. I quite literally have my own small section of earth to take care of.'' —Isaiah Moore ’22, environmental studies and economics ''This year, Earth Month has been filled with much more stillness: introspection rather than action. It is true that with the halting of daily life, the environment has been given some time to heal. But it is also true that when, eventually, the wheels begin to turn again, we will most likely go back to where we were. This Earth Day feels like a glimpse, some hope about what a more sustainable future could be. Birds sing louder. The air feels cleaner. Families walk daily through my neighborhood now, their children loud and excited. It is a long road ahead, but it is a road. And that gives me hope.'' —Jane Fergusson ’21, English and math ''I'm extremely grateful for the Earth and its capacity to feed and nourish us, especially in this uncertain time. Going outside is an act of relaxation and joy as I see trees blooming around me and am reminded of the persistence of the season. I'm especially grateful for my family's garden and for my houseplants during this time, too, with the future growing season to look forward to and pockets of green in my home. My family is collecting all of our produce scraps and eggshells to eventually add to the compost pile at our community garden. I have a profound sense of gratitude for Lafayette's sustainability family as we have all rallied around each other in support and found ways to continue the conversations that we're all passionate about from afar.'' —Jen Giovanniello ’20, environmental studies and English ''I think more people will appreciate Earth Day this year, which is really wonderful! The COVID crisis has allowed more people to get outside (since that's one of the only things TO do), and I hope that this trend of outdoorsiness sticks with us long after quarantine. Earth Day feels more significant to me this year because I think more people will be celebrating! With all the chaos and uncertainty in the world right now, there are a few things that we can remain sure of: The air is getting warmer, the crops keep growing, the sun keeps shining, and the planet keeps supporting us.'' —Liz Rohricht ’21, mechanical engineering ''One thing I love about the outdoors is its ability to lift my mood instantly. I can be sad or angry, but if I go outside on a warm day there’s so much beauty all around you to appreciate. How could it not lift your spirits? During COVID, I’ve been doing a lot of little things to increase sustainability. Aside from continuing to recycle, I’ve been reusing more items that I would usually throw away. Pasta sauce jars turned to cups, old rags sewn to make masks, plants potted in bean cans. I’m lucky that I’ll get to spend most of this Earth Day outside with my family, which I wouldn’t usually be able to do. Although it isn’t the Earth Day celebration that we wanted, it's still an important and special one all the same.'' —Kaela Marcus-Kurn ’22, neuroscience and environmental studies ''Although I wish I was eating some ice cream with chocolate sprinkles on the Quad and making a coffee-ground face mask, I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with family on this special day. A major thing I have tried to focus on while at home has been to educate my family on the proper ways to recycle and making sure that we are only using the resources that we need. No matter where you are, you always can have the ability to enjoy your surroundings. So today, my family and I will embark on a hike, enjoy being outside, and simply appreciate the world around us.'' —Aimee Koestler ’22, biology ''This Earth Day is more significant to me, because our dependence on nature has been exposed by the instability of everything else around us. The uncertainty of a pandemic reminds us of the permanence of nature and the comfort it provides. Many of us are finding solace in taking walks and generally have a heightened appreciation for being out of doors. However, if we want to lean on nature’s stability far into the future, it’s imperative that we follow through on our commitments to protect it. Nature is only as permanent as our promises to protect it'' —Sharon Engel ’22, environmental studies and anthropology ''This year Earth Day reminds me to be grateful for things that are sometimes easy to take for granted, like the chance to spend a day outdoors. Whether going to the beach in the summer or sitting on the Quad on a sunny day, I always enjoy spending time outside. While I have been home this semester, I have tried to continue to enjoy the outdoors when I can. Taking the time to walk places I would normally drive has allowed me to continue to enjoy being outside and to act more sustainably." —Kara Brand ’20, government and law ''Earth Day definitely feels different since it normally was a day for me to celebrate my love of the planet with others and participate in social events, such as tree planting or trash pickups with others. But I am so grateful for the fresh air and sunlight on my face as I walk through my neighborhood. The Earth provides so much comfort that I took for granted. I consider my daily routine to now include going around the house once I wake up and turn off all the lights my mother has turned on and abandoned. I also turn off the TV that is running the news 24/7 even if no one is watching. I also just got a compost bin and signed up for compost pickup in St. Louis. I’m very excited that this company not only takes food but paper towels and pizza boxes.'' —Andrea Bugyis ’21, environmental science
