When I was a kid, I spent countless hours outside, climbing trees, inspecting plants and insects, or just hanging out reading a book. I used to examine the pictures in National Audubon Society field guides, or study history and culture textbooks. I lived for library trips and hikes in the Texas Hill Country with my grandparents. During those beautiful moments in the Hill Country, I often wondered what it must have been like for indigenous people living there in the past.
I decided that I wanted to be an archaeologist when I grew up.
When it came time to register for college, I chose anthropology as my major since archaeology is one of the four fields under its heading (the others being biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics). Since I was still a great lover of nature, I chose numerous electives in environmental science. And, as I studied anthropology, my focus shifted towards cultural anthropology, specifically human health and the environment. I became fascinated with how human activity impacts the environment and conversely, how the environments in which we live impact our health. After taking a course in Environmental Ethics, I found the words to describe how I felt and thought about the entire biosphere of our beautiful green and blue planet. I realized that my environmental ethic gives value to the planet and all of its lifeforms beyond their usefulness to people. I realized that I am an ecocentric environmentalist.
As I became increasingly aware of the impact that our environments have on our health and quality of life—from access to clean water and air to healthy soils for growing food—I made a commitment to work for environmental justice for people around the world. I pledged myself to protect our precious planet that makes life possible in the first place. After receiving my BA in Anthropology with a minor in Global Health, I completed the Texas Master Naturalist program in order to learn more about Texas nature, our landscapes and ecosystems. I also enrolled in a master’s program in Applied Anthropology (with a focus on environmental anthropology) in order to better advocate for environmental justice and communicate the importance of shifting our culture of consumption to one of sustainability and renewal.
Currently, I am preparing to start my thesis research, which is focused on understanding the needs of educators in environmental education programming. I am excited about this project! I hope my research helps facilitate and increase environmental education programming in local schools. As a mother of four boys, I am a huge advocate of environmental education for children. It is so important for our young people to understand the necessity of caring for our planet and its ecosystems. Our children and their children will inherit this planet when we’re gone. Not only should we leave them a healthy planet, but we should provide them with the tools and knowledge they will need to take care of it into the future.
Often, the human stories that I study as an environmental anthropologist are heavy. But being part of the Texas Master Naturalist program has provided me with so many amazing opportunities to do my part in caring for our local environment while meeting other Master Naturalists. It continuously renews my hope for the future.
Knowing that there are other people committed to good stewardship of the environment—people who regularly give their time to so many important projects—inspires me to new heights in both my studies and advocacy. I truly believe that, together, we can ensure a sustainable future that allows for equitable health for people and the planet.
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