Earth Grant Interns Sharing Their Resilience Skills
Earth Grant intern Karina presenting on the impact studying abroad had on her life and the skills she gained from her time in Bosnia.
We are well into the spring semester enjoying an unseasonably warm February. With internships under way, and students hard at work it has been great to gather in class and hear how our Earth Grant students lead resilient lives in a multitude of ways that traverse academic, professional, and personal spaces. By the end of the year, every student part of the Earth Grant program will have presented their Resilience Share. This is a way to acknowledge the resilience required in and out of the classroom to face our always changing world.
What kinds of skills are students sharing you may ask. A wide variety! Wynton Barnett II shared car maintenance and how to have agency over your own vehicle. He shared a wide range of knowledge about how to keep your vehicle safe while also explaining what to do when car troubles do arrive. These skills contribute to our own ability to take ownership of our own lives and how to help others! Lamley Andrews presented on “The Art of Making Friends” and brought light to how important community is. It is important to explicitly discuss how community is built, what we have control over in our own lives, and how our environment helps or hinders in shaping what community looks like. It is no secret this is a practiced art for Lamely; she is an influential part of our robust Earth Grant Cohort!
Jillian Smith reminded us how important it is to know how to properly manage our waste. Waste management is a combination of reducing our waste before its inception and disposing of things properly once they have been used. An important and necessary reminder that can help us save money, protect our environment, and contribute to community resilience. Khusan Jumaboev presented the 30-second elevator pitch. This crucial skill helps students to take advantage of networking opportunities and adapt to an ever changing job market. Being an adaptable and personable professional continues to be a valuable skill entering the workforce after graduation. It can also help you build community in academic and personal circles as well!
Overall, it has been inspiring and informative to learn how we can all build more resilience from our Earth Grant students. We are excited for the resilience shares to come and for these skills and stories to develop!