Nearing the end of the semester I find myself actively considering my actions so much more than I ever did previously. Before taking this and another environmental course this semester, I had never had much education regarding sustainability and environmental concerns beyond a general approach. It was never actively on my mind when I would go shopping or go on late night drives just for fun. Now, when I go to shopping, I am always recognizing how much waste we produce, how everything in grocery stores is plastic, how much I feel the need to buy when I go shopping for “back to school”, etc…
What really opened my eyes to this was the Carbon Footprint activity and the “Story of Stuff” video we watched. These two lessons, amongst many others, flipped a switch in my head that made me want to take steps in my own life to help our community and ultimately our planet. The Carbon Footprint activity made me realize how much nonsense driving I do, just because I like to drive. I have reduced my driving so substantially that I hardly ever take it out of the driveway. The “Story of Stuff” opened my eyes to my shopping patterns and the speed at which I go through clothing. I have always loved shopping and clothing, but have been much more aware of what I buy and how I buy it. I’ve learned new concepts regarding how fast fashion is far from ecofriendly, which is something I probably would have never thought about while shopping in the past. Even things as simple as when I go to the grocery stores, I bring reusable bags for myself and my friends as well. I encourage late night walks instead of drives, as that had always been something my friends and I would do for hours on end to clear our heads. By making it apparent to my friends that I care about this issue, I feel both encouraged to keep sharing what I learn as well as keep taking these steps to hold true to my word. By making an active effort with my friends to act on these issues, I feel like they hold me accountable for my own as well so I don’t come across as hypocritical.
Although these actions are very simple and seem like they won’t make a huge difference, they are so easy to do everyday that it makes me wonder why anyone wouldn’t. I am planning to continue taking steps towards a greener future for myself, and taking courses to educate myself on what I can do further. Gradually adding different approaches to living, shopping, traveling, etc. is easy and has the ability to rub off on people as well! Something that has made these actions so easy to remember and carry out is being in a city like Charleston where I frequently see different activities going on promoting a more sustainable lifestyle, different policies coming to be to create change, and people sharing their thoughts and ideas on how to make Charleston a better, greener space.