Bustling Wednesday lunches, an exhausting swimming practice, several long hours in the library, and studying for the next math test make our daily life seem like it is on the brim of its maximum capacity. Constantly running from class to class, with a paper in hand, cramming for the English vocabulary test next period, sometimes we are so busy doing what is assigned to us that we forget what we do best: caring.
Caring for each other happens: we somehow find a little time to take a break and relax with someone and get to know how that person is really doing. Our caring for each other makes Williston a community of connected people, able to lend a hand when necessary.
Often overlooked, but just as important, is how our community cares for the environment. We already live very sustainably because many of us live in dorms, walk to school, and eat in a communal dining hall. Even though we seem to live sustainably, we still use a lot of resources. In order to reduce our resource consumption and reduce the amount of bills the business office has to pay, our school has implemented many low-impact appliances and systems. For example, we have fluorescent lighting in the lampposts around campus, geothermal heating in 194, and composting in the dining hall.
The purpose of this blog is to highlight those things that the community is doing to live more sustainably by educating the public. Christian Knapp, Evan Jacobson, and I will be using this blog as a system of educating the public about the environment and, more specifically, what our school is doing to live in greater harmony with the earth.
In order to start things off, I want to share something about myself. I live in Upstate NY on lots of land. At home, I have a large garden, I go hiking, mountain biking and running. I am a folk, country, rock, alternative, indie, and bluegrass music enthusiast. At Williston, I do Cross Country, Squash, and Track. I am also involved in writing for the Willistonian and Janus, working as a proctor in the freshman boys’ dorm, and being the head of the Sustainable Life Club.
The reason why I care so much about the environment is because I feel that I am helping to preserve both the environment and the human race. Every time I turn off my lights when they are not in use, or when I wait until the dishwasher is full before I run it, I feel that I am doing a favor for the children and grandchildren of others. Although we may not see much of a change in our world in the years that we are alive, I feel that over time, if we continue using as many resources as we are now without replenishing our assets, we could lead ourselves and the other species that share our earth to extinction. Every measure I take to conserve, I feel that I am preserving the race of humans and animals for generations to come. Educating others about our “Community’s Sustainability” for the purpose of helping protect our future generations is what we want to achieve in this blog.
An inspiring article, Nick! full of purpose, passion, and integrity! I look forward to reading more in the weeks ahead.