Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

Growing up as a Girl Scout I have been hardwired to step up for any opportunity to help someone or something for the better. I have the initiative to start something important without the urging of an authoritative figure. Last year I began working on an environmental project and discovered that most of the marine debris in the world is plastics. The impact of plastic waste to our environment is heartbreaking. Tons of plastics in the oceans and landfills are breaking down and producing toxins that get into the water cycle and cause adverse health effects to animals and humans. Plastics are ingested by about 100,00 animals a year who mistake it for food causing them to die. Recycling plastic not only keeps it out of the oceans and landfills it saves our natural resources. Making new plastic requires a lot of fossil fuels. Some studies show that recycling one plastic bottle instead of making a new one is enough to power a 60 watt bulb for six hours.

In order to advocate this and gain support for my cause I contacted the people in charge of a local Earth Day fair and asked if I could participate in this event. I organized a booth oriented towards raising awareness about the importance of recycling plastics and the effects plastic pollutants have on our environment. In addition to making a display, I arranged for a group of students from the Sierra club to help with the presentation. Not only do I have the initiative to be a good leader, but I also have the determination required to achieve my goals.

I decided to start a plastic recycling system at my high school. Even though the waste management company in charge of taking my schoolâ€™s paper recycling program would neither provide bins for plastics nor accept our recyclables, I was not discouraged at all from trying to make this program happen. Instead of giving up, I rethought how the plastics could be dropped off at recycling centers and how I could find a way to provide bins for each classroom. After contacting many companies and receiving many rejections I was able to secure an order of ninety four recycling bins from Pinellas County Utilities. After discussing the topic with officials at my school, the bins were placed in all the classrooms.

In addition to solve the problem of transportation for the items recycled, I worked with the president of the newly formed Sierra club at my high school. With my determination I was able to arrange for volunteers from this club to sign up to pick up the recycling from the different classrooms and drop it off at local recycling sites once a week.

This experience was enjoyable because its ongoing even after I left the school and it actually makes a difference in the world and encourages people to continue to do more to help our community.

Now as a freshman at the university of Florida, I am studying sustainability, with the aim to graduate with this degree and then move on to a graduate program in this new and blossoming field. This will enable me to continue to fight for the environment.

This scholarship will provide much needed aid as I put myself through college with grants, loans, and my part time job. I will not stop until I have reached my goal and from there I will work to keep our home clean.