Interviewed by Ellie S. (11th Grade)
Athena Z. is a student at the University of Chicago interested in economics and sustainability. She is particularly focused on how incentives and institutional systems shape environmental outcomes. Lets hear where did she start the journey and where is she heading towards.
Every journey has a starting point. Can you describe the specific moment where sustainability started being a personal mission?
Athena: I first became aware of environmental issues during a unit of inquiry in primary school. We learned about things like melting glaciers and deforestation. At that time, my understanding was pretty basic. I knew these problems were serious, but they felt far away from my daily life. Later, I came across the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which helped me think about sustainability in a more organized way. It felt quite abstract even then. Most of what I learned was about what we are supposed to do, like not littering, saving water, and using less electricity. They were clear and practical, but also pretty basic. I then started thinking, if everyone already knows these “right behaviors,” why do environmental problems still persist? That is when I began to realize that sustainability is not just about individual choices. It is shaped by larger systems and structures.
Sustainability isn’t just for environmental scientists. How have you blended your specific talents with your passion for the climate?
Athena: During a summer session, I worked with classmates on a project about the relationship between air pollution and healthcare spending. The intuition wasn’t surprising since more pollution leads to worse health and higher medical costs.
But kind of research makes environmental issues feel much more tangible at least to me. It connects them to things people experience in their daily lives. Compared to big ideas like “saving the planet” or “protecting the rainforest,” linking environmental problems to personal health and financial costs makes them feel immediate and relatable.
This experience also made me think about sustainability through an economic lens. It is not just about awareness or values. It is also about incentives. People do not always act based on what they think is right. They respond to the costs and benefits they face.
How do your environmental values influence the ‘non-negotiable’ choices you make—like where you want to go to college or the companies you choose to support?
Athena: In everyday life, there is often a trade-off between sustainability and convenience or cost. I have realized that making sustainable choices does not always happen automatically. It usually takes effort, and sometimes it means going against instinct.
There are definitely times when the easier or cheaper option is right there, but if it comes with a higher environmental cost, I try to pause and think twice instead of just choosing convenience.
At the same time, it is encouraging to see more governments and institutions promoting sustainability through policies and incentives. Because of that, some choices that used to take extra effort are becoming easier to make.
Closing thoughts:
Athena: Instead of expecting individuals to constantly push themselves, I think it is more effective to design systems where the sustainable option is also the easiest and most affordable one. When that happens, sustainability stops being something you have to think hard about. It simply becomes the default.
