Lets hear about Emma D. who’s a masters student at Carnegie Mellon University studying Machine Learning. She did her undergrad at Johns Hopkins University – majored in Computer Engineering.
Every journey has a starting point, can you describe the specific moment (a class, a conversation, or an outdoor experience) where sustainability started being a personal mission?
My family has always emphasized sustainability in the house. For example, recycling and composting have always been non-negotiables that have become second nature. My dad in particular, is very environmentally conscious. Whether it is being mindful about the energy used for turning on the lights/AC, making greater efforts to save water, or washing bottles before recycling them, he tries to do his part. One moment in particular was when we were hiking, and there was an empty water bottle littered on the ground, he picked it up and placed it in the nearest trash can. While this may seem like a small act, it inspired my brother and I to leave things better than we found it: picking up trash we see, recycling/composting in the correct way, turning the tap off as we brush our teeth, and more.
As you move into college, what is the one piece of institutional knowledge you want to leave behind for younger students?
As I move through college, the biggest piece of advice I want to leave behind is to use that time to try whatever you are interested in. Even though it may feel like there is a lot of pressure to decide immediately and stick with it, college is the best opportunity to try many different majors, career paths, and extracurriculars. Without diving into these different areas and taking many classes/doing different types of internships, it is hard to tell if you will enjoy doing that in the future, so the best way would be to try it first. In terms of extracurriculars, there are a lot of opportunities to join different clubs, try different sports, and meet people from different backgrounds. I think gaining this diversity of interests both personally and professionally is super helpful!
More about Emma
Apart from school, I like to crochet, play volleyball, take walks, and watch TV!
Her instagram is: emmadionne7
