Interviewed by Ellie S. (12th Grade)
Sebastian is from California and now studying physics in Colorado, lets hear from him!
Every journey has a starting point. Can you describe the specific moment where sustainability started being a personal mission?
Growing up in California and constantly battling droughts taught me a few habits that I keep with me to this day as sustainable practices such as shorter showers and turning the faucet off while I brush my teeth. I always keep an eye out for litter that I can slip into my pocket until I find a convenient trash can. My school, Colorado College, was carbon neutral for the first few years of my time there, and while it has lost that title now, it is still working towards having a minimal carbon footprint. This impacted how I look at sustainability, especially as many of my roommates are EV science or EV studies majors. Together, we are always working to help our apartment become more sustainable such as signing us up for a compost program or washing ziploc bags and takeout containers to store food.
Sustainability isn’t just for environmental scientists. How have you blended your specific talents with your passion for the climate?
As a Physics major, my class knowledge intersects with EV science in many ways. The biggest moment for me was taking an engineering class about wind turbines and sustainable energy. Learning about aerodynamics and the best ways we can harness the sun’s energy was great to learn about and helped me shape how I want to make a difference. While Physics is (in my opinion) awesome and can lead to great inventions, it’s important to remember sustainable practices when learning and creating. Wind energy has so much potential for the future, and is something positive to look towards in the future.
As you move into college, what is the one piece of ‘institutional knowledge’ you want to leave behind for younger students?
Try everything! So far in college, I’ve tried everything from Intramural Sports to Stand-Up Comedy. These early years are the best times to branch out and see what sticks. You don’t have to keep doing everything for your entire 4 years, but trying new things is a great way to meet new people and learn new skills. When it comes to school itself, try as many things as you can before deciding on a major. Take that random non-major specific class that sounds interesting, love it or hate it, you won’t live with the regret of not doing it. Another thing to remember is that we are all going at different speeds through college. There is always going to be someone further ahead than you. Maybe they took more classes in high school, or got to test out of certain prerequisites. What matters is that you go forward at your own pace and don’t compare yourself to others.
More about me:
Apart from school, I play music, play cards, dance, and write in my free time!
insta: sebastian_dionne_
