Confessions of a Ecophiliac

Eco – house (commonly associated with the environment)

Philia – love

Alright, so, today I looked up and realized: I’m an environmentalist. Not only and environmentalist, an ecophiliac. I really love working on environmental issues, sustainable development, environmental law…all of it is fascinating to me. Not only do I like the academic side, but also the application. Working in communities to further awareness and reduction of impact, and with law makers to codify rights that would guarantee future generations access to resources is basically what I want to do with my life (right now). And, I realize this sounds trite, but I also just really enjoy being outside. I have field guides from most of the places I’ve been, because I used to keep a nature journal with drawings and descriptions of plants. Ecology was one of my favorite classes. Basically, stuff is awesome. I have always been outdoorsy, but my active involvement just seems to have happened. What brought me here?

Well, I suppose it really started with Lakes Environmental Association, where I interned as a water quality tester, educator, and with invasive aquatic species control.  I came to appreciate the importance of the lakes and water to livelihoods, and how critical it was that they remain healthy.  Also, having your job be chilling in boats on lakes or working in the woods with three other amazing interns all day is pretty much heaven.

From there I came to college, and my first-year course was environmental science.  I was hooked on the ES department, but the environmentalist group on campus intimidated me.  They seemed super hardcore, and I was just interested in water quality and availability issues, not so much renewable energy and going into the community.  At a symposium I asked a question about international environmental law, and someone from the club heard it.  He started e-mailing me, asking me to come, but I never did.  I was too afraid.  This year, I came back to school for my second year with an idea to inform people about water quality and availability and individual impact though educating them about the harmful effects of bottled water.  I went to the first meeting of the environmental group and pitched the idea.  They were super supportive, and within 24 hours I was put in contact with someone at Think Outside the Bottle, a national campaign doing exactly what I wanted to do.  From then on, I got more involved and love every minute of it.