ABOUT ME

I am strong-willed, independent, and ready for adventure. I try my very best to "walk the walk"- riding my bike to work, eating a local and vegetarian diet, taking the megabus instead of flying, and engaging in local politics. I am currently in a gap year between high school and college. I did my last two years of high school at the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, studying alongside passionate youth from all backgrounds. This year I have been living at home in Maryville, TN but will head up to Swarthmore College in Philadelphia this August to start my undergraduate education.

Interests

I want to do all in my power to catalyze a transition towards sustainability. I am motivated by the loss of biodiversity, the urgency of climate change, and the finite nature of fossil fuels. Creative solutions, such as permaculture, excite me, and I hope weave them into a meaningful career in land use planning. Currently I spend most of my time working to establish a network of high school environmental clubs in Tennessee- the Tennessee Youth Environmental Network (TennYEN, www.tennyen.org). I also love to dance- I've been contra dancing for years and am trying to pick up swing dancing. The rest of my days are spent working part time in food preparation at a local restaurant. I enjoy biking, hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, and getting to know places through people.

• dancing
• swing dancing
• education
• dining
• vegetarian
• dieting
• clubbing
• flying
• politics
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• teaching
• mountains

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent the summer of June 2011 traveling by train in Europe with three friends. Complications forced us to separate into pairs with the plan of meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece two days later- one friend and I would journey from Croatia by train while the other two would fly. Upon reaching Belgrade, Serbia around dark, we found out that trains no longer traveled into Greece. So, we ended up rushing onto a sleeper train which would get us to Skopje, Macedonia (at least closer to our destination). We spent the night on the top bunk in our compartment watching out the window. Despite the fact that we had no idea what the next day would bring, the fireflies twinkling from the shadowy hills brought me more joy than can be expressed.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Micronesia, Federated States of, Norway, Tanzania

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, United States