My name is Mallory Johnston and I’m a freshman in the Environment and Natural Resources Scholars Program. I’m very excited to being living on campus and attending Ohio State, I have a feeling this is going to be an amazing four years!! I’m very passionate about the environment and how human interactions affect it. My love for nature has always been a large part of my life, especially outdoor activities such as hiking and paddling. I grew up in central Ohio, hiking with my family and reading as much as possible. My childhood spent roaming around the woods by my house greatly impacted how I see the natural world around me. I really became aware of environmental issues, however, my junior year of high school when I was living in Catalonia, Spain. I was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student for a year, and it was on of the most transformative years of my life. Not only did I learn another language, I now consider a small fishing village 5,000+ miles away from Columbus my other home. I lived right on the Mediterranean coast, and while the sea was absolutely gorgeous, there was a common theme throughout it: pollution. Living so close to a beautiful force of nature and seeing how a strong human presence can be destructive, I became inspired to study Environmental Policy and Decision Making. I hope that one day I can help protect the environment from destructive behaviors and to help educate people about the natural word around them.