Hometown: Piqua, Ohio
Majors: Psychology and English
Favorite LC Event: Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Tour

Hello! My name is Joling Hsiang, and I’m a first-year student double majoring in Psychology and English. Yes, you read right! Although I’m not majoring in an environmental field, I’m very grateful for the opportunity to develop my sustainability interests. I applied to the SUSTAINS Learning Community because I wanted to be involved in a smaller group of people and develop deeper relationships with fewer individuals (something that can be difficult at such an enormous university). Since I’ve always loved and appreciated nature, I didn’t see a reason not to apply…and I’m glad I did!

People in SUSTAINS are unique because they envision and advocate for a cause that is beyond themselves. I find this group to be admirable because we are conscientious individuals who strive to remain moral while we contemplate innovative ways to benefit our communities and future generations. Even if my future career does not directly involve sustainability, I have discovered that sustainability is an important way of living that can be incorporated into numerous aspects of life.

The SUSTAINS learning community offers a multitude of opportunities to have fun while learning about the environment. My favorite event was touring the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at Ohio State, where world-renowned research about the Earth’s climate is being completed. It was incredible to see how extracted ice and rocks from various regions of the world can tell researchers about the past and predict the future. In addition to these wonderful activities, SUSTAINS has amazing, passionate leaders who truly care for each individual’s growth. It’s definitely worthwhile to apply to be a part of this incredible community. Not only is SUSTAINS a great opportunity to network, you’ll be given the chance to learn and experience contemporary and valuable ideas. You’ll never know until you apply; SUSTAINS might spark an interest you never thought you had.

Hometown: Valley Stream, NY
Major: Environmental Policy and Decision Making
Favorite LC Event: Baltimore and Washington DC  Professional Development Trip

My name is Maria Fredericks and I am a first-year Environmental Policy and Decision-Making major from Valley Stream, New York. Coming to a school as big as Ohio State was definitely a daunting task, and I knew I had to create a community where I could feel at home immediately. SUSTAINS was the perfect fit for me. Wanting to try new things at OSU, it seemed redundant to join an organization that was so similar to my major but upon participating in the early-arrival program, I knew immediately I was wrong. It is truly enlightening to be a part of a community that cares about the environment and wants to make as big an impact as you. Within three days of living in our amazing new home, Scott House, I felt I belonged in a place so far away from my home.

Outside of the community-building portion that SUSTAINS provides, the “learning” aspect also brings several benefits. As a SUSTAINS member, I have been able to connect with professionals across OSU and Columbus for internship and research possibilities. I have learned what sustainability means at Ohio State and how I could further develop sustainability through our SUSTAINS project. I loved participating in volunteer projects such as educating for the Zero Waste Tailgate and gardening at 4^th Street Farms. It is truly gratifying to feel myself making a difference in the Ohio State community, especially as a new student.

My favorite SUSTAINS event to date was our professional development trip to Washington, D.C. I received the amazing opportunity of traveling to the nation’s capital with my best friends to meet with officials from the EPA, Bipartisan Policy Center, and even Chief Sustainability Officers for large corporations. As a policy major, this was perfectly aligned with my interests but it also proved educational and eye-opening to people outside environmental majors. I never would have thought that choosing to apply to a small Learning Community would allow me to develop my interests and discover myself, not just in Columbus, but also in Washington, D.C.

Hometown: Pickerington, OH
Major: Environment, Economy, Development, Sustainabililty
Favorite LC Event: Baltimore and Washington DC Professional Development Trip

I’m Matthew Griffin a first year Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability (EEDS) major who was nervous about coming to OSU.  I saw applying to the SUSTAINS Learning Community as a way to make a University as large as OSU feel smaller and as a way to connect me with students who shared my interest of learning how to incorporate sustainability into today’s world. SUSTAINS proved to be all this and more.

The SUSTAINS advisors are experienced and passionate staff who provide plenty of interesting opportunities to get connected with what the people of OSU and Columbus are doing to become more sustainable; they have also taken us to interact firsthand with the latest innovations in clean energy. Through SUSTAINS I have been able to interact with biodigesters, volunteer at urban farms, have a conversation with the 2009 recipient of the Sustainability Science Award Elena Irwin, and participate in numerous other incredible opportunities. We even took a trip to our nation’s capital to meet with some of the top policy makers, business leaders, and researchers who are making incredible strides to lead the US to a greener future. What makes these experiences even better is the fact that I get to share them with the new friends I have made in SUSTAINS. My fellow SUSTAINS members are from all different walks of life and are in a variety of majors, but we are all linked by a common passion for sustainability that drives us to learn and grow together.

SUSTAINS has been such a large part of my college life so far, and I couldn’t be happier about my decision to apply. For any students who are looking for a community of impassioned students and want to get real-world experience in the field of sustainability, I highly recommend you check out SUSTAINS.