As I reflect back on the past nine months as a fellow, but also on the past four years as a student at Santa Clara, I see how much I have changed. Some changes have been slow and hardly visible to anyone other than myself, like how much stronger and more flexible I’ve become after practicing yoga for four years. Other changes, have unfolded more like earthquakes, a sudden shift in balance and an immense release of tension that renders the familiar almost unrecognizable. Much like the time I sat in my host mother’s kitchen in El Salvador listening to her explain to me that the reason she takes high blood pressure medicine everyday now is because ever since her 18-year-old son has left home to make the incredibly dangerous journey to the US, not a moment has passed without her feeling terrified and helpless in protecting him. It’s nearly impossible not to be left drastically changed by these encounters.
They way that I see it, there have been two big processes happening over these past four years at Santa Clara. The first, is that I’ve put myself out there for all of these different opportunities and experiences that have shaped who I am, what I stand for, and what I want to do with my life; things like majoring in Environmental Science, traveling to El Salvador on an immersion trip, studying natural history in Baja Mexico, and studying ecology and conservation in South Africa. The second, has been this process of the fog clearing from my glasses and me beginning to be able to see who I have become, what I’ve accomplished, and all that I’m capable of. This second process has largely occurred over the course of this fellowship.
I am passionate about finding solutions that address environmental challenges while also improving people’s lives. Social entrepreneurs all across the globe are constantly working towards these solutions and making them available to those who need it most. This summer, I was able to witness firsthand how one good idea and the right team can change the world for the better. To see the impact of this work was incredibly inspiring and left me filled with renewed hope and a sense of urgency to figure out how I can best contribute.
To be successful as a social entrepreneur one must be innovative, in order to respond quickly to the unique challenges presented by working within the developing world, driven by efficiency, in order to sustain a business while keeping costs to customers as low as possible, but also empathetic and driven by a deep desire to help others. My experiences both in the field with Sistema Biobolsa and in the bay area with the Miller Center community now motivate me to do better and to do more. I feel called to do this work. It is what makes me feel alive and happiest and I don’t know if I would have realized this so early had I not been a fellow.
There are few topics that get me as fired up as the ocean and the ways in which humans interact with it. Last month, I had the chance to interview a connection from Mexico City, Lorena Luna, who currently works for an organization called Smartfish that facilitates sustainable fishing in Baja California Sur. It was interesting to hear how social entrepreneurship is being applied to the issue of ocean conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources. I see a lot of potential in social entrepreneurship to help to solve some of the toughest challenges in ocean conservation such as overfishing, and I hope to be a part of the solution be it by working directly with an existing enterprise, working with an organization to accelerate the impact of growing enterprises, or perhaps one day leading a social enterprise of my own.
Knowing both what I’m passionate about and the field that I want to work within makes me extremely excited for the future. Yes, it is uncertain, and no, I haven’t signed any dotted lines yet, so it can be nerve-wracking at times. However, I am not hesitant to enter the working world, I am not dreading a nine to five schedule, rather I am chomping at the bit to get out there and apply what I’ve learned to change the world. This fellowship has provided me with a new set of skills and experiences, countless mentors who continue to offer me inspiration and guidance, and the confidence in myself and my abilities which collectively has prepared me to in the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola, “go forth and set the world on fire”.
