The environment holds all things worth protecting. Blooming flowers, tall trees, and any and all animals exist within the nature humans choose to defend or destroy. Despite what society seems to be learning towards, for these humans at CHS, the choice to defend has always been clear, and forever will be.
Seniors Angelina Gomez and Valerie Lopez-Torréro are officers within the Voice For Change club at CHS, believing in empowering students to use their voices in protecting and preserving the environment.
“Every person’s actions matter; even doing one small sustainable thing can make such a difference,” Lopez-Torréro said.
Individuals who make decisions that improve the environment, rather than degrade it, have the potential to inspire others to do the same, accumulating in a greater collective movement towards sustainability.
“By making small changes, we can reduce pollution, save resources, and slow down climate change,” Gomez said. “If everyone does their part, it can make a huge difference for future generations.”
Practicing sustainability has become second nature for these seniors, who have incorporated certain simple yet impactful actions into their everyday lives.
“My favorite sustainable habits are using reusable bags and walking or biking instead of driving,” Gomez said. “I also try to minimize my usage of plastic water bottles and instead use reusable ones.”
Brooke Devito, another sustainable senior at CHS, also had recommendations to work towards sustainability.
“My sustainable goal is only getting my clothes secondhand, so thrifting with my friends is my favorite sustainable thing to do,” Devito said. “It’s fun, and you get clothes without further hurting the planet.”
Buying secondhand goods, especially clothes, results in fewer items entering landfills, saving resources and reducing carbon emissions. If every consumer were to purchase just one secondhand garment, CO2 emissions could lower by more than two billion pounds, further underscoring the fact that individual actions add up to make significant impacts.
The seniors at CHS prove that sustainability is not just a trend—it is a lifestyle choice rooted in mindful habits and a deep commitment to the planet. From using reusable bags to thrifting, these students demonstrate the small but powerful changes that, when combined, make significant impacts on the environment. By sharing their efforts, Gomez, Lopez-Torréro, and Devito inspire others to adopt environmentally mindful habits and show that collective action can help preserve the beauty and resources of the earth for generations to come.
