Juniors and seniors participating in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Environmental Studies Program at CBF's Brock Environmental Center classroom share their joy of the program and future hopes and dreams.
TRANSCRIPT
We all heard of this program through different ways and we're from different schools but our passions and this place have brought us together. The future is unwritten but through this program we have a hand in writing it. Because of your support, because of these connections, you are turning dreams into reality.
The Environmental Studies Program has completely altered my life over the past two years. Growing up I never imagined the environment as more than what was right in front of me. Being a part of the program has completely opened my eyes to the world of environmental science and protecting it.
Through the Environmental Studies Program, I worked through an internship with Convert Solar, I convert, I had hands-on experiences with electricians, residential install teams, and the warehouse crew. This program provided me a number of experiences that I know I would not have had the opportunity to have otherwise.
Like many kids, when I was younger, I really wanted to become a marine biologist. But this kid got the opportunity to become an inaugural member of the Brock Center's Environmental Studies Program. With that, in my senior year, I got internship opportunities with the Virginia Aquarium that only fostered my love for marine biology.
This program has allowed me to cultivate my knowledge and discover my passion for developing sustainable solutions for equity-based issues. Through my published research paper with APA in my advocacy internship with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Ive discovered the importance and need for environmental literacy, which I actually advocated for at the Virginia General Assembly.
I wanted to connect with environmental leaders like the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and empower communities around me. I was also able to intern at those architects to learn about how architecture can help fight food insecurity in Hampton Roads.
Hi, my name is Savannah Jacks and my next step before changing the world will be attending the University of Mary Washington to study environmental science.
Because of this, I've asked Convert to take me on as apprentice so I can further my technical education and become a master electrician in my future.
After my life in this program, I'm headed off to BCU for the next four years. I'm going to study environmental science.
I'll be continuing my studies at Virginia Tech next year while majoring in environmental policy and planning with a minor in leadership and social change.
My name is Caitlin Whitfield and I will be continuing my study of earth science at James Madison University. Thank you for supporting our class.
Thank you for this building the Brock Classroom, which helps us fulfill our hopes and dreams. Mine is to become an environmental engineer.
