My Worldview
Intersectionality
As a freshman at Dickinson, my understanding of environmental issues was still pretty limited. I was shocked by how much I had yet to learn throughout the first course for prospective environmental studies majors, titled Environmental Connections. In this course, I was introduced to a range of environmental concepts such as environmental justice, uneven development, food justice, and social constructions. This not only solidified my interest in environmental issues, but also significantly impacted my sustainability worldview. I began to truly recognize the scope of environmental problems, and their intersections with virtually every other social issue. This inspired me to become involved with environmental activism organizations on campus, which fostered my passion for community organizing toward climate justice.
Interconnectivity
While many other courses have impacted by understanding of sustainability, none have influenced my worldview as much as the Buddhism and the Environment course I took the fall of my sophomore year. I really had no idea what to expect going in— while my understanding of environmental issues had evolved significantly during my first year of college, I didn’t realize the importance of connecting sustainability to ethics and values. Learning about Buddhist teachings of interconnectedness and interbeing certainly shifted my understanding of sustainability. Understanding that individuals are part of a larger, interconnected system made me truly recognize the root of our environmental crises—individualist mindsets which wrongly consider our actions irrelevant to others. This creates cultural acceptance of greed and thwarts empathy for other beings and each other. Shifting to a non-hierarchal perspective that recognizes our impact and reliance on all living things has brought a spiritual understanding to my sustainability worldview. I feel that many of our environmental problems stem from a crisis of mind, on both an individual and societal level. Empathy, compassion, and respect for all beings is essential to rectifying interconnected environmental and social injustices. I strive to incorporate these values in both my work and everyday actions.
Continual Self-Reflection and Learning
A more personal value is also integral to my worldview; a belief in continual learning and self-reflection. While I am graduating from Dickinson in May, I certainly do not believe that I am an expert on sustainability. In fact, the most valuable lesson I have learned is that I will always have more to discover about inextricable environmental and social issues. While this sometimes feel daunting, I ultimately am excited to continue to learn from different experiences, hopefully by living in other cultural contexts and working with a variety of communities. My understanding is ultimately limited by my experience, and I am ecstatic to learn from others while working toward a more environmentally just world.
