I’m a first-year student at Harvard College studying government and environmental science. In addition to my formal studies, I continue to be engaged in climate action as I have been for the past three years. In the midst of my climate advocacy while I was in high school, I spent one month with Backyard Sports Cares as an intern and learned how BYSC forms connections with community partners to create long-lasting programs that bring joy and growth to so many kids across Westchester County.
One of the main lessons I learned during my time with BYSC was to be transparent when building partnerships to tackle an issue or start a project. I saw firsthand how the BYSC team was able to break down all barriers when meeting with people to start a program because of how direct they were about their intentions. This is a skill that has improved my efficacy as a first-year sustainability representative on campus.
Another lesson I learned during my time with BYSC is the importance of consistency. When BYSC creates a program, the program is reliable and becomes something that many kids look forward to every week. I have sought to make consistency a feature of my work related to climate change, as well as the other commitments that I have made on campus.
I feel lucky to have had the chance to work with the BYSC team and all of its community partners and believe it has given me more tools to connect with people and affect change.
