If you were to tell my high school self that he would be working in sustainability when he got to college, he would have said you were crazy. Coming into college as a first-year Mechanical Engineering Major, sustainability was not something that I had given much thought towards. Although I loved riding bikes and wanted to learn the necessary skills of a mechanic, it was a bit of a surprise when I was told to contact the Sustainability Office to apply for the job position.
This, of course, brought with it a little bit of skepticism. The combined roles of mechanic and advocate seemed a bit overwhelming at first, and my knowledge of sustainability was quite limited. As it turned out, I was welcomed with open arms and was provided with guidance in both mechanics and sustainability. All of my fellow advocates were so friendly and possessed a calm yet raging passion and enthusiasm for what they did.
Since my first day, I have been exposed to a completely different set of perspectives that, to this day, allow me to challenge my way of thinking. My fellow advocates have given me much insight as to the grave amount and scale of environmental issues that persist in today’s world. More recently, we have delved into a realm of social justice and its connections with the many issues plaguing our planet.
After a few months working with the UC Bike Kitchen and UC Sustainability, I have learned about how the small things we do without much thought can mean a world of difference. As a mechanic, my work encourages the utilization of a fun, clean, and healthy alternate form of transportation: biking. I hope to continue my work to provide a great service as well as encourage more sustainable practices. While we cannot, unfortunately, bike all of our problems away, it may be the start that gets us to a clean, sustainable future.
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