My name is Nicholas SirLouis, currently a third-year student at the University of Cincinnati studying Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies with a certificate in Urban Planning. I have been a Sustainability Advocate for almost two years now, and have genuinely enjoyed the wide range of experiences I’ve been able to participate in. From hearing renowned lecturers speak to harvesting in our garden, from bike shows to huge recycling efforts, my time as an Advocate has shown me the multitude of avenues available to work towards a more sustainable future.
Life as an Advocate has been one of flexibility. If there is a need, it will be filled. Our weekly meetings are crucial times to ensure that all of our events are staffed, and that all tasks are taken care of. While we mostly volunteer ourselves, sometimes students have to move their schedule around to help out – which we are almost always happy to do. There are also a lot that we do in our own time, like working in the garden (my personal favorite). We have the privilege of going into our garden, really at any time, to do maintenance, plantings, harvesting, etc. It is another privilege to be able to work with young children in the UC Early Learning Center, sometimes giving those children their first experiences with growing food.
Being a Sustainability Advocate, though technically a job, has never felt like one. I am very lucky to be able to do work that I love and help push towards a more sustainable world.