Like many graduating seniors, I have reached the last lap of college and realized that I’m not ready to leave the comfortable nest of UCLA just yet. Working as an orientation counselor this summer reminded me of the joys of beginning college and of the potential that freshmen exude.
So if UCLA students start out strong, why not finish even stronger? With this in mind, I decided to take advantage of the great opportunities college offers before I toss my graduation cap in the air and make my way toward the inverted fountain.
To further my college experience in my senior year, I began with a fall internship. With an interest in the environment and a desire to explore public relations, I found the ideal organization to work for: TreePeople. TreePeople is a nonprofit that has teamed up with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Million Trees L.A. campaign and with environmentally conscious celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio.
TreePeople makes sustainability practical by training and supporting communities around L.A. County to plant and care for trees. They educate school children and adults about the environment, and work with government agencies on critical water issues.
Even if you’re not a time-conscious senior counting the minutes, there are plenty of incentives to awake the green thumb within and have a positive impact on future generations. You too can share the bliss of healing Mother Earth while also harvesting bragging rights for your good deeds.
You could plant a tree with your sorority or fraternity, or even your floor.
Volunteering with TreePeople has allowed me to get my nose out of the books and into the L.A. community. As graduation nears I’ve been able to have fun, get exercise, network with others and also build my resume.
UCLA is historically known for its activism, and now with the green movement taking hold on campus, we are proving yet again why we are leading the way toward a better world.
Kaehn is a fourth-year English student and a member of TreePeople.