ENST 246 - Spring 2025

Environmental factors can have a huge impact on a person’s health and lead to several health benefits and detriments. For example, if an area has a high level of air pollution it could have negative effects on a person’s respiratory health especially if they already suffer from a respiratory disease such as asthma. While an area with good air...

This past week we added new challenges from the waste and community categories. These challenges came more naturally to me and overall were probably my favorite challenges. In the community sector, the two challenges I chose were helping at least two individuals each day and engaging in active listening. Through the first challenge, while...

One of the best ways, and my favorite ways, to express your personality, creativity, and values without contributing to fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories is through thrifting o rebuying second hand. I love thrifting clothes and accessories because it allows me to not only impact the environment in a positive way but I also...

1) What have you learned about yourself through the daily challenges in the "waste and "community" categories? The choice I made for the waste category was to avoid plastic bottles. I already use a re-usable water bottle, but I also am a serial 'fun' drink consumer, who drinks a lot of coffee, and matcha, and things like...

Throughout the EcoChallenge and my current daily challenges in the “waste” and “community” categories, I have learned that I produce much more waste than I believed and that partaking in a sharing community is a lot easier and more sensible than I thought. One big example of something I have changed after doing these specific challenges is what...

The waste and community challenges have reaffirmed some of my core values that I wrote down for one of the other challenges; honesty, compassion, and adaptability. The waste challenge allowed me to realize how much paper I print each day for my homework. When I do readings I tend to print them out, to reduce the amount of paper waste I started...

Throughout the Eco-Challenge, I realized just how much my everyday decisions affect the environment and my community. One thing that stood out to me was how materials like plastic and paper impact landfills. Plastic, for example, sticks around in landfills for centuries, releasing harmful chemicals into the environment. Paper decomposes more...

Journal #4 Through participating In the “waste” and “community” categories I have learned how important it is to celebrate those around you and reduce as much waste we produce as possible. For “community” I have opted to help others. Each day I have gone out of my way to help someone out with something small to large. I have tried to help a...

I have really enjoyed getting engaged in the community aspect. My one time challenge was to research then contact a local representative with my support of environmental issues. It was very fulfilling to know that my voice is getting heard even if it's in a small way. It made me happy to know I was doing my part and being a part of a “issue...

My daily action for the waste category was to not accept disposable bags when making purchases. I always refuse a bag when I buy just a few small items I can carry in my hands. If I am going to Giant to purchase groceries, and I know I am going to be buying a decent amount of things, I now bring reusable bags to put my groceries in. At home, my...