Wow, where do I even start? I can’t begin to explain the impact that the Eco-Digital Storytellers program has had on my life. I will never forget the first day that my fellow mentor Mary and I were preparing for our first class visit. I remember thinking to myself, “How am I going to get up in front of an entire class of students who are just two years younger than me?” “Are they going to take me seriously?” What I didn’t realize then was that just a few short months later, I would be walking out of GHAA for the last time, choked up, with tears in my eyes.

The progress I have seen in these students over the past few months has been extraordinary. Although they needed a little push at times, I can confidently say that every student took their initial ideas and turned them into truly amazing final products. The showcase couldn’t have gone better, and I felt so much pride for all of the groups who presented. I am also incredibly proud to share that the principal of GHAA, Maryam Wardak, was so inspired by the students’ work that she is providing them with the funding to carry out their projects. This achievement is a testament to their dedication and a powerful reflection of the school’s commitment to a greener future.

When I left GHAA that final time, I told the students that if they felt I had made an impact on them, they should know they impacted me ten times more. I have learned so much through being a mentor and I am proud to say that I have fostered such meaningful relationships with the students that I will cherish forever. As an aspiring teacher, this experience has also given me valuable tools that I will carry into my future classroom. This GHAA class will always be my first class, and I am so excited to see what the future holds for these students, as well as for their school, with the implementation of these environmental projects.

I want to give a special thank you to my absolutely wonderful co-mentor, Mary. The car rides to Hartford were some of the most special moments, and I am so grateful for the time we shared. Thank you for being my big sister at UConn and I am so excited to watch you continue changing the world after graduation. I would also like to thank Laurel and Laura for giving me the opportunity to be part of this incredible program. Thank you for believing in me and for your unwavering support throughout the semester. Expect lots of visits from me next year!

This program is so incredibly special, and I am eager to see what lies ahead for EDS. We all have the power to create change, and this program truly demonstrates that by building a bridge between budding ideas and real world application. It reminds us that change doesn’t have to start big, it begins with people who are willing to care, to try, and to take that first step. Through this program, we see that every idea has potential, and every person has the ability to make a difference.

Long time, no see! Once again, my name is Mary Ferguson, and I am about to graduate with my Bachelor’s of Science in Earth Sciences with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies! This past semester I had the distinct honor of being an Eco Digital Storytelling Mentor within the Natural Resources Conservation Academy.

Throughout these past 14 weeks I worked closely with the students from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts (GHAA) and mentored them through a project very similar to what I created for the Environmental Storytelling Course I took last fall. This experience taught me so much about myself and I think it’s fundamentally changed my future career path.  

Getting to interact with these students illuminated the love I have for being in the classroom. Before this experience, I was very unsure if I would get a master’s degree. I figured like most professionals in my field, I’d work for a few years then pursue a master’s in something related to my job so my employer would cover part of the tuition. I liked how simple and safe this plan was. However, since getting the opportunity to be in the classroom and interact with these amazing young adults, I don’t know if the easy, safe choice is what I want anymore. I found a new type of joy in the classroom, with those kids. Now, I’m considering getting my master’s degree for teaching in the next few years, something I never thought I’d be interested in.  

Not to get too philosophical, but I do think I’ve figured out the meaning of life, really. Stick with me here. I will acknowledge that my belief system is very heavily influenced by the society in which I was raised, but I think it holds true for many people. In my mind, the meaning of life is to chase experiences that make you feel alive. Those interactions, feelings, and whatever else makes you think, unprompted, ‘I am so glad to be alive’. It may seem overly simplistic, but I’ve been chasing that feeling my whole life, and don’t intend to stop.  

Getting to mentor these kids, getting to see them grow, their confidence in themselves and their abilities flourish, I got that same feeling. I felt like I was making an impact, that what I was doing really mattered. Without even realizing it, I found myself jumping at any opportunity to be in the classroom with these kids. It made me feel alive.  

After I graduate, I have a job in environmental engineering lined up, though I have a sneaking suspicion that a Master’s of Teaching will be in my future. Until next time, chase what makes you feel alive. You won’t regret it.  

Hi! My name is Lily Walowitz and I joined the Natural Resources Conservation Academy as an Eco-Digital Storytellers Mentor for the 2026 program. I am currently a sophomore at UConn pursuing a Secondary Earth Science Education Degree.  

Since I was in kindergarten, I have known that I wanted to be a teacher, but the question was always: what should I teach? It wasn’t until I took a high school environmental science class that I realized that I am extremely passionate about the environment, and I want to share that passion with others.  

UConn has allowed me to channel my passion into amazing projects that I am so honored to be a part of. I am proud to be an ambassador for UConn’s Clean Air Quality Initiative in which I help to create lesson plans for students K through 12 focused on DIY air purifier construction. I am also currently in the process of producing teacher explainer videos to instruct teachers on how to assist students in learning about air quality.  

Through the 2025 fall Environmental Storytelling course, I decided to use my background in indoor air quality to create a kid-friendly animation about the dangers of indoor air pollution. I landed on this idea because while doing research for elementary lesson plans, there were no informational videos about indoor air pollution for elementary aged children. Along with this animation, my group and I produced an activity book to further reinforce the ideas seen in the animation. Being able to create such amazing forms of media and sharing them with the public has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I hope to inspire others with my project and help high school students develop their own projects that they are passionate about. 

In my free time, I love participating in volunteer initiatives that allow me to give back to the community. I am involved with 4H in Vernon at UConn which is an organization where undergraduates travel to schools in Vernon and assist students in STEM activities and projects. I also love going to the beach and being in the ocean, taking pictures of nature, as well as spending time with family and friends.