Poolesville High School Student Going to Global Student Leaders Summit in Costa Rica

Hi! My name is Valli Chidambaram and I am a junior in the Global Ecology Magnet Program at Poolesville High School. As a student in the Global Ecology Program, I’ve spent the past three years going on various field trips to mountains, lakes, dams, water facilities, such as the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), recycling facilities, such as the Montgomery County Recycling Center, government buildings such as Capitol Hill, historical locations such as Gettysburg National Battlefield, museums, aquariums, temples/monasteries, and more! Through these hikes, tours, and visits, I’ve had opportunities to learn so much about the environment, our environmental impact, world issues, and what we can do as citizens and members of our communities to help.

These past few years have really shaped me as a person, and made me realize that I have so much potential to impact the world in a positive way. Through the Global Ecology Program, I've been involved in so many amazing projects such as Poolesville Day Recycling, Victory Gardens, the Bay Grass Project, and the Oyster Reef Ball Project. My passion for the environment helped me earn the 2013 EF Tours’ Global Citizen Scholarship.

This scholarship takes 10 American students and 10 Canadian students to Costa Rica this April on a six day environmental tour of the beautiful nation, followed by a two day environmental summit with students from around the world. At the summit, we will be able to exchange ideas, goals, and thoughts on the environment and what we can do. We’ll also hear from noted environmental leaders including former U.S. Vice President and environmental activist Severn Cullis-Suzuki.

I am so excited for this upcoming adventure and hope to share my experiences with the world through my blog on the Rockville Patch. I hope that my experiences in Costa Rica will inspire me to kick-start major change in my community and I hope that you also feel motivated to lead a more environmentally-friendly life! Costa Rica is a beautiful nation with a rich biodiversity and is the perfect example of why it is vital to protect our resources. I hope that Costa Rica’s beauty is eternal and that we can revive the rest of the world.

The most important message that I hope everyone realizes is that saving the environment is not difficult, it just requires awareness. Be aware that you can recycle plastics, be aware that letting the water run too long during your shower is a waste of resources, and be aware that keeping the lights on all day drains electricity. I hope that this awareness leads you on your path to a better livelihood as a global citizen and that this awareness changes the habitual routines of the world.