“Change” is the theme of this section – students put their voices into action and encourage everyone to make changes for a better future.
“With no changes, there’s no future,” states Gabriela Nieves. Nieves’ artwork is based on what she learned from the exhibition in Special Collections. She reflects on the exhibition, saying, “when solar panel-powered houses were a new concept to people, they had to overcome their fear of [change] to see the environmental benefits of the invention. Every step towards a better future starts with a change.”
Another student echoes the call for a change in the poem, “Home As We Know It.” The poem is the student’s explanation of the planet from when they were kids and how it has changed now that they are adults who see what is happening on earth. The poem ends with:
Change is needed. Our world is struggling.
Change is needed. Our world is struggling because of us.
Change is needed. We must do better.
Change is needed… if we want to see a better tomorrow.
To take action, Christina Sposato recognized one issue we could work on. Sposato creates a side-by-side comparison of polluted and nonpolluted air. This vivid message aims to incentivize people from worsening air pollution.
Kyra translates the message into a broader sense, calling for the attention to protecting the ecosystems and the longevity of Earth. The telling image of our earth slipping through palms and fingers depicts the damaging action to the environment. In Kyra's words, “it is our responsibility, in our hands, to take control of our choices and be more environmentally conscientious and work towards a better future.” Another student resonated with Kyra’s message with a drawing urging our actions to protect the earth for future generations.
Shayna Demick confirmed the love of the earth and the action to save our environment in her poem. The poem (page 1, page 2) addresses how people treat the planet and the damage humans have created, focusing on the environmental problems that Elizabeth Kolbert discusses in her book. The poem ends with a call for action:
We love our Earth,
But the love is traumatic
So let’s be pragmatic
And make a plan,
Some strategies,
And goals,
And hope that we can take a lesser toll
And give our Earth the love she deserves.
Students not only announced the need for activism to protect our planet, but also turned to the activists that contribute to protecting the environment. A student sketched a portrait of Rachel Carson, an inspirational environmental advocate and scientist. Carson’s work is mentioned in Under a White Sky, and is accessible at the UD library.
Taking action to solve environmental crises and protecting nature starts now – Madison created a video to demonstrate that everyone could make a difference starting from research. The intense video explains that “climate change isn't just somebody else's problem. Everyone needs to do their part to stop the deterioration of the world, or it will be too late.” Madison concluded her reflection by stating, “[Climate change] cannot always be the next generation's problem. We need to help.”
With understanding and action, there is always hope. Christina wrote a poem to express her feeling that “if we want to keep using the world's resources, we need to give the same respect back to our planet.” She hopes that everyone starts to make changes today for a better future, just like the end of the poem says:
So no matter what day it is,
The temp or weather,
Everything changes,
But let’s make it change for the better.
