Hexiang Yang
Dr. Sharif Marilyn
INYO-501-P04
November 14th, 2018
Activity Reflection 3
1) Why did you select this activity and how does it connect with your academic
goals or field of study?
I attended a job interview, I think it is related to my major. The slogan of the
interview is “Let’s green MASON”, which is very intriguing and inspiring. I am lured
to attend this Green job interview.
The mission of the activity, President Angel Cabrera said: “through the
commitment of our students and all the stuff, we strive to make George Mason
University the best university for the world. One way we work to achieve that goal is
by making choices about how we use resources, realizing that our choices affect not
only our lives but those of future generations. But most importantly, we strive to
graduate responsible stewards of the planet and engage in research that can help us
tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time”.
Their programs include many items, like the Patriot Green Fund, Hydroponic
Greenhouse & Gardens, Green Office & Green Residence, and Green Patriots, and so
on.
I major in Nutrition, it is related to Biology and chemistry, so it has an intimate
relationship with the environment. Protecting the environment is essential to
individuals, I am seeking a job in sustainability and this is a perfect opportunity to
realize my goal.
2) What did you learn about your academic discipline by participating in this
activity?
I am a postgraduate student of my first year in this college now, so I won’t attend
the internships of this activity, I need to complete my schoolwork and achieve further
study. But I can be a volunteer of this activity, for example, CHESAPEAKE BAY
FOUNDATION is a foundation that is very fortunate to have the help and support of
thousands of citizens who volunteer their time and who have demonstrated their
commitment to a cleaner, healthier, Chesapeake Bay. I want to be one of them, to do
something contributing to a better future.
There also exist many Sustainability & Conservation Themed Study Abroad
Programs, like Semester Programs and Summer Programs, in the Summer Programs, I
found items named “Chinese University of Hong Kong Summer School”. I came from
China, maybe when the summer holiday comes, I can take part in this activity.
3) In what specific ways does this experience influence you're future academic
and/or professional plans?
This activity influenced me a lot from many aspects. It changed my impression of
traditional sustainable development. Firstly, we can get involved in this gracious
activity in many ways, for example, I can change my lifestyle to save energy, water
after washing vegetable can be used to water the flower, to mop the floor or even to
flush the toilet. Secondly, we can enlighten the library or dining room with LED light,
which is a much energy-saving device.
There are lots of resources at Mason about sustainable development. They gave
me many website addresses, I can search them on the internet in I am interested in one
of them.
There is a school aroused my interest. It is name is Smithsonian-Mason School of
Conservation. This school is shaping the future of conservation through innovative
education and training.
This program is located at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in
Front Royal, Virginia.
If I have a desire to learn about conservation in a living-learning community, I can
apply for that, besides, scholarships are also available. Maybe it’s a good opportunity
for me.