by Angela Mrozinski, ’04
I was inspired to participate in SCA for the experience that it would provide me, but it led me to a life of service that I could never have expected.
During my internship working at Grey Towers National Historic Landmark (home of Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the Forest Service) I was exposed to new outlook on education. At Grey Towers, education meant reaching out to the community’s youth as well as the community at large. When I left there, I had a new appreciation for environmental education and passing on to future generations my love for the environment. I went on to re-open a nature center and restore educational programs for area schools and then to become an educator myself.
Currently, I’m moving away from education and on to environmental advocacy, which is really just another form of education. I want to dedicate myself to finding and implementing the solutions needed to solve the many environmental issues we face today, particularly global climate change and maintaining fresh water resources. By educating people about the issues -- about what they can do -- and encouraging people to work together, I believe we can tackle the obstacles and move forward in the direction we need to.
Service defines my life. To live otherwise, to me, seems selfish. Our Earth gives us all what we need to survive and flourish, yet we’ve done nothing but abuse and destroy our home. I’m not the one who has made all the mess, but surely I’ve done my part. And so why shouldn’t it also be me who helps change our ways and right our wrongs and fix our home?
It’s a big job with many obstacles, frustrations, and defeats along the way. But through my life of service I’ve also been deeply rewarded. Each small step in the right direction is a great victory. Each person whose heart is opened to nature is a new recruit. And my life has been filled with deep friendships along the way.
Editor's note: This essay is part of the Why Service series. The series will feature stories from SCA alumni about what inspired them to serve. If you’d like to share your story of service, please email me your story!
Lauren Freedman, [1] Alumni Editorial Board Liaison