When I consider all the pivotal moments in my life, I usually reflect on the time when I attended the High Mountain Institute during my junior year of high school. The High Mountain Institute (HMI) is a selective semester school in Colorado that blends academics with an appreciation for the natural world. To attend this school, I had to move across the country, leaving my high school, friends, and family. It was there that I experienced outdoor learning while hiking for 18 days in both the backcountry of Colorado and Utah. At HMI, I matured and endured many physical and mental challenges that allowed me to grow. However, the most significant obstacle I faced was hiking up Mount Elbert, the highest summit of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. That 14,439-foot journey was one of the most trying and rewarding experiences of my life. It taught me the importance of perseverance and the reward of never giving up. In the case of Mount Elbert, the reward was the once-in-a-lifetime view of Colorado. In addition, at HMI, I learned and observed environmental degradation firsthand. This experience made me even more environmentally conscious and eager to raise awareness as it exposed me to issues surrounding forest fires, acid mine drainage, and biodiversity loss. Learning alongside individuals who protect and preserve the environment and reduce their carbon footprint made me want to emulate them. HMI has shaped my future career journey within sustainability and has given me numerous life lessons.
-Mountain/mountain range
-Hiking boots
-Trees/wood
-Nalgene/ waterbottle
-Walking stick
-Leave No Trace(LNT)/ Footprints
-Campfire
-Backpack
-mountain goats
-Sunrise and Sunset