As someone who wants to work for the federal government to design policies that reduce carbon emissions, I consider language learning to be fundamental to achieving my career goals. Being able to communicate with affected communities is necessary to ensuring their voices are heard as environmental regulations are crafted. Without that communication, it is difficult to achieve the principle of environmental justice. By studying Spanish, I will be able to ensure that Hispanic/Latino communities that live near power plants or along highways are included in the regulatory process.

My first experience of talking with a Spanish-speaking community was when I studied abroad in Manizales, Colombia. While there, I interviewed residents about their cooking and purchasing habits to understand how the community reduces food waste. I was able to explore deeper issues in conversations because I knew Spanish. Knowing the language helped me to be an active participant in the Manizales community rather than a passive observer.

Language learning will be important to achieving my long-term career goal of negotiating global climate treaties. At meetings of the UN with hundreds of member parties, there is a huge need for translating services to help representatives understand each other. Being able to speak Spanish will allow me to quickly communicate with delegates that represent almost an entire continent and identify common goals to reduce emissions on a global scale.