Dear Students,

My favorite time of the school day is probably the same as yours–recess. I love going out into our field, looking toward Mt. Tabor and the sky above it, feeling the fresh air, and watching you laugh and play.

As a student, I didn’t look forward to recess because all we had was blacktop, no grass, no trees, no view. But as a kid, I loved being outdoors, climbing trees, riding my bike through puddles and up mountains, jumping into cold lakes and streams. I am still pretty much the same: even taking out the garbage feels good when I look at the big oak and tulip trees waving at me from the park a block away.

I am sad and worried that, not only will future generations not have the opportunity to enjoy being part of the Earth as I have, but that their very survival is at stake due to climate change. The Earth has given me everything, and while I’ve tried to give back and have not taken more than necessary, I have to do more. My act of love will be to use all the power I have, during the rest of my life, to stop climate change.