Fighting Plastic Pollution

During my Semester at Sea study abroad program, I visited multiple countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe where I saw the impact of plastic pollution in real time—from beaches in Malaysia to rivers in India and coral reefs in Kenya. For a Global Studies course, I wrote a letter to the United Nations calling for urgent action on marine plastic pollution. I paired the letter with a photo I took in India, showing a bird surrounded by plastic waste. I tied my observations to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and proposed global solutions like reducing single-use plastics and expanding recycling systems. The project sharpened my skills in research, writing, and environmental advocacy, and it gave me a global perspective on sustainability challenges.