Through my experience as a Young Ambassador of Pennsylvania, my understanding of stewardship and civics became a lot more personal and real. Before my involvement in this program, I viewed stewardship as simply taking care of places in the community and civics as a universal topic we all learn in high school. I found it difficult to imagine that one high schooler could create the kind of meaningful change that is necessary to take the next step forward in preservation. From my perspective at the time, large-scale impact seemed to be reserved for big organizations, governments, and those with much more influence and access to resources than a student in high school. But it was that uncertainty which was part of the reason I decided to join the program in the first place. I wanted to test my abilities and see the extent of my contributions to environmental preservation.
Throughout the Young Ambassador program, it was my experiences that shifted my original perspective. As I started to become more involved in the program, I started to see that change did not always need to start on a massive scale or require a single person at the heart of it all. Change begins with individuals like me who want to become more aware and involved in the well-being of our communities. I learned that stewardship is not defined by the size of a group, but by the intentions behind their actions towards change.
As I reflected even deeper, I started to see civics in a new light, as well. Before this experience, I associated the term “civics” with my tenth-grade government class, which focused on government structure and responsibilities. While those elements are fundamentally important, I now understand that civics does not solely pertain to those with power. Civics is represented in the way individuals interact with the community and the responsibility they take to be informed and involved. I learned that civics is not limited to government policies, but it is reflected every day in each of us through our actions and decisions.
Ultimately, my experience as a young Ambassador reshaped how I once viewed my role within my community. The goal of creating lasting and impactful change, which once seemed unattainable and unrealistic, now feels like something I actively participate in and contribute to meaningfully. I have learned that preservation is not achieved through one major act, but through multiple smaller ones carried out by multiple individuals who care enough to take action.

Since becoming a Young Ambassador of Pennsylvania, I have contributed to my community in Cumberland County by taking initiative in environmental action as well as community education. One main way I have done this is by organizing a cleanup near the Conodoguinet Creek. The creek plays a vital role in the community as a primary source of water and one of the biggest habitats for species in Cumberland County. I took notice of significant amounts of litter as I was driving over the bridge to cross the creek, and it led me to take action and create awareness. I worked with family, friends, and community volunteers to help restore the space along a part of the creek.
In addition to the cleanup, I also hosted a community education event one hour before the cleanup so that parents of volunteers and children who were too young to help pick up litter were also able to become more aware of the importance of keeping the community clean, as well as the purpose behind the cleanup effort.

Throughout my journey as a Young Ambassador of Pennsylvania, I learned many important aspects about myself that I had not fully understood before.
Previously, I believed that meaningful change needed to start on a massive scale to truly matter. Because of that mindset, I often underestimated the impact that efforts, such as those of smaller organizations and individuals, could have on the community. As I hosted my first community cleanup, I noticed how small actions, such as picking up litter in one area, might not have looked like much, but they contributed to a bigger impact on the surrounding community. That experience taught me that I naturally started to see the bigger impact behind smaller actions.
I also learned to stay committed to something even when my progress is slow or not immediately visible. Before being a part of this program, I often found myself becoming frustrated when change did not feel instant. By organizing my own events with the help of the Young Ambassador Program, I learned that improvement takes time and consistency. Even when my results were not immediate, I still felt motivated to keep going because I truly believed in the importance of what I was working toward.
Lastly, I learned that I am someone who focuses on the lasting impression left on others. While hosting my community education event, I found myself not paying mind to the number of people I was speaking to, but to the words I was expressing. I remember giving more importance to my choice of words because those are what leave a lasting impression on others and what would stay with people after the event. That experience taught me that I naturally think about how moments leave a lasting impression and affect people beyond just in the moment.