- Kiran Seeff ’23
In the midst of a global cli- mate crisis, Sacred Heart students are moving towards mobilizing for change. Among the many ways that the school is helping to reverse the effects of climate change, some Sacred Heart seniors are using their capstone projects as an initiative to com- bat climate change.
Alekos Kapur ‘21, a junior interested in starting a Senior Capstone project next year, defines the process as “a project that you come up with on your own [where] you can work with others… it might be some- thing related to your classes, or just something that you’re interested in.” He adds that the goal is that it’s service oriented… you’re learning something new, while also helping a cause or issue that you’re interested in, and that you feel passionate about.” Alekos has begun making preparations for his environmentally focused project. “I think [the environment] is something that I’ve always kind of been interested in. Part of it is that I’m taking AP Environmental Science, which is a great class,” says Alekos.
Taking classes such as this one allows students at Sacred Heart to gain access to resources and teachers who have knowledge in the ways that activism and research is possible. “Looking at how we’ve been treating the environment, and things that we are doing that negatively or positively impact it, is something important to think about,” Alekos says. He also stresses the importance of learning sustainable living methods from the past, saying that “currently, given the fact that we’re kind of realizing a lot of the ways that humans have been living in the past, 200 or 300 years ago.”
Alekos also makes the important point that as a community, we have to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. He suggested using reusable containers, such as water bottles, to contain drinks, as opposed to plastic or paper cups. “Another thing that every- body can do, is to try to get their clothes second-hand… There’s lots of apps, like Poshmark, that I use where I try to get things second-hand, or regular thrifting, like Goodwill and other stores,” says Alekos. Lastly, Alekos recommends lowering the amounts of red meat in one’s diet, due to the amount of Methane gas emit- ted by cows. While Alekos hasn’t begun implementing his project, he has ideas in mind. “One thing that [my teacher] was just talking about that is a good capstone project possibility, is that there is an organization that I believe is called We, that focuses on having students find specific environ- mental issues that are impactful in their immediate areas, like the Bay Area.”
But to guide student ideas for projects in general, Alekos provides one small piece of ad- vice: “People think that scientists have to solve climate change, and to some degree, I think that scientists and people who are more educated might be able to tackle it. But also, I think there are things that lots of people can do that aren’t actually that difficult, and so, I’m interested in how I can spread that message to other people; smaller things that everybody can do.”
Projects like Alekos’ are seeking to bring awareness to the community and about what members of the Sacred Heart community can do to reduce impact on the environment. Hopefully, projects like Alekos’ can in- spire members of the community to take action, and make a stand for the future of the community, the country, and ultimately, the world.
