During the past 5 years, I have taken an interest in sustainable living and environmental conservation. Practicing that has always been difficult for me though, as I come from a small country town where recycling or public transportation are not options. Since coming to Texas State, I have joined the Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO) , which focuses on preserving the natural resources of TXST and the surrounding San Marcos community. I have been able to practice sustainability and have learned so much about my community. Participating in keeping my town clean and protecting the resources we have has brought such a sense of pride to me that is indescribable. Being able to see the difference you strive towards every day is something that is incomparable.
Sustainability is something that is practiced every day, and by no means am I perfect at it. I do my best to recycle when I can and keep my carbon footprint in mind when doing daily activities. I bring my own water bottle with me everywhere and utilize the self-fill stations on campus. I also bring my own utensils from home with me when I go out so I don’t have to use the single-use plastic cutlery on campus or elsewhere. Out of all of this though, my favorite way to live sustainably is to inform others. I love to share easy and simple ECO swaps that can help the planet. I believe that 100 imperfect sustainable individuals are better than 1 perfect sustainable person. It is not all-or-nothing. I think that is why so many people are intimidated when it comes to living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Listening to everything at once seems incredibly daunting, but just doing one small change at a time can make a world of difference.
There have been several big changes recently in San Marcos that have aided in the effort to a greener future. The construction of bike lanes around town are underway, which will allow for easier transport without a vehicle. Making sure that cyclists feel safe is a huge way to get more people out of cars and onto more greener forms of transportation. San Marcos has also recently implemented a can-ban at the river, which bans the use of single-use beverage containers on the river. There will be certain zones where cans are allowed and zones where they are not. This is all in an effort to keep trash out of the precious resource we know as the San Marcos River. The river is a huge resource to San Marcos residents and students alike, and seeing actions being made to protect it makes me immensely happy. I can only hope that there is more action like this in the future.