Sophomore Sofia del Valle was first introduced to her love for ecology through her childhood TV screen, watching shows like National Geographic, Wild Kratts and Octonauts, which would all eventually influence her passions.

Del Valle recalls the animals’ well-being sparking an interest for her; as the state of the environment worsens, more people plan on helping it. Motivated by this, del Valle plans to study ecology and work in conservation.

“I became passionate for the sake of protecting other animals because we’re animals too,” del Valle said. ”When they die, we die because we’re all in this big, complicated system, so without them, we don’t exist, and they matter just as much as we do.”

Although she has plans to conserve the environment, she said her first steps are small things that everyone can do.

“I think it’s just talking about it and letting other people know that sometimes the actions they take are harmful,” del Valle said, “I don’t leave my car on and I don’t drive if I don’t need to.”

Additionally, she said she believes that these small actions are important, as if one person gives up on the environment, then it permits more people to do the same.

Despite feeling disheartened toward people who have given up on the environment, del Valle said she still chooses to keep caring, investing and staying hopeful for the sake of Earth’s future.

“I’m never going to stop. I will never stop until something is done and something helps and something works,” del Valle said. “Because without [the environment], we lose something beautiful in the world … it’s in more need of saving than it’s ever been.”