I sat quietly at my kitchen table studying the tattered, torn hiking map of Acadia National Park. The map was marked by the many years of recording my family trips to our favorite summer destination in Bar Harbor, Maine. Year after year, every hiking or biking trail we completed together was highlighted in yellow on the map. I couldn’t wait to add the steep hive-shaped trail called “The Beehive” with its metal rods and unguarded cliffs, which sounded like the most exhilarating climb of my life. As I built anticipation for the Beehive climb, I didn’t realize that years later I would discover that it was the long, scenic hike up the South Ridge trail to the peak of Cadillac Mountain that would make a lasting impression.
We started early in the morning on a beautiful, hot summer day in July of 2020. The South Ridge trail starts in a woody, forested area but gradually opens to the most gorgeous view. We stopped at the Eagle’s Crag overlook and then continued to the ridge where we could see views of the ocean, islands, and surrounding mountains. It seemed like it took forever, but it was only lunchtime when we finally reached the peak of Cadillac Mountain. We enjoyed our lunch and then searched for the summit marker, which is when I saw a picture that caught my interest. It was a visitor attraction sign that had two pictures depicting the same view—the top picture was the view on a clear day and the bottom picture was the identical view on a hazy day. The sign was about how air pollution can hide the view and pose danger to water quality and the habitat. At the time I didn’t think much about the picture, and I moved on to find the summit marker.
The memory of that summer day came back to me three years later in August of 2023. A headline in the newspaper caught my interest, which was titled “A Group of Youths Sued the State of Montana Over Climate Change—and Won.” I was fascinated by the article about sixteen youth climate activists who challenged state laws about their right to a clean environment. I was inspired that a group of teenagers could do something so impactful. Each of them had a story that was like mine, describing a place where they grew up and loved. I read their stories about hiking, biking, fishing, and rafting, as well as depictions of amazingly beautiful forests, rivers, mountains, and National Parks. The newspaper story brought me back to the memory of that day when I saw the sign about air pollution at Acadia. It was at that moment that I realized how serious climate change is and how it can affect my future. I want to be able to continue my family tradition and preserve the environment for future generations. This realization sparked my personal growth and challenged me to think about what my role could be in the future.
Growing up in Maine, I have a natural interest in the environment, and I felt inspired to learn more about sustainability, business, policy, and environmental solutions. After reading the article I joined the Environmental Club at my school, and I signed up for the AP Environmental Science course. I began researching topics that interest me and finding ways I can incorporate sustainable solutions to my way of life. Slowly, I implemented changes such as composting and recycling to my daily habits. My hope is that these sustainable changes will impact future generations so that they can enjoy Maine, “the way life should be.” Elizabeth Madden ’28
This story does a good job of taking us on a journey of self-discovery with the student. We learned about her love for nature and its importance to her family, then followed her as she discovers the impacts of climate change and what others her age are doing to fight it. She uses the moment in which she read the article as a turning point in her essay to tell us about her resolve to make a difference in the environment, learning more about sustainability and how to incorporate it in her daily life. As a college that values environmental stewardship, this essay really resonated with us!