Hexiang Yang

Dr. Sharif Marilyn

INYO-501-P04

November 14th, 2018

Activity Reflection 3

1） Why did you select this activity and how does it connect with your academic

goals or field of study?

I attended a job interview, I think it is related to my major. The slogan of the

interview is “Let’s green MASON”, which is very intriguing and inspiring. I am lured

to attend this Green job interview.

The mission of the activity, President Angel Cabrera said: “through the

commitment of our students and all the stuff, we strive to make George Mason

University the best university for the world. One way we work to achieve that goal is

by making choices about how we use resources, realizing that our choices affect not

only our lives but those of future generations. But most importantly, we strive to

graduate responsible stewards of the planet and engage in research that can help us

tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time”.

Their programs include many items, like the Patriot Green Fund, Hydroponic

Greenhouse & Gardens, Green Office & Green Residence, and Green Patriots, and so

on.
 I major in Nutrition, it is related to Biology and chemistry, so it has an intimate

relationship with the environment. Protecting the environment is essential to

individuals, I am seeking a job in sustainability and this is a perfect opportunity to

realize my goal.

2） What did you learn about your academic discipline by participating in this

activity?

I am a postgraduate student of my first year in this college now, so I won’t attend

the internships of this activity, I need to complete my schoolwork and achieve further

study. But I can be a volunteer of this activity, for example, CHESAPEAKE BAY

FOUNDATION is a foundation that is very fortunate to have the help and support of

thousands of citizens who volunteer their time and who have demonstrated their

commitment to a cleaner, healthier, Chesapeake Bay. I want to be one of them, to do

something contributing to a better future.

There also exist many Sustainability & Conservation Themed Study Abroad

Programs, like Semester Programs and Summer Programs, in the Summer Programs, I

found items named “Chinese University of Hong Kong Summer School”. I came from

China, maybe when the summer holiday comes, I can take part in this activity.

3） In what specific ways does this experience influence you're future academic

and/or professional plans?

This activity influenced me a lot from many aspects. It changed my impression of

traditional sustainable development. Firstly, we can get involved in this gracious

activity in many ways, for example, I can change my lifestyle to save energy, water

after washing vegetable can be used to water the flower, to mop the floor or even to

flush the toilet. Secondly, we can enlighten the library or dining room with LED light,

which is a much energy-saving device.

There are lots of resources at Mason about sustainable development. They gave

me many website addresses, I can search them on the internet in I am interested in one

of them.

There is a school aroused my interest. It is name is Smithsonian-Mason School of

Conservation. This school is shaping the future of conservation through innovative

education and training.

This program is located at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in

Front Royal, Virginia.

If I have a desire to learn about conservation in a living-learning community, I can

apply for that, besides, scholarships are also available. Maybe it’s a good opportunity

for me.