Introductions

Hey Everyone!

My name is Regina Willensky, I am eighteen years old and live in New York City. I am a senior at the Nightingale- Bamford School and am passionate about the environment. 

To some my passion is ironic. My mother is a psychologist, which has kept me in-tune with my animal- loving, tree-hugging, ever willing to help self. While my father is a food broker, that is he sells paper plates, cups, napkins, all disposable tree-killing products. Even though his job requires him to advocate for disposable products, he has been very supportive of my passion. 

My sister is sixteen and is not an environmentalist to say the least. Her hobbies include fighting with me, shopping at Barney's, and eating pad thai. 

Out of this unlikely mixture of empathy and waste making, an environmentalist was born. I am that girl who refuses to use a plastic bag at OK market, the one who is obsessed with recycling and making sure others do the same.  

Tomorrow I am starting my Independent Senior Project (ISP) where I will live one month with the least amount of Carbon emissions possible.

I am going to do this by walking to school, eating local food (only grown within 100 miles of New York City), and by using the least amount of electricity and water possible. 

The most difficult part of my project will be trying to maintain a level of normalcy during school. My lunches will forever change, instead of yummy Yura sandwitches or one of Junior's specials, I will have to bring my own local food. Thus, I just packed my lunch for tomorrow-- apple sauce, apples, granola, cheese, and my nalgene -- all local of course. I have packed a cloth napkin--a tip I learned at Chewonki foundation in Wiscasset, Maine. 

My method of transportation will also change during my project. Instead of taking the six train to school, I will walk. I am well aware that the New York City public transportation system is a remarkably green method, but the overall goal of my project is to limit my Carbon emissions, even if this is the microscopic difference between walking and taking up another couple of inches of a crowded subway car. Tomorrow I am waking up at 6:00 to be able to leave my house intime to take both the stairs at my house (down 29 flights) and at Nightingale and not to be late for my Student Council meeting. I am not sure if I will make it on time but the best I can do is try.

Thats all for today!

xoxoxo Green Teen