Christian's Blog

      In my first excerpt for this project, I discussed the camp I attended as a young man. For ten formative years, I learned how to live with the land and off it. I learned survival skills, how to navigate the water, how to provide for myself, and how to make new friends. The social and environmental know-how gleaned from this experience is second to none. While summer camps are an incredible opportunity to distract kids from their devices and reset the clock, there should also be solutions during the school year. So, I would like to pitch a semester school for high and middle schoolers that focuses on healthy living, environmental studies, wildlife, survival skills, and personal growth. While there are other semester schools out there, they do not focus on farming the land as well as living on it. The sustainable farm will be the touchstone and focus of all life at semester school.       The basic fact is that kids no longer get outside enough. They...

      When I look at the waste facilities at this school, it is refreshing to see a variety of options. You can dispose of trash, recycling, and compost in different bins throughout much of the USC property. Despite that, when you look into the recycling bin, you will likely see trash and food piled up with many plastics. While many people diligently dispose of their waste in the proper bins, many discard their items without much thought. Thus, all the hard work that goes into supplying and labeling new bins goes out the window.       In a world we dare to imagine, we could use the power of AI to sort trash on the spot. Instead of three separate containers, the new product would consist of one larger basin with a single hole for disposal. The power of AI has shocked the world in the past few years. ChatGPT has made students and schools rethink the nature of writing and homework, while chatbots are helping experts in their field accomplish new goals. Th...

    I have always been a lover of nature. I went to camp in Wiscasset, Maine, for ten years of my life, and it has left an enduring mark on my character and interests. Connection with the outside world is vital for any young person and I firmly believe that exposure to nature can change lives. Getting away from the electronics for even a few weeks can instill a new sense of fun and encourage kids to be more creative with their free time. So, in a world I dare to imagine, I would like to see everyone have the same access and experience to the wilderness that I did.      It is all about getting kids outside and daring them to try new things. My camp was not a glitzy place. It consisted of old wooden cabins and activities that our ancestors have done for hundreds of years. We farmed the land and raised beef cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and more. For a period of time during the session, every camper went on a wilderness trip. This expedition could have been salt...

      I have had an incredible college experience. I am from a small town in Pennsylvania, an hour and a half west of Philadelphia. Lancaster, my home, is an amazing array of farm land, brick houses, and winding rivers. When I got into USC, I couldn't help but feel that this is where I needed to be. So, I chose to cross the country and try out a new state at a new school where I knew a total of zero people. After four years, I can say I one hundred and ten percent made the right choice. My friends and experiences here have topped my wildest dreams and expectations. Now, with only four weeks left of school, I can't help but look back with a smile on my face. I am so proud of who I have become and the people I have met. They have made me infinitely better, and I am so thankful for that.  I accepted a job working in finance back in Lancaster. I was incredibly lucky to land the position I did and am eager to start, but being back in Lancaster means I'll be going through ...