A letter from Apr 19, 2024

Dear FutureMe, Happy birthday. Things have probably changed quite a bit. Ideally, you graduated from college and you're moved into a cool new city to start a PhD. Maybe not, that's OK too, but what are you doing instead? How are all your friends, especially Madison? And the family? Are you dating anybody? Here's what your day in the past looked like: took an environmental risk assessment exam, went to Jeremiah's with the ladies, and practiced your research presentation for Friday. Feeling stressed about the end of the semester. Lately I've been missing Jude, and missing home, and feeling a lot of existential dread about climate change. My professor said that the heat waves are only going to get worse. And, I'm feeling a little sad about moving on from Kiki's lab. But I'm excited to work in North Carolina for the summer. The coastal grass thesis is coming along even though it's difficult. Sometimes I feel down about Matt's study abroad, or the ever present eating disorder, or graduating next year, or all kinds of things. But in this moment, I'm grateful for this: 1) my EMS classmates and their fart jokes before our exam 2) my favorite froggy stuffed animal 3) that I had a really good vanilla oatmilk latte today. So, that's what things look like today. I can't say if they're gonna get better or worse but I'm looking forward to it either way. Keep working hard to make change. When the science gets hard, remember this as your motivator: making the effects of climate change better for Earth's inhabitants. Environmental justice and food access for everyone. Hang in there and treat yourself to another good latte today.