NADIA RUIZ

For our generation, I have found going paperless pretty easy. A few things I can now find online in my email or accounts instead of having them sent to me through the mail are; paystubs, credit card statements, receipts, w-2 tax forms, calendars, and e-signed documents. This is highly convenient because I tend to misplace all my papers, and having everything accessible online makes me less worried about losing important documents. Also, I live in a small apartment, so not receiving all of this helps by not having to find a place for it at home. Regarding receipts, I love receiving them through email because if I ever need to return anything, I don't have to stress about finding the physical copy. Then with credit card statements, you tend to receive them earlier when you choose the paperless option, which helps with not falling behind on any payments! Now when it comes to calendar apps, I use mine every day! I enjoy planning my week and using my virtual calendar, as I can choose different fonts and styles, check it from any of my electronics, and never lose it. Going paperless helps our environment and dramatically reduces the amount of paper we use, mainly because we will throw this paper out either way.

I am currently moving into my new apartment in Westwood, so exciting but kind of stressful when it comes to finding the right furniture. One of my main concerns when shopping for furniture is finding affordable pieces. However, I've recently learned that sometimes buying furniture made of cheap wood can hurt our environment, but can also hurt us because of the toxic chemicals it contains. After scrolling through many furniture options, I also noticed that bamboo products can also be a lot more cheaper than those made of other materials. So now, that I have purchased my furniture I kept both of these things in mind. I just finished ordering a bamboo bed frame, a matching bamboo coffee table, and some bamboo coasters! I am so excited to receive these because I know it will make my apartment look nicer. I actually learned about bamboo products through news articles about moving into a new apartment. I think if we all focused a bit more on what we use in our homes such as buying sustainable furniture, we can help better our environment and our homes!

Sometimes we forget that others aren't as fortunate as us. I was able to afford attending decent schools from K-12th and even now at UCLA , I am fortunate enough to not have to worry about paying for my education (well as much as others). Once I got to high school, I realized some of my friends chose to not attend their dream universities because of their financial struggles, they didn't want to stress about student loans or debt. Of course, this is worse in underdeveloped countries and places with serious income gaps. I have always wanted to try and do my part and help make school more affordable/accessible. Which is why, I am a mentor for the Mentorship Program (Club) at UCLA. As mentors we are required to raise a certain amount of money, so we can combine all the funds and provide scholarships to our high school students who are so close to attending college! I am also currently assigned to a 13 year old mentee who is in 8th grade and she is very much enthusiastic about becoming an animal psychologist. I always try my best to encourage her to follow her dreams and support her.

As someone who loves to drink matcha or any type of tea really, I try to be more considerate with the amount of plastic cups and straws that I use. I like how Starbucks stopped providing straws unless you ask them for one, and even though I enjoy using the new lids which you can drink from they are still made from plastic. So, I've started to make my OWN matcha lattes from match powder that I order online! This matcha brand also uses compostable packaging! Making my own matcha is pretty fun and not as expensive, and I can also make as much as I want! Because I've been able to make my own drinks now, I use my reusable cup and straw, this helps me with greatly reducing the amount of plastic cups and straws I use a week. I love that I've made the choice to purchase my own matcha powder, a (cute pink) reusable cup, and 2 reusable straws. It's definitely more convenient and helps me save lots of money weekly, so now I'm saving up to buy more things.

I was born and raised in LA. My family and I haven't always lived in the Westwood/Brentwood area, we also lived in DTLA. Due to being able to reside in different areas, I've noticed how some residents might really depend on their cars to get around their own neighborhoods. While living in DTLA, I didn't feel safe enough to walk around late at night or go on runs early in the morning. However, now that I'm living in the Brentwood area, I walk to the grocery store, go on runs, and even walk to school without feeling unsafe. I've also been able to learn more about cool places near me (like boba and ice cream :p). I realize I have the privilege of safely walking around my neighborhood, and now I try my best to walk everywhere because it's financially and physically beneficial for me and our environment! This change has helped me understand deeper issues we must fix so everyone can participate in limiting climate change.