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.

Something sustainable I have been implementing into my lifestyle the past few weeks is cooking my own meals. I love to cook and there are many benefits to cooking at home such as saving money, eating a healthier and more personalized diet, and taking time to yourself or to bond with friends. Cooking at home can also be a sustainable practice for several reasons. When cooking at home, you have more control over the amount of food you prepare and consume, resulting in less food waste. You can also use leftover ingredients to create new dishes or store them for future meals. Cooking at home allows you to avoid excessive packaging waste that comes with takeout or pre-packaged meals. You can buy ingredients in bulk, use reusable containers, and reduce plastic and paper waste. By buying fresh, local produce and ingredients, you are supporting local agriculture and reducing the environmental impact of transportation and distribution. Eating at home reduces your carbon footprint by eliminating the need for transportation and packaging that come with takeout or pre-packaged meals. Cooking at home can lead to healthier eating habits, which can also have a positive impact on the environment. A diet high in plant-based foods, for example, can reduce the demand for meat and its associated environmental impact. Overall, cooking at home is a sustainable practice that can help reduce food and packaging waste, support local agriculture, lower your carbon footprint, and encourage healthy eating habits.

I recently gave up my car in Westwood and not only has it been cheaper for me but its also been a way in which I can say I am helping the environment. Having a car super accessible to me the past 2 years has been a really big financial problem as I spent a lot of the weekends escaping Westwood and driving a lot which meant a lot of gas and repair costs from the car accidents I had been in. Once I realized how much money I was spending monthly on insurance and gas I made the decision to drive my car back home and leave it there. Originally I was really scared for what this would mean for my mental heath as I used my car as a coping mechanism to escape whatever was going on and just driving but it turned out that giving up my car turned out to give me many more benefits than disadvantages. I spent a lot more time enjoying Westwood itself and taking a lot more walks which helped relieve stress and it also lead me to spend more time with my roomate and sisters as I started carpooling with them to places instead of all individually driving. Overall I have really enjoyed this new change and the benefits that have come with it aside from helping out the climate.

Recently I started being more aware of the daily products I use and ways in which they impact the environment. I started paying more attention to how many disposable products I used on a daily basis and realized that I was using an insane amount of paper towels and grocery bags. So I did some research and found out that there were reusable alternatives for both. As a broke college student there is some limits as to what I can opt in for but I went to ROSS and found cheap alternatives of both. I picked up some reusable paper towels that can be used for wiping down surfaces and cleaning up messes that were only $7 and came in a pack of 5 and then I also found reusable produce bags that I was able to add to my collection as I already tote bags for grocery shopping but none for produce. I also saw some reusable zip blog bags that can be used for storing produce or snacks which I ended up picking up as well. It felt good being able to make small changes to my daily life style and knowing that even if its little i'm still making an impact and helping the Earth, also its cheaper in the long run so that was a plus!

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.