For awhile now, I’ve felt stagnant. What am I doing? I’ve been the New SUB Sustainability Coordinator for the AMS since October and recently signed on for a new term.
And I can list off some of the projects that I’ve been working on implementing.
Solid Waste Accounting – we’ve completed the research, now is time for ensuring it’s presence for years to come in the building. Buying the technology, ensuring it’s proper operation, integrating it into our building monitoring system. This is proving to be the most time-sensitive issue as it’s idea coming late into the game. This will most definitely be important for waste reduction in the future.
Eco-to-Go Program – research portion is also completed. Now is time for it’s official acceptance into the New SUB/AMS food and beverage facilities. This is a program geared towards reducing container wastage. Students can pay a $5 deposit for a lunchbox/container that they can use in participating food outlets. These outlets will accept dirty containers or your membership card and serve your food in a new, clean container. It will be a huge asset in AMS’s operations and I hope to see it through!
The Palate Restaurant – concept restaurant for the AMS – can a outlet be viable if it does not make containers or cutlery available at all? Research from an LFS 450 group has been completed and we are in a review phase.
Sustainability Atrium, Pocket Lounge, Wall Art – Two projects from Applied Science have received funding and I am very excited to seem them implemented! We are also initiating several SEEDS project on “sustainable art” that will measure about 9ft by 9ft. These projects are also very exciting as the student groups will have a lot of artistic freedom to express their interpretation of “sustainability”.
However, for this second term, I really want to own it. I spent the majority of my term learning, settling and finishing from my predecessors. But I want to put my own personal touch to this position. To this building!
But I feel like I should be inspired. I feel like I am going through the motions. How can I get bored with a position that I want to make my life into?!?
I talked to a friend, who graduated from UBC in History last summer. He always likes to reassure me that no matter where I go with my degree, it’s who I am and my experiences that matter. And I should never lose sight of the opportunity I have right in front of me. He told me something that I feel everyone should know.
Don’t let yourself get bored. If it’s something you love, go get it. If you’re getting too comfortable, find every way you can to get uncomfortable. You aren’t driven if you aren’t uncomfortable. You’re not striving if you’re not uncomfortable. Get comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable.
Because at the end of the day, it’s up to you. To do the work that you want to do. To take the opportunity that is in front of you and make it worth it.
And I want it. I want it so much – I want to work every day to get better at it. To do better at this thing that I feel so in over my head with. Because it’s okay. It should motivate me. That’s what this is about. Being over my head and climbing that cliff to get over it.
That’s what my life is about – what sustainability is about.
It’s about constantly, relentlessly, persistently striving to be better. To be more sustainable.
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I end with two things written on my white board at work.
“At the heart of sustainability is innovation.” I tell myself this every day. Because if we’re not trying, we’re not getting better. We aren’t going to achieve the “impossible” of today.
“Persistence is key.” Left to me from my predecessor, Andy Longhurst. His words of wisdom. And I thank him every day for it. When it comes to this, if I want to make this my life, this is the key. Never stop pushing for the better. Because sooner or later, they’ll have to meet you there.