Courtesy of Annie Feldmar-DeVitre ’26
There’s no doubt that students at Conn are full of commitment, passion, and drive when it comes to making a positive impact on our environment. Climate change has only become a more pressing issue over time, and the urgency our students feel to do their part has increased with it. Due to this, many of our students face something called climate or eco-anxiety, meaning “a chronic fear of environmental doom,” according to the American Psychological Association.
At Conn, students exhibit their avidity for saving the environment through the countless initiatives and projects on campus. These efforts include, but are not limited to, the Sprout Garden, the Office of Sustainability, Spokespeople, CC Climate Collective, and Oceana. Conn has a Sustainability Fellows Program and the Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment, along with a sustainable living residence option for students called Earth House. In July 2021, Conn earned a Gold rating from the Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), which is a program of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Clearly, sustainability efforts at Conn are of the utmost importance and many students spend hours per week dedicating their time and energy to creating a more sustainable campus and life, even if they aren’t involved in on-campus programs.
It is important to note the reason behind our students’ and administration’s concerns as they stress the importance of sustainability on our campus and in our curriculum. Our students’ futures will be affected by these issues, which can influence their mental health daily. The responsibility to confront the impact of past generations’ actions on the climate weighs heavily on many of our students, resulting in their climate anxiety. The pressure to have extremely sustainable lifestyles, whereas one billion-dollar company or institution’s choices would have a much greater impact, still burdens our students.
There are other strategies to help soothe climate anxiety along with plenty of mental health resources on campus, ranging from Student Counseling Services to student organizations working to bring awareness to mental health issues. Each person may choose to act on and cope with this anxiety differently. Students should aim to find a place where their voice best fits and where they can make an impact without putting pressure on or shaming themselves if their voices don’t look or sound exactly like the one on the front page. Don’t sacrifice your sanity for your sustainability efforts. Connect with others in your community. Ultimately, the only way we can contribute is if we are healthy and well, meaning that rest is the key to success here.
The future for sustainability at Conn is bright. Our students and administration are continually committed to exploring more ways to educate and learn about environmental friendliness. We have incredible resources to support us through all the ups and downs that the climate crisis brings, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that we can’t conquer everything and that taking care of ourselves comes first.
