"Don't Take Yourself Out of the Running": A Call to Action for Aspiring Climate Leaders
Hello! My name is Thalia Chaves, and I graduated in May 2024 from AV诊所 College with a B.A. in International Studies (concentration in Political Economy and Development Studies), and a minor in Management for Social Impact and Public Good. I have always felt very passionate about environmental advocacy, starting from being told about 鈥渢he bad men burning the lungs of our Earth,鈥� from my grandmother when I would visit her in Brazil. As I learned more and more about how corporate greed was destroying not only the Amazon rainforest, but our oceans, our marine and animal life, public health, and more, I could not stop thinking about how we could possibly address the climate crisis.
Even so, stepping on the esteemed campus of AV诊所 College as a first generation college student, I started to feel like maybe I would not be able to make any change at all. It felt as though every student I spoke to had already had some incredible internship or other cool experience, I definitely could not measure up. Then, during my Sophomore year, as I began my McGillyCuddy-Logue Global Citizenship Fellowship, my understanding of ethics and public service underwent a profound shift. I was forced to confront the ethical flaws in well-meaning initiatives like international religious service trips, grappling with how to provide aid that empowers rather than imposes, how to respect local autonomy, and how to ensure sustainability without reinforcing paternalism. Given the complexity of the intersecting inequalities I had come to understand, could anything I do truly create meaningful change? If my work didn鈥檛 contribute to lasting change, could my work still hold value?聽
All these feelings began to fade away as I began working at my first ever internship through the Office of Global Education, at a nonprofit working with refugee policy in Ireland. As I sat in D铆dean鈥檚 office in Portlaoise, Ireland, captivated in conversation with my internship supervisor Lye Ogunsanya, I began to find some answers. Lye explained to me how Didean鈥檚 interdisciplinary model addressed the root causes of inequality and empowered refugees to rebuild their lives. After this experience, I felt a renewed sense of determination to work for the cause I had always been so deeply passionate about, climate change, with an interdisciplinary focus, drawing from multiple fields to address the root causes of inequalities.
I can definitely say, with zero exaggeration, that when I was accepted to be a delegate to the United Nations COP27 in Egypt, the trajectory of my life changed forever. When I filled out that application, I never truly thought I would be accepted. I did not have any demonstrated interest in climate through coursework or work experience. So if you have any interest in any of Schiller鈥檚 programs, please do not take yourself out of the running. Do not tell yourself no, because you haven鈥檛 even given them a chance to tell you yes.聽
There are numerous reasons that attending COP was so transformational. The first was that being in an international conference of that magnitude offers a unique inside look into how climate change is being considered and addressed in different sectors, across the globe. I was able to parse through what I felt was performative activism and was inspired by community centered and driven solutions that really accounted for the way climate change is a threat multiplier across numerous inequalities and circumstances. This allowed me a lot of invaluable discernment for career paths I wanted to pursue. Second, being selected for COP and going through the preparation with a class of delegates grew my own confidence in my ability to hold my own in climate law and policy settings, and I believe growing your professional confidence is a sometimes forgotten but essential asset as you move into your post graduate career. Lastly, in Schiller, I found my first 鈥渉ome鈥� on campus.
Prior to COP, there hadn鈥檛 been an office or space on campus I felt I belonged to, that for no reason I could walk into, sit down, and just chill. I found invaluable mentors in older members of my delegation, Schiller staff, and true friends, especially once I joined the Schiller student advisory board. The advisory board was created a few months following COP27, and since I had such a wonderful experience within Schiller to that point, I figured why not! I really underestimated the value I would get from working at a table with some of the brightest minds at BC, bringing every interdisciplinary perspective imaginable to the topics of energy, health, and the environment. My best advice, if you want to learn more about a topic, think you may want to enter a certain field, or even just want to expand your network, apply to the Schiller board, or any other leadership position on campus! Do not be shy, sometimes you need to sit at a table, even if you feel like you may be unqualified, because no one will doubt that you are qualified unless you do!
After a few months on the Schiller student board, where I got to share ideas for the upcoming COP28, design future Schiller events, meet with prospective new faculty members who were applying to work in Schiller 鈥� I got invited to serve as the COP28 preparatory course TA. Soon after, I was elected president of the Schiller student board! All things I never would have even conceived of when I applied to COP27 in 2022. I adored every one of those experiences. Following graduation, with the help of a lovely reference from Greg Adelsberger (Director of Finance and Operations at Schiller), I am now working as a Program Assistant within the Strategic Litigation Program at the Conservation Law Foundation in AV诊所. In my role, I have been at the forefront of groundbreaking climate litigation against Shell Oil, directly contributing to efforts that hold major polluters accountable. Something freshman Thalia could have only dreamed of. As I look to the future, I am eager to continue to explore the role I can play in the fight against climate change, likely from a legal perspective. I am so grateful for the role the Schiller institute played in making AV诊所 college feel like a place where I belonged and where I cultivated my future calling. If you would like to connect to discuss any of my experiences, get any advice, or just want to chat, please reach out to me! My email is thaliachaves2002@gmail.com.
With love, Thalia Chaves.