This article is part of our Youth Voices series. At Ten Strands, we believe that young people offer valuable perspectives and play a critical role in shaping our society and our world. We recognize their power to drive dialogue and create positive change, and we are committed to providing a platform that amplifies their contributions to the Data Initiative for Environmental and Climate Action in California’s TK–12 schools. Today, you’ll meet Jolie Zheng, one of the inspiring youth leaders contributing to this important work.
Briefly introduce yourself.
I’m currently a senior at Carlmont High School. I’m actively pursuing STEM education through Carlmont’s Biotechnology Institute (BTI), a competitive three-year program that provides real lab experience and connections with professionals in the scientific community. I plan to major in chemistry or chemical engineering in college. I’m passionate about chemistry and about utilizing STEM to address global issues such as climate change and creating a more environmentally friendly and sustainable world.
What brought you to this project at Ten Strands?
I was drawn to this opportunity because I enjoy conducting research and have experience doing so after taking AP Seminar and AP Research. I wanted to apply my passion and experience in research to promote environmental literacy and action in schools through my work as a research intern.
Tell us about your experience working on this project.
I updated outdated case studies written by previous student interns by checking for spelling and grammar errors, identifying broken links and finding alternatives, and adding sources to increase recency and relevancy. I also conducted my own case study on sea level rise in San Mateo County.
In what ways do you hope your work made an impact?
I hope my work brings attention to the sea level rise crisis and how it is affecting communities within San Mateo County. Not many people realize that the geographical features of the Bay Area make San Mateo County extremely vulnerable to flooding linked to sea level rise. I hope that my work encourages others to take action and promotes greater youth involvement in mitigating climate change.
Did this project help you grow your skills?
Yes, this project helped me strengthen my time-management skills, as I had to balance my internship responsibilities with school assignments. I also learned how to identify an issue I wanted to investigate, collect information on the topic, and write a case study or report that communicates the information I discovered and hope to share with the public.
To what extent do you plan on pursuing something related to the environment in your college or career pathways?
I’m passionate about chemistry and utilizing STEM to address environmental issues, so I definitely see myself pursuing something related to the environment in my college and career pathways.
