Stephanie Batch
Major: Neuroscience
UT Dallas Organizations: Stitch to Enrich, American Medical Student Association, Galerstein Gender Center
To be truthful, I had no idea about the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals until I went on an Alternative Spring Break Trip with the Office of Student Volunteerism. During that trip, I learned so much about sustainability and all the different targets and indicators. It’s incredible to see all the areas I am already passionate about, such as social justice and equality, get addressed as part of sustainability. What motivates me is the universal nature of these goals. People coming from every discipline can contribute towards sustainability using their unique lens and perspective.
I have dedicated much of my undergraduate career (and even pre-college) to volunteer work and pursuing my passion for helping my community. I feel that it is only natural to continue this commitment towards service, both in my career and personal ambitions. As I am matriculating into medical school in fall 2021, I see myself continuing to support quite a few of these goals (one obvious one being SDG 3: good health and well-being). Through my future career as a physician taking care of my patients and through advocacy measures and other volunteer work, I hope to continue, I envision myself as a lifelong advocate to service and benefiting my community.
Alaina da Costa
Major: Psychology, Child Learning & Development
UT Dallas Organizations: Newman Catholic Ministry, Fellowship of Christian University Students, Animal Rights Club
I want to volunteer here because I think it is an amazing opportunity to make a difference. I took a Sustainable Development and Local action class in fall 2020 where I learned about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and that one person can truly make a difference. Through genuine care and kindness, we can act as a light for others. I have become very grateful that I get to go into a helping profession and hope to further the SDGs in everyday life. Beyond college, I hope to continue serving both through volunteering and through my work. I will be pursuing a career in social work and hope to work towards SDG 3 of good-health and well-being. That semester showed me how important it is to take action. The interconnected nature of sustainability means that I can make a difference in multiple aspects. I have wanted to volunteer for some time and now I feel the call even more strongly.
Fariha Hossain
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Gender Studies
UT Dallas Organizations: United Nations Girl Up Chapter, Biochemistry Student Association, Comet Cupboard, Be the Match
The intellectual stimulation found in science, coupled with a desire to discover more about life’s mysteries, compels me to pursue a career in scientific research.
As such, I have chosen to major in biochemistry with plans of pursuing a PhD in the future. In addition, I have chosen to minor in gender studies and founded Girl Up chapter at UTD to empower others to become involved through education, advocacy, public service, and fundraising to allow adolescent girls around the world to reach their full potential. Beyond university life, I plan to continue empowering young girls by serving as a mentor for STEM camps hosted by Women of Science and Girl Up annually.
Nishika Jaiswal
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Dance
UT Dallas Organizations: Office of Student Volunteerism, Student Success Center - PLTL, First Year Leader Program, Freshman Mentor Program, American Medical Student Association, University Emergency Response Team, Global Brigades
A safer, healthier, and stronger community and Earth motivates me to be more sustainable. Since I was young and throughout my life, I believe I was making “sustainable” choices, but never labelled them as such. 10 years ago, I made the decision to become vegetarian, and I have never looked back. I am now working on going vegan as well. Additionally, I started “collecting” (keeping, instead of trashing) my toilet paper rolls and building a tower out of them because I felt bad for throwing them away. As silly as this sounds, I’ve realized the impact this could make once I did my research. In college, I learned so much more about sustainability through being a student leader at the Office of Student Volunteerism. Through upcycling events, community garden participation, food bank volunteering, and other such events, I have become so much more aware about sustainability. Immersing myself in impact areas for Alternative Spring Break trips such as Disability and Special Needs, Immigration, and now Sustainability, I have learned that so much of our service can count towards the 17 SDGs. Beyond college, I see myself continuing my dedication to service by being a physician and serving to better one’s health physically, mentally, and emotionally. I hope to also lead an environmentally sustainable lifestyle by making small, conscious changes to the way I live my life and the choices I make. Additionally, I hope to inspire my family and friends to make such changes as well.
Bethany Kasprzyk
Major: Economics
Minor: Public Affairs, Criminology
UT Dallas Organizations: UTD Community Garden, Comet Cupboard, No Labels, SPARK, Habitat for Humanity
I began my academic career at UTD as a mechanical engineering major interested in environmental engineering applications. While I ultimately decided that engineering wasn’t the right field for me, I retained my interest in sustainability. I was excited to learn the different ways that my current degree related to sustainability, including an optional concentration in green economics. In the future, I am considering working in local government in city planning or economic development, and I definitely see myself passionate about developing and advocating for sustainable communities.
Hassan Khanani
Major: Healthcare Management
Minor: Biology
UT Dallas Organizations: Pre-SOMA, Comet Cupboard, Freshman Mentor Program, Healthcare Management Association, Muslim Student Association, Molding Doctors, VolunTIER
Growing up as a first generation Pakistani-American, I didn’t realize how privileged I was. My parents would tell me stories about the economic struggles they lived through, the near poverty experiences, lack of proper education, and the difficulty of receiving healthcare. Through the hard work of my parents, I didn’t have to go through these struggles, but my parents consistently reminded me of how fortunate I was. From as young as I can remember every trip we made to visit our family back in Pakistan, my parents would take me out to volunteer at a food distribution center, at a disabilities school, and even at local hospitals. Since this young age, my parents built this foundation of giving back to the community, and helping others rise. I have always been told that I should be grateful that I am one who is able to give, and not one who needs to be given to. These experiences helped me develop into a strong and humble individual. These experiences gave me a purpose, which ultimately helped me decide what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I came to UTD as a way of reaching my ultimate goal of becoming a physician. I believe an education, and healthcare is a right of every human. As a physician I hope to be able to provide my services to those in need. An education is the most powerful gift that you can give anyone, and I strive to do whatever is in my power to consistently increase the literacy rate around the world.
Iqbal Matebah
Major: Biology
UT Dallas Organizations: Wishmaker, Molding Doctors, Active Minds, Pratham, Freshman Mentor Program, iFriend, First-Generation Student Programs
I am a pre-med student who is currently studying biology and am extremely motivated toward helping others and the community around me. I have been a PLTL leader for 2 semesters and am involved in a biological research lab on campus. The long-term effects of sustainability have an enormous lasting impact on our environment and communities. This lasting impact is what motivates me, change for the better for the future of communities. Seeing what UTD has accomplished in the efforts of sustainability is truly inspiring; I want to learn what more I can do for the planet and for my community. As a pre-med student my passion and strive toward service to the community and its members will thrive as I continue my career path. Being able to give back to the community is what I hope to accomplish as a doctor and pediatrician. I will have an unwavering dedication toward service and the community and will continue this through efforts of education and awareness.
Anna Straughan
Major: Psychology, Child Learning & Development
Minor: Spanish
I am motivated by the equality and climate action aspects of sustainability. I think that by working towards sustainability efforts, we can make climate action lifestyle changes more accessible for everyone through education and restructuring current policy with sustainability in mind. I do see myself committing my career in a sustainable direction. I’ve been plant-based for several years now and aim to educate others on how to adapt plant-based and sustainable lifestyle choices. I intend to pursue a career in mental health and caregiver education to provide resources for raising a child in a healthy and sustainable way. In my career, I also hope to eliminate the stigma around mental health services and normalizing mental health and a public health issue, hopefully making mental health services more accessible.
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