I had a phenomenal experience at the 2014 GYELS in Korea and was inspired by all the things I learned. I really enjoyed all the days of the program and the many topics that were covered. I became more knowledgeable about different environmental issues and was able to share Micronesia's story. Not only did I gain more insight into environmental topics, I also saw a lot of important Korean landmarks and met many great people.

The lectures were very interesting and informative. They have sparked a desire in me to make Micronesia more sustainable, and hopefully the world. I continue to share what I have learned with my classmates and will prepare a PowerPoint to show my fellow Earth Council members. The lecture on sustainability was my favorite. I found that energy use and other aspects of clean energy contribute greatly to maintaining sustainable environments. I also learned that the world's temperature is rising and the average temperature of cities has risen by 0.7 degrees. However, Seoul?s average temperature has increased 1.5 degrees.

The sessions after lectures were a good way to build on topics we were exposed to in lectures or learn about new ones. The food miles session really resonated with me, especially when we were able to see how far the different items in a meal traveled by pulling the tape out of the dispenser. This made me think about typical meals in Micronesia and how unsustainable a lot of them are. Some sustainable food items eaten by Micronesians would include fish, taro, coconut, breadfruit, tapioca, banana, eggplant, and more. Items that are increasingly consumed more than local foods, have more food miles, and are not as healthy include canned meat, white rice, chips, candy, soda, and other processed foods.

While at the conference, I not only learned about the environment, but I was able to share some of the environmental problems in my region, Micronesia. Some of the problems in Micronesia include pollution, soil salinization, changing weather, over-fishing, destruction of coral reefs and mangroves, and sea-level rising.

After all of our sessions and lectures, we were able to learn more about Korea through our excursions. We went to the Gyeongbokgung Palace and it was a remarkable experience. We saw the changing of the guards and some of us were even able to try on the armor. Shopping in Insa-dong was fun I was able to see Korean shops and the variety of souvenirs that were offered.

Another benefit of GYELS was that it allowed me to meet delegates from many different countries. This opportunity opened my eyes to countries and cultures that I knew little about beforehand. It was great to exchange our ideas and opinions. We learned a lot from each other, had fun in the process, and formed friendships that will last a lifetime.                  

I would like to thank all who sponsored the 2014 GYELS for it helped me become the chair of the Sustainability Committee in Xavier High School's Earth Council. I work to inform my school about sustainability and what we as a school community should do to help promote sustainability everywhere. I am also in charge of planning a few events, Sustainability Week, Earth Week, and the Green-Up Xavier campaign which will be held throughout the school year. These activities will educate and engage students in different environmental topics. It is an honor to be in charge of these and I want to thank Samsung and Green Foundation for all that they have done for me. :)