Lynn Davis Scholarship Personal Statement – Zach Grohs (Liberty High School, Bedford, VA)
Nature has always been a foundational part of my life. Growing up on a farm and constantly spending time outside has shown me how important our environment is. I have worked on many farms, have a passion for the lake, and have worked in a lawn care business every summer since middle school. While these experiences have enabled me to be in nature constantly, they have revealed the catastrophic pollution issue to me. Moreover, my family has been drawn to travel, and we visit numerous national parks annually. These parks fuel my desire to conserve the environment and inform me of the best ways to do so.
Above all, I love the scenery and beauty of wetlands. As I grew up and spent time on wetlands, I realized that they not only serve as an alluring part of nature but also perform a crucial role in the ecosystem. I have seen this firsthand at Smith Mountain Lake, where I have experienced the thriving ecosystem. Wetlands are the habitat for countless aquatic and terrestrial creatures while improving water quality and reducing coastal storm damage! These facts highlight the importance of wetlands in the environment, yet a study reveals that over half of the 221 million acres of wetlands in the lower 48 states have been destroyed since the 1700s.
This discovery has sparked my desire to preserve these beautiful parts of the environment. To do this, I have made it my mission to reduce pollution. I do this on the farms I work on, ensuring no trash is left out. During my frequent trips to the lakes, I pick up pollutants in the water and on land that harm the environment and living creatures. Furthermore, my time spent in lawn care has enabled me to travel around the county cleaning up yards from discarded trash all summer. These actions will ultimately help prevent the runoff of trash into wetlands. However, I know my small-scale actions will not be enough to cause nationwide change. In the future, I intend to work with large organizations to promote pollution prevention, especially in wetlands. Additionally, I plan to study how technology can be used to reduce pollution nationwide and find long-term solutions for this issue. My experiences have enabled me to truly appreciate wetlands and their role in the environment, which has led me to commit to their conservation and protection.
After high school, I will attend Virginia Tech with the goal of receiving a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Following this, I dream of becoming an entrepreneur, where I can use my knowledge and skills to design and create innovative technology that can aid me in my mission to preserve the environment.