Lynn Davis Scholarship Personal Statement – Ethan Edwards (Carroll County High School, Hillsville, VA)
In elementary school, I lived off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Groundhog Mountain. When I was six or seven, the forest beside my neighborhood’s development was logged. The company did not replant the trees or build anything in their place; the loggers only wanted the timber. It saddened me to drive by the area each day on my way to school. It felt like such a waste. A few years later we moved to my current address on Snake Creek. Every once in a while, my family drives back to our old residence to visit our old neighbors. Each time, more of the development’s forestry disappears.
I hold a deep love for our area’s nature, culture, and especially history. It really upset me that someone, who was not from the area, could come and destroy the beauty of my home—just to make a quick buck. My passion for the beauty of our community only increased when I joined my high school cross-country team and began to explore more of Carroll County on foot and up close. We constantly ran through the woods, on trails, and on backroads where we were limited only by our imagination. Unfortunately, some of these spaces were eventually logged too. Which trail would be next? Why did people not care?
While younger me focused more on nature, as I have grown older and learned more about the area’s history and culture, I have started to realize how special the people of Appalachia are. My appreciation only grew after I started The Ridge Podcast and began interviewing local folks, and archiving their stories. My conversations with people from various careers and talents within the community inspired me to consider how I can use my skills to benefit the world around me.
One of the connections I made through the podcast was with Gerald Goad and Beth Oravec. Both are members of the Carroll County Litter Task Force, an organization dedicated to raising awareness on sustainable practices, recycling, and tackling the litter epidemic that our area faces. As committee Secretary, I have been a part of various initiatives and cleanups around the county, as well as the annual Earth Day Celebration.
Part of the reason we are seeing the destruction of nature around the world is the ever-increasing need for energy. Currently, most companies rely on non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels. These resources often require invasive practices like fracking and deforestation to be accessed. There is, however, an alternative to these harmful pollutants. Energy from solar, wind, and especially nuclear sources can safely and renewably meet the demands of today’s and tomorrow’s energy needs. As I attend college to study Electrical Engineering, I hope to advance these technologies and educate others about their benefits. Additionally, I plan to raise awareness on sustainable logging practices and global warming, and volunteer with environmental organizations like FRIENDS or Trees Virginia.