{"id":52141,"date":"2024-09-12T23:38:44","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T06:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carpediemeducation.org\/?p=52141"},"modified":"2024-09-13T23:46:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-14T06:46:12","slug":"carpe-vitam-award-winner-rj-lichten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carpediemeducation.org\/carpe-vitam-award-winner-rj-lichten\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Waves: How RJ Lichten, 2024 Carpe Vitam Community Award Winner, Turned Passion Into Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Written by RJ Lichten – 2024 Carpe Vitam Community Award: Education, <\/strong>Spring 2023 South Pacific Alum<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finding your path is much more than following what you love; it is about aligning your passions with actions that make a difference. Once you find your passion, any action can have a significant impact. These small actions could be anything from volunteering your time to an organization you truly care about, to something as simple as reducing your plastic use.<\/p>\n

Did you know that one single 500 mL bottle of water has a total carbon footprint of 82.8 grams? In fact, the average person in the U.S. above the age of two drinks around 1,000 mL of water a day. By taking the simple action of using a reusable water bottle, the average person in the U.S. can reduce their carbon footprint by 64,824 grams per year. To put that into perspective, that one simple action results in a reduction of your carbon footprint equal to driving 500 fewer kilometers per year.<\/p>\n

During my time with Carpe Diem, I gained an understanding of the impact I have on the environment. Since my trip, I have worked on both small and large actions to better my impact, all while following my passions. One of my greatest passions in life is surfing. Over the past year, I have dedicated more of my free time to surfing and worked to align this passion with two simple actions: never driving to the beach to surf (only biking or walking) and bringing a bag to pick up trash on the beach.<\/p>\n

Since returning from my Carpe Diem trip, I have surfed around 220 times. On average, I walk about 10 kilometers to the beach, which means I have driven 2,200 fewer kilometers this year. This simple action of walking to the beach has lowered my carbon emissions by 307,800 grams this year. Over the same period, I have picked up more than 1,500 pieces of garbage from the beach. By aligning these actions with something I am passionate about, I have made a difference. Even little actions can make a huge difference.<\/p>\n