24/25 Year-in-Review

“The harder I work, the luckier I get."

 

Same quote. Another year, luckier than ever.

 

My junior year at UC was defined by clarity, alignment, and impact. As I look back, I see how the ideas and initiatives I began in previous years took root and grew into systems that will outlast my time here. This was the year I led Net Impact UC as President, served as the Director of Sustainability for Student Government, and focused deeply on aligning UC’s scattered sustainability efforts into a more cohesive and collaborative ecosystem.

 

Leading Net Impact was both the most challenging and rewarding experience of my undergraduate journey so far. I made it my mission not only to grow the chapter but to strengthen its infrastructure and scale its influence. We hosted over 40 events, launched UC’s first international sustainability consulting project, trained our largest cohort of student consultants, and collaborated with industry professionals and community partners on real-world sustainability challenges. Our efforts were recognized with Net Impact Gold Chapter status and a Community Impact Award, but more importantly, they helped establish our chapter as a leading sustainability hub on campus.

 

In parallel, I served as Director of Sustainability for UC’s Student Government, where I worked to bridge gaps across campus by creating shared frameworks and systems. I launched and chaired the Bearcats Student Council for Sustainability, uniting sustainability-focused student organizations under one umbrella to encourage collaboration and amplify our collective impact. This work taught me the power and difficulty of alignment, not just in initiatives but in values, incentives, and systems. It was a lesson in organizational sustainability, not just environmental.

 

What made this year special was the way my academic, extracurricular, and personal passions started to truly align. Through my continued studies in environmental economics, life cycle assessment, and ESG reporting, I built the technical knowledge that strengthened my leadership. At conferences, in meetings with city councilmembers, and even during student retreats, I saw how deeply interconnected environmental challenges are with systems of governance, finance, and education.

 

Looking ahead, I am excited to continue exploring this intersection. Next year, I will begin my work as a Portman Fellow, where I will apply my sustainability background to real-world policy challenges. This opportunity marks the final piece of a long-standing personal goal: to gain experience in the four spheres of sustainability—academia, nonprofit, corporate, and government—before graduating. I will also step into a new leadership role as President of BRASA, the Brazilian Student Association, to give back to the community that helped shape me and support incoming Brazilian students as they find their own paths here at UC.

 

As I enter my senior year, I want to fully embrace the moment, focusing on meaningful relationships, staying grounded in purpose, and staying open to new possibilities that align with the path I have built. I will be stepping down as President of Net Impact but remaining a strategic advisor to support its next chapter. More than anything, I want to experience this final year as a celebration of growth, connection, and collective impact.

 

If my sophomore year was about defining purpose and my junior year about building proof, then senior year will be about trusting the path I have carved while making space for what is next. As I prepare to graduate, I am excited to pursue post-graduation opportunities that expand my global perspective and deepen my ability to lead at the intersection of business, policy, and sustainability.