In nature, definition of sustainability is about keeping the resources that you already have. Yet, for people, the definition of sustainability is about taking what you have and making it better!—inspiring and empowering people to create positive change in their communities. And both are what I love to do.

My name is Max Chen, and I am someone who not only talks the talk, but also walks (or takes public transportation) the walk. Spurred by an interest in protecting the rainforests, in high school, I founded Enspiration, an environmental community service group. Currently, I am a student at The George Washington University, studying sustainability and business, and where I am also Vice President of GW, the environmental student organization. With my peers, I have tried my best to make sustainability not only an engaging, but also exciting, topic on campus and in the community.

Sustainability is such an important topic, and yet it’s also one of the most relatable topics to every part of life. Accordingly, I have integrated my passion for the environment outside of school as well. For example, I have volunteered on green-building service trips, one of which got featured on national news, and have interned for my school’s Office of Sustainability and for Planet Forward. I am currently working at a public relations company that promotes cleantech.

Throughout my life, I have always had a passion for improving the world around me. I yearn for opportunities to grow and to learn about the world around me. I am an eager learner and a hungry achiever. My experiences have taught me that no action is too small or insignificant because every single effort to improve the world is a step in the right direction... and there’s always room to grow.