Post written by Maiya Justice, Intern, George Mason University, Class of 2024

My name is Maiya Justice, and I was an intern with the Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination from June 2023 to January of 2024. What first sparked my interest in Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) was a letter I received from my advisor detailing the internship position. Through my research, I saw that what I wanted to do in life greatly aligned with the goals of the OEEC. I am very interested in community development and having a positive impact on those around me. Working with the OEEC let me do that and more. Throughout my time here I have worked on numerous projects.  Some of my favorite projects include creating a presentation on how to use the ENERGY STAR Portfolio manager, writing articles for the OEEC Blog, as well as working on designing graphics for things like the Climate Action Checklist.

I grew up in both Nepal and Myanmar and came to the US to further my studies. I am currently a senior at George Mason University pursuing my B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Ecology and a minor in Conservation and will graduate this Spring. I was born into the environmental field, with some of my earliest memories taking place on agricultural research facilities with my father, who is a sustainable agricultural mechanization expert. Growing up in Nepal, it was not hard to be close to nature, and preserving its integrity quickly became what I wanted to do in my life. 

Throughout this internship, I have been given numerous opportunities to see to my personal and interpersonal growth. Working with so many professionals within my field has allowed me a greater understanding of what it means to be an environmentalist in today’s ever-changing world. Throughout the entirety of my internship, my coworkers have been an incredible source of support. Their willingness to work with me and help me whenever I needed it fostered an environment in which collaboration thrived effortlessly. It is their support that has allowed me to continue to grow as a member of the environmental field, and I am very grateful to have worked with so many wonderful and passionate individuals.

I think the way forward within the realm of climate change education and understanding is through open communication and a willingness to work together. My work with the OEEC has solidified this idea. Seeing everyone in the office work on so many different facets of resilience, community development, and renewable energy has continued to show me that the way forward is through holistic approaches. Every aspect of climate change is interconnected and addressing all concerns from individuals from all walks of life is of the utmost importance.
 

Climate Matters is the blog of Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, where we share stories, insights and information related to climate change and environmental sustainability. Posts are written by knowledgeable and passionate OEEC staff members and guest authors. To read all blog posts, visit Climate Matters.