Student, Traveler, Daughter & Steward of the Environment - Erin Beach

For around 13 years, Erin Beach and her family have been in my life. Growing up with Erin being just a couple of grades older that me was an experience that I truly valued. Erin's leadership qualities and determination has always been something that I could look up to and learn from. Through all of her ventures in life, martial arts, leading the backstage crew for theatre and her amazing work throughout college, I have always considered her a role model and most of all a sister. Whether is it something small or large, Erin puts her whole heart and passion into it. The impacts she has made in my life, her and my families and in her college community, does not even compare to the future accomplishments that Erin is going to make in our world as a whole.

Student

Erin's wide range of intelligence and passion astounds me. In May, Erin will be graduating with her Bachelor's of Science degree in biology with minors in genetics and natural resource management from Texas A&M University after five years in undergraduate studies. Something I commend Erin greatly on is taking classes and pursing anything and everything that she is passionate about. A lot of students get to college and plan every detail of their strictly four year experience which works for some, but others find themselves lost and unsure down the road that they took the right path. However, Erin's planning has not been the path she has chosen to stick with and the path she was able to stick with. Even her plans after graduation are up in the air -- "I'll let you know when I find out!" Currently Erin is applying for a master's program to continue her education in natural resources and conservation and possibly with genetics, as well as, applying for medical school. Although she's unsure what she might be accepted into or what she really wants to do, Erin's letting fate decide where she will go and "this time, [she's] just letting Jesus take the wheel to begin with." No matter what program Erin is accepted into or the path that fate takes her, I know that she will give it her all and make major impacts.

Traveler

In between transferring universities, Erin was accepted for an international medical fellowship at the Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universiteto ligoninė Kauno klinikos (English translation - Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences) for four weeks during the summer. Erin recalls being surrounded by other fellows from all over the U.S. and Canada who all had their next step from there planned, whether it was an Ivy League, medical or small town university. She was not even sure she would even have a school to attend in two months due to leaving during the process of being accepted at Texas A&M University. The experiences that Erin had during her fellowship is one a lot of people might yearn for, but will never have the chance to experience. From standing "arm’s length away from a man’s exposed brain during the preparation for the removal of a blood clot" to watching surgeons "sever a woman’s aorta to remove a grape-sized calcification" to even watching the birth of a baby and another baby, terminally ill, "being wheeled out of a last attempt reconstruction surgery." She credits this experience as being one that has given her the biggest lesson in compassion that will stick with her a lifetime. Throughout her time there, she was also able to explore a bit of Poland and Lithuania, which gave her the opportunity to learn a bit of each language and more about each countries cultures and histories. Throughout Erin's time in Lithuania and Poland, as well as, her experiences in other countries before this trip, she reflects on the idea that although a lot of cultures vary that "it's amazing the similarities in humanity" too.

Daughter

The most important person in Erin's life is her mom. Having grown up with the two of them in my life, a lot of the things that Erin describes about her mom I have been able to witness first hand. Erin portrays her relationship with her mom as being best friends who share in each other's successes and failures. The way Erin speaks about her mom makes me become teary eyed because Renee (Erin's mom) is truly the most compassionate and thoughtful person I have ever been in the presence of. The easiest way to describe her is that "she is the most...candle obsessed, ready to decorate for every season or holiday, amazing chef who will definitely overfeed you, gardening fiend, best of the best friends, and loving mother that [Erin] could ever hope for."

Steward of the Environment

Out of the many topics that Erin is passionate about, the environment is one that she made sure to state many times in her answers to my questions. The very first words on her responses to my questions were "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!" Instead of rewording her environmental words of wisdom and empowerment, I would like to give everyone the treat of her own powerful words:

"Being a steward of the environment takes a lot of forward thinking. Just as it is hard to break a bad habit, it’s also hard to break a good one. So, make it habit to take your reusable bags into stores with you, or to ask for paper bags or no bags at all. It doesn’t have to be an extreme change by every person. Using less plastic is better than making no change to your routine. With that being said, it is time that every person makes a change. This isn’t a problem with the fate of our environment. The planet will be fine. It was fine before humans and it will recuperate after humans. The problem is with maintaining the environment in a state that is suitable for humans. We will run out of water. We will suffocate our food sources with plastics. We will, sooner than most are willing to believe, end the human race. Taking these steps to reduce consumption, reuse the things that cannot be recycled, and properly dispose of garbage and recyclables doesn’t just save the turtles, it prolongs humans’ residence on Planet Earth. Remember, there is no Planet B."

Whether it's one person, a community of people or the entire world, Erin Beach has got a lifetime of impactful tasks to complete. Erin not only has flourished throughout her academic career and fellowship, but she has also given such a positive outlook and encouraging spirit to the people around her. Due to her incredible wealth of knowledge and overall drive to help people, she is someone we should all dare to be inspired by. She may not know what's in store for her next, but anyone who knows her is aware of her ability to go off and do the most incredible things. Whether it was attending my talent show performances, visiting me in the hospital or helping me prepare for my wedding day, Erin has always been there for me, so I am excited to introduce her with others who will find her just as inspirational as I do! Oh and "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!"

Erin and Me Preparing for my Wedding Day