Although she grew up in Phoenix, Emma Goethe attended a small, private university in California until she decided Arizona State University was a better match. She transferred and hasn’t looked back since.
“I decided to transfer to ASU and it was the best decision I have ever made. Once I was admitted to [Barrett, the Honors College at] ASU, sustainability was really the only major that stood out to me,” Goethe said. “Truly, in the beginning, I didn’t know just how much sustainability covers. It’s not just about the environment, but it’s also about economics, policy and the social impacts that sustainability creates.”
Emma Goethe is a junior at ASU studying policy and governance in sustainability. In her Q&A below, read about her inspiration to study sustainability and the important work she does in Ghana.
Question: Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
Answer: I was born and raised in Phoenix! I am an only child and my parents are the two people I look up to the most. My mom is a middle school principal and my dad is a captain in the fire department. I absolutely love to travel and being outside is my favorite thing in the world. Recently I have been enjoying art a lot, and I am working on combining what I’m learning in sustainability and art. A challenge I have worked on overcoming is adopting more sustainability principles in my everyday life. I have started to notice just how much waste I produce, and that is something that I am specifically working on right now.
Q: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study sustainability?
A: I decided to study sustainability because I started becoming infatuated with sustainability practices that are being implemented all around the world, especially in developing countries. It is crazy to think that one well or a few solar panels can completely change someone’s life.
Q: Why did you choose ASU/the School of Sustainability?
A: I originally wasn’t at ASU. I attended a small private university in California. It turned out that my old school wasn’t the right match for me. At that point I decided to transfer to ASU, and it was the best decision I have ever made. Once I was admitted to [Barrett, the Honors College at] ASU, sustainability was really the only major that stood out to me. Throughout my whole life my parents have emphasized the importance of protecting the environment, so that played a big role in my decision. Truly, in the beginning, I didn’t know just how much sustainability covers. It’s not just about the environment, but it’s also about economics, policy and the social impacts that sustainability creates.
Q: What’s been your favorite class (or favorite part of being an ASU/School of Sustainability student) so far and why?
A: I am so proud to be a SOS student. The School of Sustainability is unlike any other school at ASU. We have such a tight-knit community, and the faculty and staff are always willing to help out the students.
Q: Can you tell us about your experience in Ghana?
A: Ghana has truly becoming a part of my identity. I have found my life’s purpose. I work with the Global Rescue Project, a nonprofit based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our organization's mission is to end child slavery in Lake Volta, and hopefully one day the world. I have gone the past four summers, and every year I find new ways to connect my passion for human rights and what I’m learning in the School of Sustainability.
Q: How do you envision applying sustainability to your future career?
A: I see myself working in public policy in the future. I also want to advocate for those who don’t have the opportunity to do so for themselves, like the children in Ghana. That is really all I know right now, but I think it’s a good path for me.
Q: What does sustainability mean to you?
A: For me sustainability is a way of life. It includes constantly learning and focusing on social, economic and environmental problems that we face.Meet sustainability junior Emma Goethe
Although she grew up in Phoenix, Emma Goethe attended a small, private university in California until she decided Arizona State University was a better match. She transferred and hasn’t looked back since.
“I decided to transfer to ASU and it was the best decision I have ever made. Once I was admitted to [Barrett, the Honors College at] ASU, sustainability was really the only major that stood out to me,” Goethe said. “Truly, in the beginning, I didn’t know just how much sustainability covers. It’s not just about the environment, but it’s also about economics, policy and the social impacts that sustainability creates.”
Emma Goethe is a junior at ASU studying policy and governance in sustainability. In her Q&A below, read about her inspiration to study sustainability and the important work she does in Ghana.
Question: Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
Answer: I was born and raised in Phoenix! I am an only child and my parents are the two people I look up to the most. My mom is a middle school principal and my dad is a captain in the fire department. I absolutely love to travel and being outside is my favorite thing in the world. Recently I have been enjoying art a lot, and I am working on combining what I’m learning in sustainability and art. A challenge I have worked on overcoming is adopting more sustainability principles in my everyday life. I have started to notice just how much waste I produce, and that is something that I am specifically working on right now.
Q: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study sustainability?
A: I decided to study sustainability because I started becoming infatuated with sustainability practices that are being implemented all around the world, especially in developing countries. It is crazy to think that one well or a few solar panels can completely change someone’s life.
Q: Why did you choose ASU/the School of Sustainability?
A: I originally wasn’t at ASU. I attended a small private university in California. It turned out that my old school wasn’t the right match for me. At that point I decided to transfer to ASU, and it was the best decision I have ever made. Once I was admitted to [Barrett, the Honors College at] ASU, sustainability was really the only major that stood out to me. Throughout my whole life my parents have emphasized the importance of protecting the environment, so that played a big role in my decision. Truly, in the beginning, I didn’t know just how much sustainability covers. It’s not just about the environment, but it’s also about economics, policy and the social impacts that sustainability creates.
Q: What’s been your favorite class (or favorite part of being an ASU/School of Sustainability student) so far and why?
A: I am so proud to be a SOS student. The School of Sustainability is unlike any other school at ASU. We have such a tight-knit community, and the faculty and staff are always willing to help out the students.
Q: Can you tell us about your experience in Ghana?
A: Ghana has truly becoming a part of my identity. I have found my life’s purpose. I work with the Global Rescue Project, a nonprofit based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our organization's mission is to end child slavery in Lake Volta, and hopefully one day the world. I have gone the past four summers, and every year I find new ways to connect my passion for human rights and what I’m learning in the School of Sustainability.
Q: How do you envision applying sustainability to your future career?
A: I see myself working in public policy in the future. I also want to advocate for those who don’t have the opportunity to do so for themselves, like the children in Ghana. That is really all I know right now, but I think it’s a good path for me.
Q: What does sustainability mean to you?
A: For me sustainability is a way of life. It includes constantly learning and focusing on social, economic and environmental problems that we face.