Shannon Seigal
Environmental Studies and Spanish Major
Cultivating Plants and Minds
On a planet facing rapidly increasing environmental change and globalization, many children, particularly those who live in cities, are growing up without knowing where their food comes from. Citysprouts aims to educate students about food systems through the development and maintenance of gardens and accompanying curriculum at Cambridge and Boston public schools. At CitySprouts, I worked as a Summer Fellow for the middle school program utilizing an inquiry-based educational framework to teach middle school students about the food systems that they are part of. I had the privilege of guiding students through their first time planting a seed, pulling a weed, harvesting vegetables, and cooking their own food. Working as a middle school educator was more challenging and more rewarding than I anticipated, and my ability to remain in control of difficult situations will carry over into whatever career I eventually pursue.