Parker Thompson grew up spending a lot of her time outside, which is not what most people expect when they think of living in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, Thompson attended a small international school. She said her school did not offer an environmental science class, but she was always interested in studying the topic due to all of the time she spent exploring.
“People think of Hong Kong as a big bustling city, but it’s actually got really awesome nature, beaches and mountains,” Thompson said. “Especially during COVID, I spent a lot of time hiking.”
Living in Hong Kong gave Thompson a unique perspective on certain environmental problems that furthered her interest in pursuing the subject as a major.
“I think maybe I started developing a deeper understanding of environmental issues because the pollution is pretty bad in Hong Kong,” Thompson said, pointing to one of her favorite hikes near her home. “At the viewing point at the top of the hike, I would be able to overlook the Hong Kong skyline, which is awesome, but depending on the day, the pollution would block the view. So I think I started becoming more aware of environmental issues nearing the end of my time in high school, and I also started to grow a deeper appreciation for Hong Kong as a city and for environmental issues.”
Thompson said that one of her favorite things about studying environmental science is how sustainability can be integrated into anything, from business to fashion, so everyone has a reason to care.
“[Environmental science] can be applied so broadly,” Thompson said. “It’s part of everything, and it has been so interconnected in all my classes.”
She continued: “More of those ties make connections and have helped me develop a greater overall perspective and understanding of sustainability. I just want to keep learning because there is always going to be more stuff to learn, and that’s really exciting to me.”
Thompson said that Stephen Smith’s Environmental Issues course inspired her to develop a base understanding of environmental issues. She said that she still draws on that knowledge today.
Thompson added that she also enjoyed working with Brian Cohen, the assistant director for Sustainability Engagement at the Office of Sustainability.
“He taught me a lot,” she said of Cohen. “He inspires me because he cares a lot about his work, and I know he thinks about sustainability so much.”
Thompson worked with Cohen as a food sustainability intern during her sophomore year, having been encouraged to apply after participating in the Sustainability Leadership Group (SLG) her freshman year. In her role as a food intern, Thompson taught students about sustainable food habits and plant-forward eating.
In addition to majoring in environmental science, Thompson is graduating with minors in Chinese and economics. Outside of the classroom, she is in a sorority and also works as a yoga instructor for Campus Recreation.
Looking towards the future, Thompson is not entirely sure where she wants to go with her career after graduation, but she is incredibly excited for her next steps.
“As of now, I’m interested in the intersection of real estate and sustainability,” Thompson said. “I’m also interested in food sustainability and the green energy space. I also think there’s so much impact to be made there.”
She said that she wants to end up in a bigger city like New York, because she loves the bustling feel of cities, much like the environment she grew up in.
