One Hundred Percent Elephant Feces Anonymous

In fourth grade, I was forced to choose a profession for Career Day. I remember being overwhelmed by the vocations available to me. I could be a doctor, an engineer, a public accountant, or even a pilot. How could a nine-year old choose? Since then, many have told me to become a lawyer for the prestige. Others have told me to go into computer science for the money. Yet, I can't imagine limiting my creativity to a profession that would not engage my greatest convictions.

One conviction I hold is that I want my generation to be ecologically prudent: to use little, and waste even less. To me, the idea of sustainability does not conjure thoughts of EPA restrictions and mass hysteria. Sustainability means a common sense lifestyle, promoting the best use of Earth's resources. I enjoy seeing people grow from being apathetic to astounded when I tell them about novel ecofriendly innovations. I enjoy peeking at their contortedly amazed faces as I hand them business cards made of 100% elephant feces. Feces! Although others may not find beauty in this useless matter, I am fascinated by its transformation into this valuable commodity. This incites my desire to educate others about environmentalism.

My desire drives my work as the...