Hello,

My name is Shawn Ziff, I am a senior majoring in Economics and minoring in Energy, Business and Finance. I have always been interested in sustainability and the idea of preserving the world for future generations, while simultaneously expanding and advancing our technology. I am an active person and enjoy many different sports. I am an officer in snowboard club and have been riding for over 15 years. I go snowboarding around 3-4 times a week during the winter. I also skateboard, play wiffle ball, soccer and do trail running up at shingletown. I grew up in State College and I enjoy all that this town has to offer. I frequent the bars and nightlife in addition to participating in campus focused events such as Penn State basketball and football games.

I have always been a proponent of sustainability and sustainable design. What I mean by this is the idea that we progress as a society in such a way that we do not prevent future societies from having access to the same resources and possibilities that we take for granted today. We must develop so that the existence of our species on this planet does not threaten the existence of the planet itself. Unfortunately, in our current state humans are causing increasingly dangerous effects to the world and I fear that we may reach the point of no return in the near future. However, I also believe that Earth is an extremely resilient planet and is capable of taking a few punches, so to speak. Resilience is the idea that even though something may be damaged or hurt, it can still recover. This to me, is one of the greatest phenomenons of all. I find it fascinating that our planet, much like our bodies, is capable of self healing. It also provides me with great inspiration to think that no matter how bad things get, life on this planet is designed to overcome and recover.

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