In Their Words: Meet Green Campus Intern James Turner

This series highlights the most important people involved with the Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Campus Program—our interns!  The program currently employs more than 75 university and college students across California who implement energy efficiency projects at their campuses. See the entire In Their Words series.

In James' Words

• Name: James Turner
• Campus: West Los Angeles College
• Studying: Mathematics

The Green Campus Program has transformed me in ways that I could have never imagined. Prior to becoming a Green Campus intern at West Los Angeles College, I was a student who lacked focus and motivation. I had yet to realize my strengths and potential. At that time, it was personally acceptable for me to attend school, maintain a sub-par performance level, and reject participation in any extracurricular activities. In essence, I had a phobia of achievement that I was not able to conquer—until I became a Green Campus intern.

I was attracted to the program because of its pioneering nature on my campus. West L.A. College has never seen anything like it in the past. Green Campus allows students to use the world around them to gather information, and it promotes an environment that enables students to find ways to improve their campus. This trait is what allowed me to see the difference that I could make on my surroundings.

I no longer hide behind the “I can’t make much of a difference” attitude because the Green Campus Program has proven to me that I am capable of changing things for the better.

In addition to the positive personal changes that the internship helped me attain, I also have become more knowledgeable of sustainability practices. The program opened my eyes to how practical and logical it is to “go green.”

Before becoming a Green Campus intern, I shared the common perception that living a sustainable life required a drastic and unreasonable lifestyle makeover. I have since learned that no such requirement is necessary.

Sustainability is a way of life, and because we are creatures of habit it is a feasible one. Practicing the behavior that I became conscious of through my internship with the Green Campus Program has birthed a sense of fulfillment and gratification within me that I am deeply grateful for.