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That feeling of overwhelming stress is part of growth—just like when you were getting taller and felt those “growing pains.” Going outside your comfort zone is essential to achieving anything you haven’t done before. And when it comes to science, eventually you’re doing things no one has ever done before. But stepping outside your comfort zone is, by definition, uncomfortable.
However, if you stick with it anyway, it always pays off. Everything is connected, and understanding that connectivity isn’t easy. There are many different aspects of the Earth system coming into play at every level—and so many unknowns. As I move forward in my education and career journey, I’m always learning something amazing that leads me down a new path.
Each new path comes with stress and frustration, but I’ve found that pushing through, even when it’s hard, has always paid off. Over time, I’ve gotten comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s taught me that I’m on the right track. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I remember that learning is like the graph of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere—there are peaks and troughs (ups and downs), but the trend is always upward. For learning, that’s a good thing. For carbon dioxide... not so much. But hopefully, that gives a clear visual. When you're in a trough, always remember that a peak is coming next.
In environmental science, teens may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of problems that need solving. I always remember three things:
Most answers already exist in the natural world. There are no truly new ideas—use nature as your guide to innovate and create solutions.
There will always be trade-offs. The goal is to find the best option for solving the problem you're addressing and to understand those trade-offs. For example, electric vehicles may reduce carbon emissions, but they also come with their own potential environmental impacts. When making economic decisions that affect the environment, short-term gain often comes with long-term pain.
People are resistant to change because change is uncomfortable. This is important to remember as you pursue a path to make the world better. Big changes are hard for humans, so creating a path with small, manageable milestones can help achieve bigger goals.
Things are not hopeless—in fact, quite the opposite. But we need people like you to become comfortable with the uncomfortable. That feeling of being overwhelmed? It might just mean you’re on the right path.
– Tracy Fanara
Environmental Scientist | Engineer | Science Communicator
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