Meet the EcoReps – Akhila Bandlora ’24

Hometown – Phoenix, AZ

Spring Location – Princeton, NJ

How do you engage with sustainability?

I’m most passionate about the idea of sustainability as a means of reflection and community building. For context, I came into environmental work as a poet. I learned the world through poetry. Although poetry is first and foremost regarded as a creative process, I also believe it’s a way of thinking. To identify and explore through poetry is to learn and yearn for stories. There are so many people I think of as poets, regardless of if they write poetry, because of how carefully they consider the world around them and the people in it. In the environmental movement, I think the consideration poetry demands is important. Although other writing styles involve reflection, poetry requires it. Without internal reflection of why we continue to fight for a crisis that a lot of the time feels incredibly overwhelming, we cannot sustain both ourselves and each other..

What do you study and why?

Right now, I’m considering Ecology, Anthropology, or Religion, but I’m still pretty undecided!

What other campus groups are you involved with?

I’m involved with Songline Slam, PUMP, and the Figure Skating Club! This semester, I’m excited to join the Princeton Gardening Club.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love journaling, walking, reading, writing poetry, and gardening.

Share a fun fact about yourself!

I love octopuses and oranges!