Hello everyone! My name is Liliana Karesh, and I am a sophomore at Napa High School (Class of 2025!). I am one of the three student interns at Napa Sierra Club for 2023. Knowing the significant impacts that global warming is causing on our planet, I felt inspired to go into the environmental field, specifically after the 2017 fires that burned through Napa County. It was a terrifying event that really woke me up to the realities of global warming.

I want to take my part in stopping the effects of Climate Change in our world. This past school year, I began exploring opportunities in the environmental area. I became the Co-leader for both the Napa Schools for Climate Action, and Napa High’s Environmental Club. I have also participated in the Napa RCD Fall Internship and the Summer “Enviroleaders” Program at Sonoma Garden Park.

I have been grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way! When I was almost eight, my family and I moved from Moscow, Russia, to Napa! Although it was a significant shift in my life that required a big adjustment, I am always thankful for my parent’s hard work in moving us to America for better opportunities.

I am thrilled to participate in the Napa Sierra Club Internship Program this year, and I hope to positively impact our community through it!

----------------------------------
 

Hi everyone! My name is Katherine Bit, I’m currently a freshman (class of 2026) at American Canyon High School and a new Napa Sierra Club student intern this year! A little bit about myself, I’ve so far lived in American Canyon my whole life and I love traveling!

Being born and raised in one small city my entire life, I’ve watched the places I’ve grown up around evolve from being the home to numerous species to now just acres of land with new buildings in development. Comparing my hometown to some of the places I’ve traveled to, I’ve noticed the grass isn’t as green, the trees are reducing, and the fields, once home to various groups of animals, are now being transformed into land for new buildings. Seeing the places I’ve grown up with begin to decline, quickly sparked my concern and interest towards doing something about the climate crisis.

As a freshman, in my first year of high school, I plan on taking action, climate action, while sharing my passion for it, and making an impact in my next three years in High School. I’m very thankful for this opportunity and super excited to participate with the Napa Sierra Club this year!

 ----------------------------------

Greetings. My name is Paulina Viera Zambrano. I am a Junior at Vintage High School and now a member of the Sierra Club.

I was born in Zamora in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, and I grew up in the small town of San Juan Palmira. My family is part Mexican and part Purepécha, which is the largest indigenous group in Michoacan, so I grew up surrounded by the beautiful Mexican and Purepécha culture. In my hometown, I was raised in my abuelito’s house which is surrounded by green mountains, rivers, and crop fields, so growing up I was exposed wilderness and to the environment. I would spend most of my time outside in the mountains observing animals, swimming in lakes, playing in mud, and I would also help grow crops with my uncles and cousins. Because of this, I developed a strong appreciation and love for nature.

But at the age of 10, I immigrated with my parents and siblings to the United States and settled in Napa, California. My life in Napa was very different from my life in Mexico and unfortunately, that strong connection that I had with nature diminished.

That strong bond with nature was weaker here in the United States. That changed however, when last summer I traveled to New Mexico for a backpacking trip. I traveled with 6 other girls and 3 directors who I had never met previously, and together we hiked some mountains near Santa Fe for 15 days. It was a challenging experience: we hiked several miles each day through steep pathways, and we slept in sub-freezing stormy nights. The food and water that we were given wasn’t exactly great either.

But this experience really opened my eyes and restored my bond with nature. My appreciation for the Earth and the environment grew once again and I felt so very connected to nature. This experience actually pushed me to take AP Environmental Science, which is one of my favorite classes because each day we learn about the environment, the issues regarding the environment, and solutions which could benefit the environment.

This experience also pushed me to try and find ways to contribute to helping nature in my community. I have organized park cleanups with my friends, and I help clean up my neighborhood with my family. I have now joined the Sierra Club in which I hope to complete activities that will help make a difference in the planet and help with our various local environmental issues.