By Audrey Willett:
The Sustainable Age – Student Journal is a student-led project aiming to develop students' academic writing skills. Please enjoy our interview with president and founder Oriana Silva.
AW: Tell us all about you and your organization!
OS: Hello everyone, my name is Oriana Silva. I serve as the President and founder of The Sustainable Age – Student Journal. I am a French BA and Chemistry BA student at UNT. The lack of resources that I grew up around in Venezuela made me aware of how important it is to preserve natural resources. Since I started my Sustainability Internship at Dallas College, I realized that my life experiences are related to resource mismanagement. I have had the privilege to work with many organizations affiliated with these areas, such as the Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) - Americas and North Texas chapters, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, EarthX, and Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability. I have also collaborated on projects that raise awareness about sustainability and resiliency among students, like The Sustainable Age - Student Journal, the first student-led journal based on sustainability founded in the North Texas area. It integrates international students from different backgrounds and colleges, showing diversity and inclusion across the country.
This project is led by students for students.
AW: Why do you think it’s important for your generation to let their voices be heard?
OS: We are the world's future; with our voices, we will encourage younger and older generations to do the best for humanity and our planet. The Sustainable Age - Student Journal gives a space for college students to raise awareness about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It provides an environment for students from different universities across the world to explore academic research concerning different areas like Social Justice, Human Health and Well-being, Philosophy, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, Climate Action, and Business.
AW: Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future?
OS: Neither of them. I am a realistic. I believe if we are realistic, we can have a better approach to solve the issues that our planet and community are facing nowadays.
AW: What are the most important issues facing our world right now? And in the future?
OS: Climate change is the most important issue nowadays, and it will remain like that until we take strong actions to stop it. As youth leaders, it is our duty to speak loudly and motivate others to work towards a more sustainable planet.
AW: What does your organization offer that helps the world be a better place?
OS: We offer an environment to develop English academic writing skills, sustainability research, leadership, and fellowship. Our authors can learn introductory level scholarly and peer-reviewed writing methods supported by an editorial team of volunteer students, faculty, and staff. Not only does TSA give their authors an opportunity to learn, but it also delivers a product that educates the general public and, more specifically, youth about sustainability.
AW: Will you be voting in the next election?
OS: No. We are not aligned with any political party. However, we encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote because policy change is an important avenue for climate action.
AW: Please tell us all about your current campaigns, projects, and endeavors. Tell everyone where to find you online and on social platforms.
OS: Becoming a writer can be one of the most amazing experiences that you will have during your student career. Therefore, we follow some guidelines to assure you that your writing performance will last at the core of The Sustainable Age.
Sustainers from the roots: Every article must be related to at least one Sustainable Development Goal.
Peer Review: Before uploading your work, submit it to at least an editorial member for revision and to the Writing Lab Center.
Source Citing: It is required to have at least a source cited at the end of your article. We recommend using the MLA Citation.
Articles must be at least 500 words.
A signature is required at the beginning of each article.
Members must attend at least one Editorial Board Meeting and submit one article monthly.
Also, to ensure good performance in our journal, we have different committees where students can develop other academic and work skills. Each committee is composed of students and advisors.
Marketing Committee
Editorial Committee
Sponsorship Committee
Legal Committee
To conclude, we host live events and conferences to raise awareness about sustainability and youth leadership through our social media accounts:
Instagram: @thesustainableage
Twitter: @sustainable_age
Don’t forget our website: www.thesustainableage.com
AW: If there is anything else you would like to say, please do!
Audrey Willett is a southern California sophomore in high school. She is an activist and aspiring filmmaker, and the Social Media Outreach coordinator for The Gen Z Collective.