Annie Xu, L6 is passionate about making positive change in the future, motivated by the current climate crisis and the worrying decline of our planet. Inspired by her Economics lessons, she applied to the Leaf course at the University of Oxford to explore how to make a real difference to pressing global issues. We are delighted that Annie has been accepted onto this prestigious course and will be given the opportunity to develop her ideas in the summer.
“I want to use my time to do good and make a difference. I feel strongly about raising awareness of climate change and the impact that this will specifically have on those living in poverty. Those in low-income communities and developing countries will feel the effects greater as environmental conditions worsen, unable to deal with the dilemma due to having fewer resources. Often living on the most fragile land, severe droughts and storms caused by the crisis will plunge them into even more disastrous conditions.
I applied to the Leaf course as I was inspired by the opportunity to listen and work with others who also feel passionately about such topics and are passionate about making a real difference. I am looking forward to hearing some new ideas on how climate change might be solved and how we can best action these movements. I am currently reading 2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years by Jorgen Randers. This is an incredibly informative book which describes trends in global development and begins to predict what our planet will look like in forty years. It is an eye opening read which demonstrates both potential positive and negative changes as well as how we as individuals can respond to these emerging developments.
I am excited for the summer and can’t wait to raise the discussion of climate change and development with other Sixth Formers who are curious and inspired to build a better world. Other interests that I have include the future of artificial intelligence and bioengineering. I’d love to discuss the potential impacts that these could have on mankind.
In the future, I aspire to gain work experience in the UN and eventually work in a Think Tank, helping to influence change through important research”.