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World We Imagine Part 3

  Global Tides Restoration Project The Global Tides Restoration Project is an international initiative committed to stopping ocean plastic at its source by targeting the rivers that contribute the highest volume of waste to the sea. Our work begins in three critical hotspots: the Citarum River (Indonesia), the Ganges (India and Bangladesh), and the Klang River (Malaysia). These waterways collectively send hundreds of thousands of metric tons of plastic into the ocean every year. Our mission is to intercept plastic before it reaches the coastline and convert that waste into durable, high-demand materials that strengthen local economies. I care about this mission because I care about our oceans, and it is vital to cut a problem off at the source. After learning that just a small group of rivers account for the majority of global ocean plastic, it became clear to me that meaningful impact requires focusing on these choke points. Restoring these waterways means restoring ...
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Christopher Columus, "The Hero" - Blogging on Assignment #4

An American "Hero" By: Kate Watson  Reading Elizabeth Kolbert's account of Christopher Columbus, I learned more about how fabricated the narrative of Columbus's life is in our educational system. I remember learning not only about a brilliant navigator but also a peaceful explorer. Columbus Day was pitched as a day that celebrated national pride and adventure. While my peers and I eventually understood the blatant misinformation or strategic omission surrounding the Columbus story, it is still shocking to read some of these accounts. Kolbert describes Columbus as delusional, unrelenting, and disturbingly lucky. When calculations were incorrect, he manufactured an explanation; when nature disproved his theories, he stood his ground. He misused astronomical data, shrank the size of the ocean, and abused and murdered an entire society. The celebration of Columbus did not come until the 1800s, and was brought about out of necessity for an American hero. Columbus served sp...
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Banned, Bold, Beautiful - Blogging on Assignment #3

Banned, Bold, Beautiful Review  By Kate Watson  The House on Mango Street , written in 1984 by Mexican-American author Sandra Cisneros, is a series of vignettes that follow the protagonist, Esperanza, as she struggles against patriarchal structures, sexual violence, and broader gender dynamics. Growing up in a poor Chicago neighborhood, Esperanza is surrounded by the realities of poor women: Teen pregnancy, domestic abuse, and restricted professional careers. Esperanza dreams of having her own house one day, a symbol of independence, safety, and equality. In the meantime, she writes as a form of escape from her family home on Mango Street. The House on Mango Street was banned in numerous school districts across the country and was involved in a censorship suit in Arizona. This lawsuit was part of a broader effort to censor Mexican American studies in the Tucson Unified School District. Specifically, the book is censored for its sexual, racial, and class/social themes. I remem...
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World We Imagine

My first step in making the world a better place would be to distribute the excess wealth of all American billionaires and redistribute it across the country until there are none left. As Billie Eilish said a few weeks ago in her WSJ Innovator Award acceptance speech, "if you're a billionaire…why?" I remember seeing this video while scrolling through Instagram and being affected by her confusion and condescension. This sounds like a basic answer, but it really is such a ridiculous concept to allow such hyper-wealthy individuals to exist while almost a million Americans sleep on the street, SNAP benefits are being cut, and millions are losing access to healthcare over OBBBA scale-backs. All the while, a new multi million-dollar ballroom is being built at the White House. Beyond this, Elon Musk is on track to be the first ever trillionaire by 2027, a disturbing and unacceptable first that exemplifies everything we value as a country and how little power the remainder of Ame...
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Lavender - Blogging on Assignment #2

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Lavender  New Zealand Alpine Lavender Farm - 2025 By: Kate Watson   A plant with which I regularly interact is lavender. Lavender's full botanical name is Lavandula angustifolia, derived from the Latin word "lavare," meaning "to wash," and "angustifolia," meaning "narrow-leaved." This name and translation originate from the Roman practice of using lavender in their baths to cleanse and perfume themselves, as well as the plant's slender shape. Lavender belongs to the Lamiales order, a large order of flowering plants that are typically strongly scented and produce essential oils. Its family, Lamiceae, is one of the largest families of aromatic herbs and is also known as the "mint family." Members of this family commonly have square stems, opposite leaf arrangement, and a strong fragrance from oil-producing glands. Returning to the Latin naming, lavender is a member of the Lavandula genus and the Lavandula angustifolia spe...
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Talking to Strangers - Random Blog Post #2

Talking to Strangers By: Kate Watson I love talking to strangers. From elevators to ski lifts, from Uber drivers to flight attendants, over-socializing with strangers is a skill and passion I've had since I was a kid. It began with studying my father, a man notorious for talking, talking, and talking. I watched him make friends everywhere we went, forming connections with the most random characters from all corners of the Earth. He encouraged my older brother and me to do the same, forcing us through "single rider" lines at Mammoth Mountain or Disneyland just to spark conversations. The last thing he wanted was for his children to turn out shy. He trained me to confidently speak to anyone, and while that instinct has softened slightly as I've grown older and more stressed, it remains one of my favorite things about him and one of the best gifts he has ever given me. This focus on communication and human connection has shaped many aspects of my life, particularly...
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Day in the Life - Blogging on Assignment #1

  A Day in the Life By: Kate Watson This morning started the way every morning has started for the last two and a half months in my new house: sweating and blinded by the sun at 6 AM. My lack of blinds, combined with the late-stage heat wave Los Angeles is experiencing, has led to a fair share of harsh wake-ups this school year. While this sounds like a complaint, it is actually a blessing in disguise. As a certified night owl and insomniac, waking up early has always been a struggle… but not this year. Now, I’m up in time for 8 AM yoga — a concept that would send my parents on a manhunt to find the real Kate, because this version of me (the one who rises at 6 AM) is undoubtedly an imposter. After this early start, I spend some time cleaning up the house and my room, which includes doing the dishes, laundry, putting snacks away, and possibly vacuuming if I'm up for it. Then I change into workout clothes and bike over to the USC Village for my morning C2 class at Cor...
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