Nala Son

Bruins For the Future

"I aim to learn modes of sustainability that are accessible, engaging, and fun!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
216 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

40

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

930

minutes

spent exercising

Nala's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meals each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Aquaculture

Improved Aquaculture

Each day, I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about sustainable aquaculture.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 20 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

Reduced Food Waste

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

Nala Son 4/07/2025 12:32 AM
What do we think could be the solution to L.A.'s unbelievable traffic, cramped parking lots, and unsteady streets? Should we create more space for vehicles on roads and in parking lots? Or would it require a complete revamp of our city's infrastructure?
While studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, I was amazed to learn that the Danish Parliament's solution to their history of traffic congestion was to implement more sidewalks and bike lanes, and to reduce vehicle accessibility in one of their busiest cities. Over time, this transformed both their culture and transportation, establishing bikes and public transit as the main modes of transport today. I had never seen more bikes than vehicles on the road before. Not only did it make the city feel breathable to stroll through, but the locals also seemed to carry themselves with a much more relaxed and content demeanor as they went about their days.

In addition to biking, there were also trampolines built into sidewalks, free access to gardens and museums, daily fresh produce stands, public markets, and so much more. Throughout all these sustainability projects, I felt a resonating message that reminded people to slow down and take time out of their days to enjoy themselves along their journeys. I really admired how fun and engaging these projects were, and how well they encouraged people to spend time outdoors.

The project that encompasses this mission most is CopenHill, a clean energy power plant that transforms waste into electricity and heat. While our initial reaction may be to turn our noses away from the smell of incinerated trash, CopenHill actually invites community engagement. From offering a rock climbing wall up the power plant to skiing down its slope, CopenHill effectively encourages people to learn more about and enjoy sustainability.

While these projects are successful in Denmark, I realized that their solutions could not easily be copied and pasted into America. To me, the efficacy of Denmark's sustainability efforts is cultivated through culture and community. Therefore, sustainability needs to resonate with and encourage communities to implement alternatives that still bring joy and satisfaction while being eco-friendly. By joining this EcoChallenge project, I hope to learn how sustainability resonates with and interacts within our communities, and to propose fun, eco-friendly approaches that inspire long-lasting initiatives.

Read More
- Sydney Johnson 5/02/2025 9:53 PM
  Hi Nala, I really enjoyed reading your story of how Denmark has transformed their infrastructure and their culture as a result! I’ve never been to Denmark but it's definitely moving up in the list after hearing all of these wonderful stories of walkability, bikeability, and overall accessibility. I’m sure the reduction in vehicle accessibility might have been frustrating at first, but I think people are much quicker to adapt than we may predict. I know if it became increasingly difficult to own a car in a busy, bustling city, I would feel more inclined to find another mode of transportation such as biking, trains, or walking. I really liked what you mentioned about remembering to slow down and enjoy the journey of wherever you’re headed. I feel like we generally hear about “enjoying the journey” in the long term sense with regards to education or career goals, but I’d definitely like to extend that to my walks and rides to the grocery store, the gym, to class, or work.
  
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