A Green Career Path

By Rachel Tanis

Green jobs are everywhere these days. Presidnet Obama made them the center of his economic stimulus plan, claiming that the number of environmentally-friendly jobs added to the economy would change the way America gets its energy. They are advertised on all of the job-search websites and highlighted in front-page articles of newspapers across the country. Environmental law is surging in popularity at universities. Nearly every coastal community is looking for wind energy engineers. In this growing field it seems that green jobs will be the driving economic force of the future.

When I think about my career choice (teaching high school English) it’s hard to imagine what I can do to make the situation greener. Then, the more I ponder it, the more I come up with to change things.

For instance, maybe I can start a program to raise money for Kindles or some other electronic book system so that my students can be more aware of the number of trees it takes to print schoolbooks every year. I’ll definitely take all of our scrap paper to the local printer where it can be bound and used as memo pads. I’ll work to adapt whatever assignments I can to electronic ones, like tests and quizzes, to eliminate wasted paper. I’ll teach my students about the importance of recycling. I’ll take them outside more often for classes. I’ll teach them to appreciate the environment through literary examples. Yes, I can have an impact even if I’m not working in a green career.

With the growth of green jobs, I have been wondering if the environmental or economic payoffs have persuaded any of you to alter your career or educational paths. If you haven’t chosen an obviously green career (like me) have you second-guessed your choice? If not, have you thought about how you will improve your job to make things greener for you, your employees or your co-workers? Have you thought about how you can have an environmental impact at work, even if you didn’t choose a green career? If you did choose a green career, what motivated you to do so?

Share your stories and ideas with us so that we can inspire one another to begin greening up our cubicles and classrooms!