5 Questions with Megan Kilroy

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5 Questions with Megan Kilroy
Megan is a senior at Santa Monica High School in California. A genuine ocean lover who has found her passion in marine advocacy, she is the Captain of Team Marine, an environmental organization dedicated to making the Southern California waters safe and clean through research, education and community action. She is the recipient of a 2009 TeenNick Halo Award and is an active member of her school's Heal the Bay and the West L.A. Malibu chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

Q: What does “global citizenship” mean to you?
Kilroy: Global citizenship means that you take responsibility for your place on this planet. I feel very strongly that during the time we have on this planet we need to do everything in our power to make it a better place. There are so many people today who think only of themselves and have no regard for the negative impact they have. Being a global citizen means that you take responsibility for your role in this world and try to change it for the better.

Q: Who is a global citizen that inspires you?
Kilroy: I have so many wonderful people in my life that inspire me every day that it is so hard to choose just one. I work every single day to help save our environment with a group of students called Team Marine. These teens are so much more than my fellow classmates and activists they are my friends and help me through the toughest times. They care so deeply about the cause and push me to go further no matter what.

Q: What global issue most concerns you?
Kilroy: Every single day I am witness to the destruction of our environment. Growing up in Santa Monica I have always loved the ocean, but I have seen the devastating impact that our careless actions have on this beautiful resource. Our addiction to plastic has turned our oceans into a toxic soup with plastic becoming more abundant than plankton in the North Pacific Gyre. Innocent animals like sea turtles and albatross birds mistake these objects as food and eventually die of starvation. We need to stop our addiction to single-use plastic bags, water bottles, and utensils if we are going to save our seas from destruction.

Q: What actions do you take to positively impact your community? Locally and/or Globally?
Kilroy: I am the captain of an environmental organization at my high school called Team Marine. Team Marine and I go to schools and conferences teaching kids about living more sustainable. This year we are building a solar powered boat for the Solar Cup, converting a VW bug into a plug-in electric car, making a documentary about the marine debris crisis, and developing our own sustainable curriculum for grades “K-12.” One of our main goals is to ban plastic bags in Santa Monica. We have testified at city hall and held 5 marches in the community to raise awareness about the dangers of single-use plastic in our oceans. I have been to Sacramento and Washington DC where I lobbied senators, assembly members, and congressmen for different environmental bills. It is my goal to inspire as many people as possible to take action and work to save our planet.

Q: What is one simple thing young people can do to positively impact their world?
Kilroy: Don’t give up. If you care about an issue and want to change the world, never for one second think that you can’t make a difference because even the smallest act can make a positive impact

Do you know of a young global citizen making a difference? If so, please let us know at: info [AT] projectexplorer.org

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Update on Megan! Check out the recent interview with HangProud.com.