Erin Jia

  

Volume 10 | Issue II | June 2026

Memorial High School ’27

Texas, United States

  

A year ago, I was taking out the trash when a question popped into my mind: where does all our garbage actually go? At the time, I had spent years competing in Lincoln-Douglas debate, where many of my rounds centered on environmental policy and government regulation. But for the first time, I began thinking about environmental policy not as an abstract debate topic, but as something physically shaping the communities around me. That question eventually led me to the work of Robert Bullard, often considered the father of environmental justice, and to one of his most famous observations: “Houston is flat. Anytime you see a mountain, that’s a landfill.” Once I learned to look for them, I realized I had been passing those “mountains” for years without questioning why they were built where they were, how they were regulated, or who lived beside them. Writing for The Schola taught me to approach historical writing with patience and precision, tracing not only political decisions, but also their lasting effects on ordinary lives. In the future, I plan to continue studying the relationship between law, public policy, and the built environment through both research and debate. Outside of my academic work, I enjoy traveling to new places, completing crossword puzzles, and spending time with my friends. I am deeply grateful to The Schola and its editors for the opportunity to share my work and contribute to the publication.