One Book, One Regis

Image Source: Smithsonian Open Access

Environmental Encounters

This year's theme invites you to explore your connection to our common home through personal experience and narrative. We often think of environmental issues in terms of scientific data, political debates, or global crises—but stories have the power to convey the deep emotional and human impact of these challenges in a way that statistics alone cannot.

Environmental storytelling is a tool for connecting people to the land, the water, the air, and each other. It can capture how a community is shaped by its natural surroundings, how environmental degradation affects livelihoods, or how future generations might experience a changing world. Whether you share a personal story, a tale of resilience from your community, or an imagined future, your essay should reflect the profound connection between people, animals, and the environment.

In this contest, you are encouraged to weave narratives that illuminate the urgent need for environmental justice. How do we, as individuals and communities, confront and address the inequalities that affect the planet and its inhabitants? How can storytelling inspire action and awareness? Your essay should engage with these questions, exploring how narratives—whether real or imagined—can shift perspectives, spark change, and challenge the status quo in the fight for a more just and sustainable world. We look forward to reading your stories and reflections, as they contribute to a larger dialogue about how we can create a more equitable and environmentally-conscious future.

Submissions will be compiled and archived by the First Year Experience, and student winners will be featured at the First Friday events that happen throughout the academic year. Submissions should be a maximum of 750 words, written in the language of your choice. Please submit your story by 5pm on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to fye@regis.edu with the subject line “First Year Essay Contest Submission.” Please be sure to title your work and include your name in the document. 

Below are some narrative and story prompts centered around environmental encounters that can inspire reflection, creativity, and awareness about the beauty and fragility of our common home. You do not have to use one of these prompts to be part of the contest!

1. The Forest's Call

• Imagine you are walking through a forest when you come across a clearing. As you sit down, the trees around you begin to whisper in the wind, telling their stories of the land they’ve witnessed over centuries. What do they share about the environment’s changes, both natural and human-made? Write a story from the perspective of the trees or the land, revealing their relationship with the people who live nearby.

2. The Last Drop

• You wake up to a world where water scarcity has reached a critical point. In your community, water usage is restricted to just one drop per person each day. Describe a day in your life under these conditions, reflecting on how this limited access to water changes not only your routine but also your connection to nature. What do you learn about the value of something once taken for granted?

3. A River's Memory

• A river you once swam in as a child has started to run dry. As an adult, you return to the riverbank and reflect on how it has changed over the years. The river seems to "remember" its former vitality and is somehow speaking to you through the sound of its water. What does the river say? Explore how its changes represent broader environmental issues and how they affect both you and the community.

4. The Displaced Wildlife

• In your neighborhood, a local wildlife species has been displaced due to environmental damage. Write a story from the perspective of one of these animals as it searches for a new habitat. What does it witness in this altered world, and how does it adapt to the challenges posed by human activities? Explore the emotional and physical toll of this displacement.

5. The Polluted Sky

• You live in a city where the sky is perpetually gray from pollution. One day, you witness a strange event: a sudden clearing in the sky, a blue hue that you’ve never seen before. As you look up, a mysterious figure appears who claims to be a spirit of the Earth, lamenting what has been lost and offering a glimpse into what could be if things change. How does this encounter affect your perception of environmental justice, and what changes does the figure ask you to make in your life?

6. A Message from the Ocean

• After a coastal storm, you walk along the beach and discover an unusual object washed ashore—something that seems out of place. Upon investigating, you realize it holds a message from the ocean itself, chronicling the impact of human pollution on its depths. Write a narrative of the message and its significance, considering how humans’ actions have disturbed the delicate balance of the ocean and what steps are necessary for healing.

7. The Forgotten Garden

• You stumble upon a hidden garden that has been abandoned for years. As you explore its overgrown paths, you realize that the plants seem to have a story to tell. They are the last remaining traces of a once-thriving ecosystem that has since been destroyed due to urban sprawl. Write a story in which the garden itself speaks to you, revealing its past, the history of the land, and its hopes for regeneration.

8. The Burning Horizon

• In the midst of a wildfire season, you witness the sky turn orange and the air fill with smoke. You seek refuge with a group of people who have been displaced by the fires. Together, you share stories of the land that once existed before these disasters became regular occurrences. How do your collective stories reveal the environmental struggles faced by these communities? What lessons are learned about the fragility of ecosystems?

9. The Eco-Warrior's Dream

• After a long day of working on an environmental justice project in your community, you fall asleep and dream of a future where environmental sustainability is achieved. In your dream, you are a key figure in the fight for justice, working alongside nature spirits or future generations. What is the world like in your dream? How do you collaborate with the Earth to create a better future?

10. Voices in the Wind

• After a major storm, the wind carries whispers of people who used to live in your town long before it was built up into a modern city. As you listen carefully, you realize the whispers are warnings—messages about the importance of preserving natural resources. Write a story in which these voices guide you to take action in your community to prevent environmental destruction and restore harmony with nature.

11. The Last Tree

• You live in a city where a massive development project is underway, and the last tree in the area is scheduled to be cut down. As the tree prepares to be taken down, it begins to communicate with you, recounting its history and the changes it has witnessed throughout its life. How does this encounter affect your decisions? Write a story that reflects the urgency of protecting nature and the emotional ties people form with the land.

12. The Land Speaks

• One day, you visit a national park or natural reserve where you’ve hiked many times before. But this time, something feels different. The land itself seems to be alive, and you can hear it speaking to you through the rustling leaves, the crumbling rocks, and the rushing water. Write about what the land tells you, and what actions it calls you to take in order to protect it from the encroachment of human development.