Born and raised in Philadelphia, 17-year-old Alondra Perez has a burning passion for an issue that isn’t typical of your average tech-obsessed teenager: climate change.

“Where I come from, there’s trash everywhere,” Alondra explained. “And I know that as a city girl, you wouldn’t expect me to care so much.”

But she does. Having been captain of her school’s Envirothon Team for two years now, the self-proclaimed activist and researcher is constantly looking for ways to make her community a greener place, from simple clean-ups, to education.

That’s where the Acel Moore High School Journalism Workshop comes in. “My teacher, Ms. Smith, made me realize that I can use journalism to make people aware of environmental issues, so that’s what I’m going to do,” Alondra said.

In the meantime, Alondra keeps herself occupied with a myriad of activities. (But she always finds time to spend with her 8-year-old brother, Isaiah.) The Community Academy of Philadelphia High School junior writes poetry and is a member of a book club. She also is a team leadership assistant in the Literacy Enrichment After-school Program at the Frankford Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, where she’s volunteered more than 200 hours.

As a result of her academic prowess, the National Honor Society member, who loves to travel, will be heading to Spain next month. She will take classes and explore the country for over a week, an opportunity only given to an elite few, high-GPA achieving students.

So it’s no surprise that she’s already thinking about life after high school, especially as a member of the Philadelphia Future’s Program. The organization provides mentorship and guidance throughout the tedious college process, and although Alondra is not sure where she would like to continue her post-secondary education, she is positive about what she’ll be majoring in: environmental studies.

So look out world! This talented, dedicated, and driven teen is ready to take the journalism and environmental universes by natural storm, and will undoubtedly leave a mark on them both— one much more beneficial than a carbon footprint.