Plans to go into Peace Corps and work for EPA to advance environmental progress
Erin Matherne knows not everyone is conscientious about the environment. She simply hopes to change that in whatever way she can.
Before graduating from Destrehan High School last week, Matherne left a legacy at the school in the form of the DHS Earth Club, which she founded as a junior and oversaw as president. The club started with just five members; that number grew to 50 before the graduation of the club’s senior class members, with 20 remaining.
The club educates on environmental issues, plans and implements ways to make their school more environmentally friendly. DHS Club members also apply what they learn in the community through group cleanups and other events.
“We talked about starting it, five of us in our Spanish IV class,” Matherne said. “My friend and I thought, you know, let’s really do this. It’s nice to have done something good for the community … the environment is something that kind of affects everyone.”
It was in that class that Matherne said she learned about so many environmental issues, noting conversations with her teacher who was an environmentalist and as Matherne learned more her inspiration grew. She also credited her middle school’s Green Team by keeping certain things fresh in her mind, such as the bins to put recyclable items that were around the school, something the Earth Club brought to DHS.
“My junior year was when I realized how much I wanted to make a difference with it,” Matherne said. “Before that I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I started to realize environmental efforts are what I care most about and decided I want to pursue a career in it.”
Matherne took four years of Spanish and has an affinity for the language as well, so her intention is to pursue a career path combining two of her passions. After attending LSU, where she will study agriculture, she plans to enlist in the Peace Corps.
The beginnings of her desire to join date back to a cruise she went on at the age of 12 where she visited other countries and found the living conditions of their citizens below par, something she hopes to help change. [pullquote]“Something everyone can agree with is we all want a beautiful place to live.” – Erin Matherne [/pullquote]
“It was unclean … they didn’t have that environmental system and when you actually go into the city, you see the economic conditions and what they have to go without,” Matherne said. “Before that, I’d never seen anywhere different than here. We have a community where everyone helps and cares about each other and we’re so fortunate where others aren’t. So I want to help them. (The trip) made an impact on me when I was young.”
Ultimately, she aspires to work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Matherne’s proud to have made a difference already, both at her school and in the community. She said she’s perhaps most fond of the clean-up events the club organized, which also included at least one trip to New Orleans to clean City Park.
“Something everyone can agree with is we all want a beautiful place to live,” she said.
She’s multi-talented as well. Matherne plays three instruments, including the piano, clarinet and violin. The piano was her first musical love, as she began playing at the age of four. That, she said, provided a base to learn other instruments.
“I already knew how to read music, and the piano is kind of the foundation of the music world in a way. It gives you a grasp on everything else,” Matherne said.
She learned to play the clarinet, which she’s played for eight years now, and then she decided to venture out even more and learn the violin.
Matherne’s not finished either.
“There are four categories of instruments, and I figured since I already know two, why not try for all of them? So I know a percussion, woodwind and string instrument, and eventually I’ll learn a brass,” Matherne said.
She was also a swimmer for Destrehan and qualified for the state championship meet for the first time this season, setting a personal best time in the backstroke.
Matherne said her favorite part of joining the teams and clubs she did is the chance it afforded her to meet and befriend such a diverse group of people, from musicians to environmentalists to athletes. The chance to meet numerous people at a large school is also a big reason she looks forward to attending LSU.
And who knows? Perhaps Matherne will create something that brings people together for a good cause there as well.
“We’ve already designated people to pick up the recycling at school. I’d love to see (the Earth Club) continue here for a long time,” Matherne said.
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