Sarah Elizabeth Filush - Miss Earth Guam 2012 Profile

Sarah Elizabeth Filush

Miss Earth Guam 2012

BIO:
Age: 24
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 113lbs.
Vital Stats: 34"-26"-34"
Hometown: Piti
Profession: Student

INTERVIEW:

What environmental project will you create to promote the protection of Mother Earth and why?
Right now I am working towards starting a foundation intended to raise money to help organizations and groups involved in green efforts. The money I raise will also be used to purchase more recycling bins around my island. I am also working hand in hand with students and professors of The University of Guam’s Marine Lab towards the care for our island’s beautiful reef. Guam has one the most diverse marine life in the entire world. Unfortunately every year species are becoming extinct due to Global Warming, humans, and natural causes. I will be working with efforts on how to preserve our beautiful marine life. My love and care for my island is what urged me to focus on these environmental advocacies. I intend to encourage the people of Guam to do their part in maintaining our island’s beauty.

What makes you proud of your country and what can you promote about it?
I am so proud to be a native of the island of Guam. Guam has an undying beautiful strong culture, delicious exotic cuisine, blessed with friendly people, and to top it off Guam is ultimate paradise! We are surrounded by a beautiful blue ocean filled with the most colorful and diverse marine species in the world, beautiful white sandy beaches, waterfalls, jungles, and year-round tropical weather. There is absolutely no other place in this world I would rather live! As ambassador to my island, I will do everything in my power to reflect my island to the best of my ability. My goal is to showcase who the Chamorro people are in hopes to captivate others in wanting to know who I am and where I am from.

Describe your childhood/growing years:
Adventurous, fearless, daring, and hyper are all words that would best describe me around the ages of 8 to 13. It was during these years I was able to fully embrace and appreciate living on a beautiful tropical island. My playground consisted of a beautiful blue ocean, the jungle, all the tropical fruit trees, caves, and waterfalls to say the least.

My absolute closest friend was my older brother, so most of my childhood memories were a far cry from playing Barbie and dress up. “Tarzan” and “The Jungle Book” were my utmost favorite films because the characters were able to live free and wild like animals in the jungle! Determined to be “jungle girl”, I ran around barefoot, climbed trees, looked for waterfalls, built tree houses, made friends with the neighborhood animals, ate off the land, etc. Every day was an adventure! My childhood might not have been the most glamorous, however I would not trade my experiences and stories for the world!

I would consider myself to be a well rounded child. I excelled in sports as well as in music. I was able to play any sport and participated in biweekly piano lessons and sang in my church and school choir.

What lessons did you learn from your childhood/growing years?
My parents kept me very busy when I was a child. I participated in all the school sports, school and church choir; the times when I was home, my parents encouraged me to play outside and go on my adventures. The life lesson I learned is a lesson I want to pass on to my children. I enjoyed my childhood without electronics, video games, or computers of any sort. I was too busy enjoying my childhood to get involved in sex, drugs, and gangs. Obesity, teen pregnancy, and drug use are major issues the youth of my island struggle with everyday. I feel that by keeping my children physically active, allowing them to participate in extracurricular activities, and keeping them away technology distractions, they will be able to fully develop their minds and bodies and more likely to make wise decisions that benefit their future.

What is your most memorable moment?
My most memorable moment would have to be when I went blind at the age of 6. It was during one of my jungle girl adventures. I fell out of my neighbor’s tree and hit the back of my head on a large bolder. About 30 minutes later, I started to have a intense migraine when all of a sudden everything went white! My mother rushed me to the hospital; the doctors performed CAT scans, and diagnosed me with Vascular Blindness which fortunately meant it was only temporary. When I woke up the next morning, I was back to normal!

What is your environmental advocacy and why did you choose it?
Right now I am working towards starting a foundation intended to raise money to help organizations and groups involved in green efforts. The money I raise will also be used to purchase more recycling bins around my island. I am also working hand in hand with students and professors of The University of Guam’s Marine Lab towards the care for our island’s beautiful reef. Guam has one the most diverse marine life in the entire world. Unfortunately every year species are becoming extinct due to Global Warming, humans, and natural causes. I will be working with efforts on how to preserve our beautiful marine life. My love and care for my island is what urged me to focus on these environmental advocacies. I intend to encourage the people of Guam to do their part in maintaining our island’s beauty.

What tip can you share to promote sustainable energy for all?
My tip to promote sustainable energy would be to invest in a hybrid vehicle. Not only are hybrids environmentally friendly, they save money in your pocket! The continual rise of fossil fuel prices mean little to one who owns a hybrid vehicle. The amount of pollution would drastically minimize if everyone were to invest in a hybrid vehicle, and safe to say allow a boost in our economy! I am still in the process of saving money to purchase a hybrid vehicle; unfortunately they are quite expensive. However, I’ve done enough research to know that every dollar will be well worth it for me and most importantly the world!

Other information that you would like to share with the Miss Earth Management:
I am very much honored to be a part of your organization! Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful event.

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* See also Miss Earth 2012 Special Coverage