My Mission is… to invent devices that will have an exponential impact on our planet and to share stories that will inspire unlikely individuals to do the same.
Told by Angela Busheska
AGE: 24
MY BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR HAS BEEN… not allowing my background to limit me. Growing up in a village in North Macedonia, I persevered through bullying, solved math problems by candlelight, all while holding onto the dream that there was a world out there meant for me.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Young people seek sustainable fashion on a Thursday afternoon, but how can we ensure they keep that promise on a Friday night, especially when they feel the pressure to post different outfits on social media? How do we align our intentions with our actions when the spotlight is on?
ONE THING YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE PEOPLE’S MINDS ABOUT: The unquestioned faith in the status quo on critical issues. At 19, I exposed the main source of pollution in my capital city, challenging long-held beliefs. Over the past three years, I’ve debunked the environmental impact of fast fashion, analyzing it by company, brand, and piece. Now I’m focused on unraveling the global supply chain’s hidden costs. I wish people applied the same skepticism in their investment decisions as they do when questioning the products they consume. It’s time to challenge the status quo and make more informed choices.
A GREAT PIECE OF ADVICE: For activism—nothing in life is free. Someone, somewhere, pays the price. Life motto—failure is far better than regret. A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what the ship is built for.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST ABOUT YOUR GENERATION? We reject the notion of “We’ve always done it this way.” We recognize that this mindset has led to a climate crisis and a society where women still need to prove they can be leaders. We are driven to challenge outdated norms and create a more equitable and sustainable future.
BIGGEST OBSTACLE FACING YOUR GENERATION: Undoubtedly climate change, in all shapes and forms.
ONE WAY TO HELP: Stop glamorizing fast fashion—there is nothing glamorous about millions of women dying in a sweatshop, creating clothes that go to waste after we wear them twice. I don’t want our future generations to think that we sacrificed our planet, our air, our people just for the benefit of wearing oil, because we are far better than that!
YOU CAN FIND ANGELA AT…@angie_busheska on Instagram.
From Mission’s Youth Issue, Youth Series. Guest edited by Nile Rodgers and Nancy Hunt, co-founders of We Are Family Foundation. Image courtesy of Angela Busheska.
