Let's Be Below Average!

Typically, people do not strive to be below average. However, when it comes to our eco-footprints, Jim Merkel encourages all of us to be as far below average as possible. In the past, the environment has never been one of my primary concerns, but after reading Radical Simplicity, I am definitely more cognizant of the effects of my actions and lifestyle on the environment. After completing the eco-footprint calculator, I discovered that my footprint was a startling 22.9 acres, just 1.1 acres under the unfortunate US average of 24 acres per person. The quick footprint quiz results said that my total footprint was only about 8.5 acres. I feel like perhaps I calculated incorrectly and my actual footprint should really somewhere in between these two results, but I will base my report on the results from the more extensive footprint calculator.
My food footprint is 3.75 acres. This is lower than the 5.5 acre average. Being on a meal plan, my options are quite limited. I would prefer to eat organic local foods, and more produce, which would lower this number.
If I calculated correctly, my housing footprint is 1 acre. I had difficulty calculating this, because I live in a dorm, but this is much lower than the 5.1 acre average.
My transportation footprint is 1.26 acres. The average is approximately 4.4 acres. I do not have a car on campus and I rarely use the bus. The majority of my transportation footprint is due to airplane travel when I fly home. I only fly home for major breaks, so I am not really willing to reduce my travel footprint by flying less.
My goods and services footprint is 15.5 acres. This number is so much higher than the 8.6 acre total because of the cost of my education. I could choose to go to a less expensive school, or not go to school at all, but I value my education and I love UCLA so for the next few years this number is going to remain fairly unchanged.
I also had difficulty calculating my stocks footprint, but if I am correct, it is 0.68 acres. This is not a very large contributor to my total, but I could buy more used clothes and use less plastic products to reduce this footprint.
My waste footprint is 0.67. This is also not a huge contributor to my total, but I will make it my goal to use less, recycle more, and at home I will try to implement composting.
One of my short-term goals is to go vegetarian, at least for the remainder of the quarter. Meat has never been a huge component of my diet, but I thought this would be an interesting personal challenge. After the quarter ends, I will probably eat meat again, but I will eat limited amounts. I also will be more careful to unplug unused appliances, use less water, and turn off unnecessary lights. Another short-term goal is to recycle more, and buy more recycled or used products.
My medium goals are to start composting when I go home this summer, and to encourage my family to implement more sustainability into their lives as well. Also, when I am no longer on a meal plan and have more accessibility to more sustainable food choices, I plan to eat little meat and dairy and purchase local foods.
In the long term, I want to get a vehicle that uses less gas, and when possible, avoid driving all together by taking public transportation. Also, when I have my own house, I want to grow some of my own produce.
Radical Simplicity has definitely caused me to graduate from unconscious unsustainability, at least to conscious unsustainability and in some aspect conscious sustainability. I hope that eventually I can reach the level of unconscious unsustainability, but until then I have a lot of lifestyle changes to make.