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I wish more people would ask me: Why do you want to be an environmentalist?
Nature is a such fasinating place, isn't it?
When I was in China, each day my journey to school consist of travelling through these woods laid out by one type of tree we call wutong. They are like maple trees in Canada, sprouting new leaves every spring and laying down a carpet of crimson leaves every autumn.
My friends and I collected leaves for specimens, we captured special-looking beetles and returned them after showing everyone.
We planted seeds in the cracks of our school's pavements; our favourite was the touch-me-not, we would play with it every day after school and argue over what to name it.
Alongside the seeds we planted, my passion for the environment sprouted too.
However, our city's motto was: "Wuhan is different every day."
It was right.
The best part about coming to Canada for me was walking home from school without having to go around these machines, covering our ears and holding our breath. They were operating everywhere on the sides of the streets.
I just wished my friends here could care more about what we have here in Canada if only they knew how lucky we are to have this safe and clean environment to live in.
I wished I wasn't unsettled when I saw my friends running the tap at full blast while putting soup on their hands. I wished it didn't bother me when my peers broke pencils or crayons from fooling around; when I saw pieces of paper thrown out that were completely usable.
I wished people didn't look at me weirdly when I scavenged the recycling bin for material that could be reused. I wished my teachers supported me that we shouldn't be wasting, even if it's the little things.
I wish the schools taught us what I learned growing up, how we are responsible for taking care of our planet, and the least we can do is to respect it.
These are public service announcements regarding conserving water and paper in China
Then, one day, I decided I could stop wishing. I wanted to be the one to change the system where children don't grow up learning how to care about the impact of our actions in everyday life.
I wish I never concluded that nobody in Canada cares about the environment, because that simply isn’t true. But for a long time, I avoided talking to people, afraid of being seen as 'different' or 'weird.
The first time I heard of an "eco-club" at my school, I could not believe how there were others who cared as much as I did. Since then, I have never stopped seeking out more young people out there like me, determined to make a difference.
I am glad I discovered the power of collective action, because...
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