Reflection

I love movies. Some of the ones I've seen were American productions, which often tell stories of teenagers in schools, participating in classrooms, school events, dances, sports, etc. One of my favorite movies is Clueless, starring Alicia Silverstone. One of the scenes that made me very curious was when "Cher" decided to volunteer for one of her classes, the activity being dedicated to Pismo Beach relief.

During my first semester at Salt Lake Community College, I attended the Mega Fair 2022, and I was able to learn about the different clubs that exist at the school. It was on that day that I met the Environmental and Sustainability Club, which was announcing an activity that was going to take place, a volunteering activity. I felt motivated to do it, but at the same time I wasn't so sure, since I didn't know anyone and it was difficult for me to talk to people I didn't know. In the end, I decided to participate and all I had to do was wait for the instructions regarding the activity.

There were 6 of us (from the club) who showed up for the activity, and it was the first time I met them. They were all very friendly, which made me feel more comfortable being there. Once we got to the place, they explained to us how the cleaning would be carried out and gave us what we needed to get started.

I was surprised by the amount of trash in the area, bottle caps, plastics, and debris from a broken boat. I had never participated in this type of volunteer work, so I didn't know what to expect, but I was quite surprised to find all of this on the coast. We were there for a couple of hours, and even though it started to rain, that didn't stop us.

While I was collecting trash, for a few seconds I looked at the landscape, and it was in one of those moments that I began to think about how it was possible that this important place, for which this city is named, was not well taken care of. I began to meditate on how it was possible that these conditions were allowed, and how there were people who went to places and did not take the slightest care in picking up their trash. Outside of what was represented in the films, the “movie experience” of participating in volunteer work, I realized what these types of activities truly meant. Being able to contribute something, no matter how small, undoubtedly meant a lot.

Someone once told me that they didn't understand why anyone thought they could change the world or save the environment if that "one" was only one. Today more than any other day I realized how wrong that person was. There were 160 "ones" of us who decided to do something to help the environment, and I'm sure there are many more "ones" out there who also heard that comment, but they didn't let it get them down.

I am deeply grateful to all the organizations that were involved in the realization of the activity, and especially to the participants who made the good result possible. Being able to be part of this activity helped me to see the reality present in places that are often assumed to be good. Being there allowed me to contribute to my community, to the cleaning of the lake coast, and to have a feeling of happiness knowing that I was able to help. This experience means a lot to me because it is the first volunteer work I did in the country, in addition to helping me get out of my comfort zone, to see the wonder of teamwork, and how the same cause can motivate and unite people.

Dear reader, I hope this story has motivated you to participate in these activities. Believe me, it is an excellent and rewarding experience. :)