End-of-Project Reflection

Going outside to observe my field site allowed me to really understand the patterns that plants and animals go through. They go through the same cycles each year, yet it's impossible to get bored with the beauty of nature. It made me see that my place in the natural world is to simply not interfere with these beautiful cycles, and instead to enjoy them. I feel it is all humans' responsibility to make choices to contribute to the sustainability of the environment around us. Realistically speaking, at times we may need to do things that don't help the environment in order to survive, but that doesn't mean we can't do things to undo our actions too. I feel it's each person's responsibility to make an effort in their life to help the environment. It can be choosing to recycle, compost, or planting trees. As long as you're taking action with the conscience effort to improve, that's all that matters.

My favorite part about this project was learning new things. I've lived in the same home my whole life, and this walking trail has been there the whole time, yet I never knew so much about the plants around it. I never knew the name of the shrubs with berries was "common buckthorn". I never noticed what a big difference there is in the size of leaves for each kind of tree and how there's a certain tree that is always the first to have its leaves change in the fall, and the last to have its leaves bloom in the spring.

One challenging part however was sitting outside for the entire 20 minutes. Sometimes I would get a bit restless because my site is on a walking trail, so I didn't want to be in anyone's way or get too close to someone who wasn't wearing a mask on their walk. But I overcame this by choosing to go outside when I didn't see a lot of people out and by sitting farther to the right of the path on the grass, so that I could stay a safe distance from anyone passing.

Obviously, my first year in high school was not at all what I was expecting, but this is one of many projects my teachers have provided me with that's allowed me to still enjoy my experience as a freshman student!