By Leslie Lim

Staff Writer

 In ninth grade, I came across some videos that shook my world to its core, the Coca-Cola Polar Bear advertisements were rolling everywhere. The most adorable polar bears sitting leisurely on ice and sipping a Coke with the rest of their polar bear friends was my absolute favorite commercial at the time.

  However, underneath the animated jolly polar bears was a horrible truth. Polar bears were not living it up in the North Pole but were struggling to survive due to the extreme environmental degradation inflicted on their habitat. As I continued to research more about the topic, I came to the undeniable reality. We were to blame for the mass extinctions of many animals on this planet.

  On that day, I decided to work towards making a better future for myself and these polar bears by engaging in environmental activism.

  Admittedly, I barely even knew what the term meant. I took long showers, used plastic water bottles, and bought endless amounts of clothing without a single thought. But as I continued to educate myself on the topics of conservation and sustainability, I realized it would take more than a few declarations to help the world.

 Thus, I began the process of making my life more sustainable. I got a reusable water bottle, began taking shorter showers, and started to buy second-hand clothing. I made these changes over the course of a couple of years and began to feel my passion for conservation grow.

  This prompted me to sign up for the AP Environmental Science (APES) class for my junior year. Within the first weeks, I was hooked. Learning about biodiversity and human impact on the world around us through seemingly minute ways ignited my passion for learning no other subject had before. Daphne Traeger, the APES teacher has also been monumental in inspiring me to pursue environmental science further in high school and college.

  This passion lead me to restarting the Environmental Science Club that had been left leaderless. Along with my co-president senior Moy Ung, I have been leading the club since. Through our activities, we hope to educate others and ourselves on the importance of environmental consciousness and how to engage in earth-friendly actions.

  We pride ourselves on trying to improve the school into becoming more sustainable. Two months ago, along with the help of GSA and Paw Club, we petitioned to the district for water bottle filling stations as they greatly reduce plastic waste. A few weeks ago, we received the news that two stations would be installed in the school, funded by the district.

  I am still learning how to be the best environmentally conscious person I can be. I’m not perfect and I do indulge in single-use items and buying ethically dubious clothes occasionally. But I’m trying my best and I hope I can encourage you to try harder and learn more about sustainability.

  This Earth Day, I hope you realized that it is not about a single day of awareness, but a reminder that every day should be treated like Earth Day.