Blanca Peto

Professor Zugnoni
UWP1Y
7/31/17
A Change in Perspective

Footage of reddish brown plumes of oil cover the TV screen. The voiceover of

newscasters describes the chaos that is happening. The words disaster and catastrophe flash

across the screen. My eyes widen with shock and horror. They brim with tears as I watch the

smoke-like billows rising through the deep, black ocean water. I stare at the TV screen, unable to

comprehend what is going on. My ears are deaf to everything around me except for the

comments and statements from the reporters. My mom calls my name. I dont hear it. My

attention, imagination and thoughts are stuck in another place-- the Gulf of Mexico.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, or as I refer to it, one of the greatest human-

caused catastrophes to the natural world, lasted 87 days. Each of those 87 days, 62,000 barrels of

crude oil leaked into the Gulf and coated biodiversity-rich native habitats such as wetlands,

coastlines and marshes in toxic sludge. 87 days of aquatic plants and animals getting trapped by

the oil or dying because of the lethal chemicals introduced into the water. 87 days of a 13-year

old waking up at 6 am every day to watch the news in hopes of hearing that one of the worst oil

spills in U.S. history was finally capped and contained.

For 87 days, nothing could take my mind off the fact that the environment was being

damaged. Animals were drowning in deadly oil, and all of it was mankinds fault. The breaking

of the seal and the spewing millions of gallons of oil was due to human beings were too careless

to consider anything else besides themselves. Humans were even so careless as to risk permanent

damage to entire ecosystems as well as pollute 16,000 miles of water. For 87 days, this was all
on my mind. My thoughts were fixated on this event and how I could try to change this. I hoped

to try to stop other humans from allowing this kind of suffering to ever happen again.

Fireball caused by the explosion of the drilling rig

CNN.com

The only problem: I was just one person, in 7 billion, who felt this sentiment. I was sure

of it. I felt like I was the only person who could do anything or felt the need to do everything to

protect the environment. I tried to talk about events, such as the BP oil spill to my peers, but they

always felt uncomfortable talking about such an adult subject. My thoughts were always

focused upon these adult topics, but there was no reciprocation to my anxious contemplations.

I felt alone, betrayed by my peers and community who werent doing enough to save the planet.

Nobody was as concerned as I was, or seemed to be as in tune with the news as I was. I felt alone

with my immense yet, depressing amount of knowledge: I couldnt relate to others, as they were

not as well versed in this subject matter as I was.

As I grew older, I became more bitter and pessimistic about my role in society and I came

to believe that I, along with all the other humans on the planet, are vicious and dangerous beings.

Watching people just throw their garbage onto the sidewalk or on the side of the road without a

second thought made my blood boil. My thoughts always jumped to images of animals getting
stuck or eating the plastic and my mind filled with the feeling of hatred towards that person. I

believed that they were atrocious and disastrous, even if I had never seen them in my entire life.

Ultimately, events like that shaped my perspective that the planet earth is always benevolent and

human beings, including myself, are deleterious.

Figurative depiction of humankind establishing peace and protection for the environment.
123RF.com

For several years, I upheld my strong opinion about human carelessness yet enthusiasm

for environmental protection. My AP Environmental Science class in high school supported my

interest in environmental protection. I learned about deforestation in developing countries and

other terrible events that occurred in other parts of the world, and I felt determined to go to a

college where I would be able to learn how to make an impact and save the environment. During

this class, I gained preliminary knowledge on the human history of environmental protection as

we focused on the current events and the negative aspects of environmental degradation.

However, we failed to discuss the science and the social aspects of environmental protection.

I hoped to find other peers at college who were like-minded and ready to take action and

do whatever it takes to do the environment justice. However, once I came to college, it was a

different story. When I started taking my environmental classes, I realized that some of my

thoughts and perceptions about human interaction with the environment was vastly different than
I had previously believed. Starting from my Nature and Culture class, I began to learn and

experience others perceptions of the natural world, and how my beliefs were only through my

past experiences and opportunities. By being a white, American, middle-class woman, I had

options to explore my natural setting. I had the ability and opportunity to enjoy national parks

without worrying about being able to commute there. I had experience being in the outside world

and experiencing firsthand the astounding beauty of the natural world.

Others, as I learned with humiliation, had different backgrounds and connections with

the natural world. Sitting in my seat, I remember feeling my heart beat faster as I heard the

stories of people describe their joy, pain, anger and frustration about the natural world. Some, to

my shock, had never had a chance to visit a national park as I had or traveled to parks as

frequently when they were children. I felt their emotions as if they were my own. Even though I

could not relate to their frustration or inexperience with the outside world, we all felt committed

to its protection. And thus, I felt like I found more of my community.

As the class continued, I became more aware of my intentions and motives as an

Environmental Science and Management student. I began to realize how much I wanted to help

local communities. Discussing about underserved communities experiencing hotspot pollution

in my ESM120 class and working with my peers on projects about human influence on different

ecosystems class, I realized that I wanted to work with these communities for a better

environmental and human future. Relating to these communities by sharing my passion about the

environment, I could try to inspire them in making better choices in protecting the environment.
 Citizens of developing country stand in remains of deforestation project
NASA Earth Observatory

As I delved deeper into different environmental science classes, I came to realize that we

all, as students, had a common goal. Even though we all came from different backgrounds and

were interested in different things, our common goal was collaborating with others to achieve

substantial environmental protection. With my peers, I became aware that I was not as alone as I

thought I was, and that by working together, we can protect this planet.

Coast guard members work together to clean up pollution in body of water

Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary

Over the years, many thoughts, conversations and experiences have lead me to develop

my current motives and connection about the future. Through the connections I have made with

people and with my newly gained knowledge, Ive come to realize that collaborating and

working together is essential to making a difference. Working with my peers on projects in my

ESM 120 class about human influence on different ecosystems, I developed a new perspective

about how different countries impact the environment. In my internship at the Student Farm,

working with other Flower Management Interns in restoring the native habitat, I gained

experience working with like-minded peers in protecting a local part of the environment.

Through my classes and these experiences, I came to realize that everything is connected and

what happens to someone across the world will eventually affect me here.

Looking back at myself when I was younger, I experience a feeling of optimism but also

a sense of guilt because what I believed was the correct perception of environmental protection

hindered my ability to act in a positive manner. However, I know that with more time and

experience I can better myself and make a positive impact in the future.

Poster from California government about local ecosystem protection

Environmental Protection Information Center