Reflection

Reflection

I've always been the kid that loves animals. The one that goes around spitting out animal facts and begs for the house spider to be released. Yes, THAT kid. In the third grade, we learned about pollution. My teacher showed us the devastating pictures of animals with straws up their noses and plastic nets around their bodies. This teacher had just unlocked a new realization in my mind. Prior to this lesson, I was not aware of how a singular straw from an innocent juice box had the power to kill. There was no going back. During recess everyday, I made sure my friends thoroughly grasped the concept of how just ONE piece of plastic could cause death. Of course, my proposed discussions of pollution were often overshadowed by the third-grade drama, but alas, I did not rest. I ensured that my 4-year old sister knew what would happen if she didn't use our new recycling bin, which did cause me some trouble because apparently 4-year-olds don't LOVE the idea of deceased animals. I made sure we put an end to all at-home car washes. I made sure we invested in metal straws. And in this way, my love for all things "ocean" has stuck with me all the way from 3rd grade to now. So although my song is dedicated to Bubbles the goldfish, it's also a token of my appreciation for my 3rd grade teacher. Thank you.