Reflection

Growing up, I have worked on numerous projects focused on pollution. From my 7th-grade research paper regarding water pollution to my current Chemistry project on innovative solutions to climate change, I have continuously been a passionate advocate against pollution. This year, while walking through a flooded beach parking lot, I saw rows of plastic waste pushed ashore from the sea. Despite my awareness of water pollution, witnessing the plastic pollution firsthand was a profound experience. It was at that moment that I truly understood the gravity of the issue. If we do not change how we produce and dispose of plastic, it is estimated that the amount of plastic entering aquatic ecosystems each year could triple to 23-37 million tons by the year 2040. Additionally, in 2008 it was estimated that 1 million marine animals are killed each year due to water pollution. Despite these alarming statistics, much of the world remains indifferent. Thus when I saw the prompt I knew I wanted to create a piece that would draw amplify awareness to this critical issue. Aquatic animals are now forced to live in plastic-filled environments, a reality I aim to highlight by depicting a human in the same setting. My goal is to illustrate the inhumane conditions we impose on marine life through our actions. At the same time, through this piece, I want to show that if this issue continues unchecked, it will soon affect us as well, placing us in the same perilous position.