Reflection

My entire life, I’ve been fortunate enough to have easy access to clean water. When I was little, I understood that climate change was a pressing issue, and from what I had learned in school and the outside world, I was only aware of two water related environmental problems: safe drinking water and droughts. One summer, however, my family and I took a trip to Hawaii. I was so excited to go snorkeling, to see the colorful fish and the beautiful coral reefs. But as I swam in the clear blue ocean, I noticed that parts of the snorkeling area looked brown and deserted? Where did all the fish go? Where were the vibrant corals I was used to seeing in postcards? It wasn’t until later on when I researched coral bleaching at school that I realized what was really going on. How had I grown up so sheltered from this environmental tragedy? As I continued to do research on coral bleaching, I knew I had to take action. If I wasn’t aware of coral bleaching, it’s likely that others weren’t either. Through my piece, I wanted to show not only what was happening to the poor coral, but also provide detailed research on the issue and strategies people like you and me can use to help.