The Community Cleanup was a new experience for me. While I had always heard about such events and wanted to participate, I had never actually joined one. The CAS program gave me the perfect chance to contribute to something meaningful. During the cleanup drives, we visited different locations, including ponds and riverfronts, where we collected waste under the guidance of a mentor. In our first session, we were taken to a pond covered with Duckweed, and our task was to clean a section of the pond. Our mentor explained how Duckweed affects the pond ecosystem, and I could relate it to what we had learned in my Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) class about eutrophication and fertilizer runoff. We were then told that some of us would have to go into the pond to clean it, which caused some resistance, including from me. I didn’t want to get dirty in the pond water, but in the end, a few of us decided to go in, and I helped them clear the Duckweed. At the end of the drive, I felt a sense of accomplishment when I saw the pond cleared and cleaned. During the cleanup, some people watched us curiously, and a few even asked why we were doing it.

LO2: Demonstrating Challenges and Developing New Skills

One of the challenges for me was just showing up for the early morning cleanup sessions. The drives lasted about two hours, and I wasn’t used to physical activities like this. After an hour of cleaning, I’d often feel exhausted, especially because of the heat. To overcome this, I would take short breaks to recharge and remind myself that I was helping the environment. While I didn’t learn any new technical skills, I developed my physical endurance, as I was constantly bending, lifting objects, and working on difficult terrains like inclined slopes.

LO4: Showing Perseverance and Commitment

Committing to the cleanup required active participation, which wasn’t always easy. There were times when I felt like skipping the sessions or lacked the motivation to continue. However, during those moments, I reminded myself of the small but positive impact I was making on the environment. I made sure to give my best at the cleanup, focusing on collecting as much waste as possible and doing my part for the community.

LO5: Demonstrating the Skills and Benefits of Working Collaboratively

We divided ourselves into small groups and assigned sections of the location to clean. This teamwork allowed us to cover the entire area efficiently in about two hours. During one of our cleanup drives, we collected plastic waste and handed it over to Ecovision, a waste management service. The plastic was later taken to their facility to be recycled. This collaboration showed how different community groups can work together to make a positive change.

LO6: Engagement with Issues of Global Significance

I strongly believe that even small actions can spark big changes, especially when they start locally. Our community cleanup directly addressed the global issue of environmental degradation. While cleaning, I came across a lot of plastic waste like bottles, bags, and caps. By picking up the litter, we helped clean up our local environment and reduced the impact of plastic pollution. This was a great example of how local actions can have a global effect, and it reminded me that we all have a responsibility to keep our surroundings clean.