Beyond the apartments, which are home to humans of all kinds, like myself, is the forest.

This forest is home to a variety of unique insects and animals. I consider this forest to be my

second home. The inhabitants found there, with their individual characteristics, are a part of a

complex natural system. Some of them are very strange looking - like the eight-legged Daddy

Long Legs, the well-camouflaged Carolina Mantis, or the vibrantly colored Goldenrod Crab

Spider. I even came face-to-face with a stealthy garter snake in this very forest. It wasnt until I

was looking for the creek, however, that I first discovered small schools of Mosquitofish - a

discovery that would have a bigger impact on me than their small size might suggest. I decided I

no longer wanted to pay for expensive tropical fish that often died soon after I took them home.

Instead, I found that catching little Mosquito Fish with plastic cups was much more satisfying.

Since I first came across that creek and those fish, my attachment to nature has intensified. In

fact, I still regularly visit the forest and the creek. And every time I do, Im filled with a sense of

euphoria.

Many children usually outgrow their more peculiar passions by their teenage years. In

my case, I find that as time progresses I just get further enveloped by these natural treasures. I

can remember first realizing my affinity for nature. I was living in Jamaica and looked forward to

my favorite aunts frequent visits to my home in the Jamaican countryside. She, too, at a very

early age, was captivated by the world that existed somewhere outside the walls of any man-

made establishment. After all, both of her grandfathers and parents were avid outdoorsmen and

independent farmers. I had always wondered why she never lived with us and, as I grew older, I

learned that she had been long toiling for her PhD in Botany. She helped me appreciate the

smallest details about our natural environs. We often went outside in the mornings, before

sunrise; not even intricate patterns on different types of leaves were spared in our early morning

scrutinies. From earning her doctorate to working on a plan to increase domestic sugar

production through planting cassava, Auntie Nickys personal and professional lifestyle
continues to echo her interests. Her faithful pursuit of improving agriculture influences me to just

as passionately pursue an environment-related career.

I dont, however, plan to narrow my interest down to just plants, or land even. There are

far too many possibilities in the environment that are counting on my capacity to learn about

them and do something beneficial for their well-being. As a matter fact, its critical that more

people begin to take into consideration the worsening condition of our planets oceans and its

resources. Currently, six giant garbage patches are floating in the major oceans of the world.

Many people experienced in this field say theres no practical or affordable way to clean up the

mess. I beg to differ. If we are able to make it to the moon and back, then we can also construct

a more functional solution to our waste management issues. The greater part of coral reefs

worldwide are in crisis due to threats posed by human activity. They demand attention, more

attention than they are currently receiving. A more effective conservation plan to preserve the

welfare and biodiversity of the reefs would create an advantage in humanity's quest for

sustainability. Someone needs to find a safer way to extract oil offshore and eliminate the

possibility of contaminating our food sources and harming defenseless wildlife and their

ecosystems. I want to overcome challenges and dare to do what others deem impossible. In the

very near future, I imagine Ill be on my way to achieving one of my goals - getting into a college

that will equip me with the knowledge I need to start taking care of our planet's biosphere.

Eventually, this will lead me to a profession that would benefit both my tiny critter friends and

enable me to pursue my passions. For now, Ill continue to make frequent excursions to the

creek to interact with Mosquitofish, careful not to disturb anymore snakes.