Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

Ever since I was little, I've always loved being around the water. Whether it is swimming, fishing, or diving you could always find me there. Now that I am in high school I really wanted to do something to make a difference in this world, and what better way to do that than help what I love. So, in my junior year I started a beach cleanup club at my high school.
Many people believe that since we are so small in this world we cannot make a huge impact. Every little thing helps when it comes to beach cleanups to protect marine animals. I always hate seeing turtles and other animals being hurt or even killed by human debris, so I wanted to change that. With the help of a few friends and a teacher I was able to accomplish this goal. Ocean Hour, my beach cleanup club, not only helps the animals but also educates the students about the issue. We try to clean up the beaches every other weekend or even more and we meet at school about twice a month. Each of our beach cleanups are very successful. The members of Ocean Hour have also recently become scuba certified and we are planning on completing reef cleanups as well. When I first started this club I didn't really think that many people would be interested, but once the word got around school the club grew larger.
This club has helped me achieve a leadership opportunity that I didn't think I was able to obtain and actually accomplish. Volunteer work is very important to me because it teaches you how to give back and practice responsibilities. By creating this club I have become a better worker and have made unexpected friends along the way. You never know what you are truly capable of until you put yourself out there.
Ocean Hour is a dream come true for me, since I have been around the water as long as I can remember, I have also wanted to pursue a study in Marine biology. This is my first step towards my goal. Once I go to college I want to study marine biology, and explore the ocean since only about 5% has been studied so far. When I am exploring the ocean I definitely want to see a difference in debris that I find.
This experience has helped me in so many ways. Now, I would say I am a very strong leader, I can communicate with the members and I am very organized. This experience has also taught me that even though by myself I am very little, I can still make a large difference if I put my mind to it.