Save the Ocean Club
Registered: March 2009
City/Town/Province: Mission Viejo
Posts: 1
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Changing the World
The little red tent with legs ran down the side of the road, past the people standing on the sidewalk waving their colorful posters, as drivers in passing cars honked—some in support, others just in amusement—and their passengers laughed and shouted. That little red tent was me.
Now I’m not usually one to wear a tent out in public, but this time I had a good reason. A local company was petitioning the California Coastal Commission for the right to build a new toll road that would run directly through beach campsites and animal sanctuaries. I had been involved in some activism before, but had never gone to such lengths as to make a fool of myself to support an issue. But that day, even though I knew I looked ridiculous, I put on that red tent costume because I truly cared about saving Trestles.
My support of this cause originated from my love for the ocean. Having grown up near the beach, some of my very first steps were taken in the sand. South Orange County, California, is full of natural treasures—the expansive ocean to the west and mountains punctuating the horizon to the east. But such a beautiful setting is also a natural draw for developers to construct multi-million dollar homes, and all the infrastructure needed to support them.
The more aware I became of this reality, the more concerned I grew that our local elected officials often failed to provide the necessary protection to preserve the very resources that makes this place what it is. I also found that not enough people in the community, all of whom benefit from these resources, took action to support their preservation. When I went for walks along a nearby creek, I would often see trash scattered in the water, which flows directly into the ocean. Others walking along the pathway saw that same pollution but didn’t bother to do anything about it. I knew if I wanted things to change, it was up to me. I determined to become proactive in protecting the things I cared about.
But I learned quickly that it isn’t easy to create change. As a sophomore, I founded Save the Ocean Club. I organized a community beach clean-up, but out of the 150 registered club members, only five showed up. I suddenly realized that, while it may be easy to sign up for a club, it takes a little more effort to actually go out and make a difference. Margaret Mead, renowned anthropologist, once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has.” That day, it was the five of us that helped to change the world, not the 145 that stayed home. It is easy to say we support a cause, but it takes courage and initiative to take action; that is the difference between those who lead and those who follow.
It wasn’t just in picking up trash on the beach that we helped change the world, but also in educating others who might have seen us that the natural resources they enjoy should not be taken for granted, that their preservation means some individuals need to care enough to spend their Saturday picking up trash. If one person on the beach that day decided to clean up a little better when they left, five people can eventually save the precious ocean from destruction. Believing in perseverance, activism, and leadership can truly change the world.
I am committed to changing the world by being a leader and an activist to support what I believe and know is right. I hope that someday my commitment to changing the world will make me a valued member of a greater community—even if I occasionally get laughed at along the way.
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