I have been surrounded by plants my whole life. When I think of my childhood certain memories come to my mind, specifically in my childhood back yard. I picture our swing set that was set in the back corner surrounded by wood chips, the wonky shaped pool that took up the middle grounds, a row of bushes that I would hide in to pretend it was 
my own jungle, and the rest all grass that you would see many soccer balls being used on. In a small corner next to our house and close enough to my jungle, there was a patch of soil. My parents would use this to grow all our vegetables in the summer. I remember the first time my dad asked me to help plant, I was unsure how to do it, but after a quick demonstration and him by my side the whole time I fell in love. The touch of the soil made me feel connected with nature. I saw the different insects buried in the rich soil, seeing how nature connects us all. The food I eat is revived by little organisms that I used to scream at if I saw one crossing my path on the sidewalk. I can still hear the sounds of my dog barking, the hose running, and my sister giggling at this exact moment. We still plant our garden every summer, but now at a new house. We’ve improved our soil, plants, and even ways to reduce waste, by making our own composting system. Nature fulfills my childhood and makes me feel relieved as certain aspects of it bring me back to this specific time in my life.
After helping my family around the house and growing up cooking alongside my dad, I saw the perfect opportunity to help out. In the summer of 2020 a huge outbreak of the Coronavirus began. Many people were in need of help and I saw the perfect opportunity. I volunteered at a local food pantry, despite the widespread fear of the virus, demonstrating my commitment to helping those in need. The food pantry was called Loaves and Fishes, an
d it was a nonprofit organization where people would volunteer. We collected food from local groceries/families, brought in clothing donations, and served plates of hope to those in need. I still vividly remember the moment I stepped into the kitchen for the first time. Everyone was smiling as they were happy to be a part of the process. The room was filled with the scent of spices and the fresh onions being chopped up. What caught my attention the most was seeing the potatoes being peeled. They were the type of potato that you would look at in your fridge and immediately throw away. Here we learned to preserve food and make the most from what we had. They would peel the potatoes, reserving the edible parts. The middle would be turned into mashed potatoes, french fries, you name it. While usually the outside peels would be thrown away, we turned them into potato chips, keeping our goal of reducing food waste. This moment amazed me and taught me to be less wasteful with my food. I became more creative in thinking of ways we can make the most out of what foods we were handed here. Everyday new produce came in and we never knew what we were getting. New ideas surrounded this kitchen, while new memories and friends did too.
Becoming more sustainable at home and outside of the house had become a huge thing in my family at this point. My family has always loved to travel, as I had been on several airplanes before I could even crawl. They were always the type to give my sister and I experiences over gifts. Memories fill my mind as I think about the amazing places I have been and what I have experienced. From learning how to surf in Hawaii, tubing down caves in Costa Rica, running down the hills filled with sheep in Ireland, and even cooking with the Mayan village in Mexico. These experiences have made me love th
e connection I have between nature around the world. However, one of my most recent travels will forever be my favorite. In 8th grade, my dad, younger brother and I took a trip to Iceland. We had always seen pictures and heard stories about how unreal this island is. However, actually being there is more magical than seeing it through a magazine. The first few days we stayed in the main city of Reykjavík, exploring and comparing the extraordinary city to those in America. My dad decided to give us the full experience and book a few stays and excursions around the island. We ventured out towards our other stays, way out in the farm land. On our way we stopped at the Blue Lagoon, a famous tourist area. It is known for their geothermal spas enriched with minerals to enhance your skin and provide many benefits. When I first saw this spa my eyes lit up. There were several pools of steaming turquoise waters and when you look up you see an unreal scenery of snowy mountains. They tell you to scoop up mud from the bottom and put it on your face as a face mask. I felt like I was on a different planet. The way these pools were all natural, heating themselves, and even cleaning themselves from the hundreds of people who step foot in them a day is amazing. This pool certainly did not compare to the hot tubs back home.
From here we drove to a farm in the middle of nowhere. We experienced all kinds of weather while conquering this drive. But it is hard to describe the weather here. It was misty but also harder rain. There was barely any sun but it was also warmer out. As we drove I looked out the window to see fields and fields of bright green grass, every few minutes passing wild cattle on the sides of the road. The roads twisted in between mountains and water poured down them creating these beautiful waterfalls. At the farm there was a main building where you would check-in and dine, then separate cabins where the rooms would be. We stayed at three of these different farms over the course of a week being here. One farm I recall was my favorite. There was an Australian Shepard who greeted us when we arrived. He led us over to the barn where we saw the live cattle this homestead kept. There were so many sheep, I couldn’t even count them all! For dinner we ate a fresh meal that the family prepared for us. Fresh chicken and vegetables, as for dessert they made us yogurt and blueberry syrup. I had never tasted food this pure before. They told us to look up at the stars on the way over to our room. We walked over in total darkness, the only thing lighting up the sky were the vibrant colors of violet and green which danced up and down. I think my jaw dropped at this moment. I had always dreamed of seeing the northern lights and now they’re right there in front of me. This trip amazed me in many ways, through the use of resources the Icelandic people discovered and keeping their culture alive by sharing it with others.
Personally, I believe that experiencing is learning. I have grown from all these opportunities to be who I am today and I think I would see the world differently if I hadn’t experienced some of the things I did. Maybe I would still be discussed by insects, not knowing they played a huge part in growing my garden. Throwing away food scraps because I thought nothing could be made out of them. Not wanting to leave America because I already thought what was provided here could be enough for me to see. Next time you get the opportunity to plant, volunteer, or experience a different culture, don’t think twice, because the outcome will be bigger than you think.
https://www.enfieldloavesandfishes.org/
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