The pungent smell of the sewer’s nastiness swam through my innocent nostrils, as the wet, moist heat blasted through my skin, cooking me alive. Forced to bear the gauntlet of exploring the stinky, vast wastewater plant with a group of equally blazing unlucky students, I trekked on. Only the minimal relief of sunscreen kept us alive. To try and survive this unpleasant situation, I sunk into my thoughts. And I started to reminisce about this all-encompassing fellowship. From the tasteful delight of the cold store-bought sandwiches, to the scholastic activities, being a part of this monumental group exposed me to an experience unlike any other. (Not to be over dramatic or anything!)
Now, I know my description of one of the many trips we went on was not the most pleasant. But it demonstrates the immersiveness of the program. From researching water temperatures at Kelley’s island, to shadowing at Cleveland Metroparks, this program allowed me to go deeper into not just my understanding of Lake Erie, and water in general, but of the industries that thrive on it. There are a multitude of opportunities in energy, in trade, in marine exploration and study, even in having fun, that the lake generously provides. And all we need to do is unlock it.
Throughout my time here as a Fresh Water Fellow, I’ve been introduced to new people, new experiences, new memories, and things that genuinely fueled my passion for not just this lake, but for environmental advocacy overall. It’s shaped me in ways beyond continued participation in the program. I’ve been more heavily involved in my school’s environmental club, eventually becoming it’s leader. I’ve been to numerous summits, community cleanup events, and tree plantings, even taking part in flower sales that promoted the importance of native pollinator plants in our environment. And I plan to continue my environmental journey in the future. And it’s programs like these and experiences like mine that prove young people are ready to come to the table. We just need the tools and the help to do so.
