Where Are We Wednesday: Marvin Nieto
Representing the Bay Area, in the place to be, I live in Redwood City and attend a school near by called Sequoia High School. For my entire life I dwelled in the crowded urban city, where I kept myself isolated from all the other places I could explore outside my home. I have explored the wilderness a few times in school field trip and to go have a barbecue with the family on a holiday.
Before the SCA, I have worked in non-profit organizations and school clubs. I took part in the council of goodness, where I was mentored on leadership and I tutored kids the english language. In school, I participated in the Dream Club, they impart awareness of immigration in the education system, and in the Latino Student Union, they spread the knowledge of their culture to members and in the diversity of our school.
I was introduced to the SCA on an assembly in the AVID class. A leader shared us this volunteer opportunity that would take students outside into local parks and restore them from trash and invasive species of plants. I signed up to get some community service hours, but I had reluctance to pursue this. I didn’t imagine myself trampling on soil all day, and green wasn’t my favorite color. Still, conserving the environment was less important to me.
In January 2014, my first real camping trip and volunteer work was at Half Moon Bay State Park. I was astounded by the wonder of the tide pools and I noticed the trash and weeds that grew in this place. Later, I have been in the places I have not visited and I met awesome people whom became my best friends. Friendship fulfilled the silly games we played, the beautiful sights we grasped and the handcrafted food we ate.
I learned how sustainability played a big role in my life, and while society was affected by Environmental Justice now and the next minute, I knew I had to change things and take the alternatives that would save wildlife. In field trip and lectures, I picked up the names of plants and animals that are endangered because of human impact that caused climate change.
I started to love going outside. It helps me unwind and think of the the world in different place far from a fast pace and packed area. To be somewhere else to inhale a new air and be self imposed by the nature of the streets, the media, and the news. The truth is that I was different person. My SCA crew possessed intelligence, kin, and a chemistry that got me in the mood to do the right things, learn the academics behind all that we do as I elicit my growth as someone special.
Our usual day outside goes like this: Living in a different place far from air conditioning and your bed, work for hours in the ecosystem lifting heavy loads of invasive plants and get dirty while keeping a clean grin on my face filthy face. Later you renew yourself by eating your fill, talking about a famous quote someone said, playing a friendly game of tag, but all of this is done with effort and integrity.
I knew what is is like to be happy with the friends we share an apple to fill our stomachs or laughs to get by. I fully understood the importance of work, the breathlessness of fun, and the moral behind an event when we ask “why?”. Being taught the knowledge about what was good for the environment and putting on the boots to pull invasive plants and abate dropped trash was a way I was bequeathing love.
My opportunities was that the SCA staff members considered the crew members including me a leader. I was never told that, and I was humble to earn that title as a leader. As a matter of fact, we all were. I was glad to know that the qualities I gained in SCA applied in green jobs, whether it is being a biologist that studies to preserve an ecosystem or an advocate regulating local produce in a community.
Wisdom and brawn are the main qualities I gained out of the program. I demonstrate this change by sharing my knowledge of the respect between humans and wildlife and the muscle to reduce waste and contamination. My commitment in SCA opened my eyes to what the world is like and I definitely think everyone, no matter who you are or how you describe yourself, could unveil a something special they can take pride in while being in SCA, or in something they commit to with a willing attitude.
