A reminder of
what matters
The work that i do requires passion, creativity, and ingenuity. As I started to lose this, i knew it was time to reconnect with nature and tap back in to my philosophy. to do this, i flew out to north eastern Indonesia where I spent two months volunteering for an ngo called barefoot conservation.
During my time there, i assisted in the scientific efforts of preserving these remote coral reefs and the humanitarian efforts of improving quality of life for the local villages. This area of indonesia is unique because of its ability to withstand the major effects of climate change including changes in water temperature and acidity. It was our job to assist in the data collection of our own coral farms that would then be sent to labs across the world to aid in their efforts to uncover the mysteries of this area.
There’s a lot of introspection that comes with being on an island smaller than 6 city blocks. I found that more happened for me in the moments between our work than the work itself. With no running water, intermittent electricity, and bungalows built on stilts, simplicity’s the name and sustainability’s the game. Immersing myself on an island over 3 hours from the nearest city fostered an environment of intense internal growth. It also showed me that i will absolutely never take tacos for granted ever again.
Without question, the best project i was a part of was helping teach the kids how to scuba dive and capturing the moment they got to breathe underwater for the first time. I believe we all have an obligation to do the most good by others and leave this world better than we found it. Being a part of a program like this where we’re not only conducting scientific research to better understand the ecology there but also inspiring the budding generation of local villagers to be mindful of their impact and show them the importance of preserving the ecosystem they and all of us live on has been one of the most incredible opportunities I’ve been privileged enough to enjoy.
