Coral Reflections
Alina Stepanov
The nitrogen and oxygen tank held my lungs, compact, satisfied and safe. There are many things that happened to me throughout that stay in Roatán, Honduras, with the coral reefs, like being almost a hundred feet deep in the sapphire blue of our world. A scary thought for some. And probably for me too at some point earlier in my studies. Yet, as my classmates and I, clad in scuba gear, were floating, buoyant, on top of a reef facing the looming openness of the sea, I felt nothing but calm. This to me seemed to be some sort of metaphor to how I approached a more scientific understanding of the world. Understanding conquers fear; it is less scary to reach the bottom of the ocean when you know how pressure works. Being afraid disconnects us from our surroundings, and having a disconnection from nature is dangerous amidst an environment that is deteriorating due to climate change.
I grew up caring about the state of our environment, like many people of my generation. Throughout my childhood there were warnings about a rapidly changing environment. At eight years old, my teachers told us about the trees disappearing from the Amazon forest. At thirteen years old, I witnessed the political implications of COP21 in Paris. Studying abroad in Roatán allowed me to connect to an almost unreachable part of the Earth’s ecosystem– one that our world greatly depends upon. Swimming through those coral reefs– a kaleidoscope of ocean colors that my eyes couldn’t properly see– brought me closer to the environment. Additionally, cultivating the coral made me an active participant in the remedial movement of caring for our world. I felt like I was doing something.
I wanted to keep this thread for the rest of my time at Purchase. After studying abroad, I signed up for a minor in Environmental Studies. This experience of the ocean and coral reefs made me want to learn more about the complexities of the environment. This encouraged me to learn more about Environmental Justice, as well as the socio-ecological intersections that come with climate change. To conclude, I am now looking for graduate programs in Environmental Policy to pursue a career in Environmental Justice. Studying abroad in Roatán gave me a clearer idea of how I want to participate in this world.