How could a TEENAGER be an environmentalist? As far as I know, environmental TEENS are so out of fashion. GROSS. As if I’m gonna be one! NEVER.

That was my statement before I started to become a teenage environmentalist. Yes, I am now an environmentalist. It was a shame to tell you that I never want to be an environmentalist before. The reason behind it is because being one is like an old hag, thinking about whatever happens and blahblahblah. It was boring and I wanna have all the FUN in my life. I hate thinking what happens in the future (at least before). So, it’s a bit old-fashioned and out of sense. My mind also thought that “Anyways, let’s leave the nature to the OLDs, they have the knowledge so let them take the responsibility. Why wont they leave us TEENS alone?”. It was really funny to tell you what my mind was talking about and I am sorry for the OLD ones who are reading this entry right now for what I’ve said before.

So, let’s go back to the MAIN topic and my MAIN POINT here.

I am talking about the TEENAGERS who are members of the YES-O. Each school has an organization called YES-O which means YOUTH for ENVIRONMENT in SCHOOL’S ORGANIZATIONS.

I’ve been a member of it since first year. But I became an OFFICIAL member of it since I joined the YES Camp in Dumaguete last year.

My first camp, which was in Dumaguete was actually FUN. Everything was good and please allow me to tell you my experiences in a story-like-way-of-talking manner.

“Who will join the YES Camp in Dumaguete? The payment was blahblahblah”. Sir Pelagio announced in our class in which nobody seems to care at all. I turned my head to the right while our Environmental Science teacher was talking. I chatted with my classmate and I ignored what that effin teacher was saying. I mean, I really don’t care at ALL. So, what’s the point in listening? So blahblah, I talked and talked and talked until “Sam Concepcion will be there…” Sam Concepcion…Sam Concepcion…SAM…SAM…SAM will be there? I was astounded to what our teacher said and even though it’s very clear, I made him repeat what he just said. “YES, Sam Concepcion WILL be there!” After hearing those words, my mind shouted out loud saying “Seeing Sam Concepcion LIVE? It’s a MUST to go there.” So I asked our teacher AGAIN and AGAIN for details and that is the beginning of my story of becoming an environmentalist (though, my purpose was just to see SAM in person).

Well, I have to admit, the DepEd really made a great choice to choose Sam Concepcion as their Youth Spokesperson because he encourages US teens to join YES Camp because of his very GOOD-LOOKING appearance.

So, in a blink of an eye, I arrived, I mean we arrived at the Dumaguete. The place was good. Yes, yes.

So now, let’s stop my story-telling HERE. I will now tell you my SHOCKING but GREAT experiences here in Dumaguete, I mean THERE in Dumaguete.

THOUSANDS of us TEENS joined this said camp. Since it was my first time, I was ignorant of everything. I really mean EVERYTHING that happens around. At least, I adjusted quite fast as the time goes by. I saw different teens – friendly type, serious type, old-looked type, snob type, aloof type, stupid type, smart type and all the types in the world. Different people, different personalities. That was on my mind that time when I was wandering around.

So, many activities occurred and many ENVIRONMENTAL ENCOURAGEMENTS are done for us to be encouraged. How boring. That was always on my mind. Sam Concepcion was still the talk of my mind that time.

But, after this ACTIVITY which was called the YOUTH RALLY, I was astounded. All of us gathered around with the same SMILE. That was a very shocking event. Seeing all different types of people sharing the same HAPPY SMILE, it really astounded me. I really can’t believe that everyone was happy to help the environment. I really can’t believe that everyone was thinking of the FUTURE. I wanna ask them why are you doing this? Doing this was really OLD. But then I’ve come to realize that everyone was thinking of the future. Everyone wants a bright future. Everyone wants to make the future people SMILE as bright as they can do. It was a great fulfillment into their heart thinking about the happy faces of the future people.

So, as I was thinking about the future when I got home, I came up with a decision. I want to make the future people SMILE as what the TEENS in the youth rally showed me. I am having a very fresh feeling upon thinking of what GOOD could possibly be done by us that will make the FUTURE people smile. I jumped in excitement as I saw a vision of my sons and daughters smiling at me and I declared that starting that day, I would SAVE the ENVIRONMENT for the smile of the FUTURE.

So what I was telling was that TEENAGERS are not at all carefree and they are not the one who destroys the environment. Many people are blaming them for environmental problems. Why? Because they are carefree? They are young and ignorant? Well, I should disagree that the TEENAGERS are the one causing problems. In fact, they are the one who take actions in order to save the environment. They are the tools that will help save the Mother Nature.

In my opinion, the ADULTS were the one to blame. How can they tell us what to do when they themselves are causing the problems?

Let me tell you that the adults are the one responsible for these problems. Who are those who cut trees? ADULTS. Who are those who throw their chemical waste from the factory? ADULTS. Who are those who builds buildings and houses at some lands filled with trees? ADULTS. Who are the cause for modernization? ADULTS.

What are the TEENAGERS doing? Saving the earth for the SMILE of the FUTURE.

So, the HOPE of the future, US, that will become an adult someday, at least knows whom to blame. So, thinking of blaming oneself, makes us think to do things in a better way. So, let’s stop blaming others. Let’s blame ourselves and become an ENVIRONMENTALIST. Don’t call youself young, call yourself a MATURE PERSON who thinks of the future and aims for the SMILE of the future people.

So, I hope you’ll be an environmentalist someday in your own way. You don’t need to attend YES camps or any organization. All you need is a realization of wanting to see the smiles of the future generation. Let’s unite and save mother earth.

TEENS in different personalities, let’s change our outfit and show them that we share the same dreams- the dream of saving the EARTH.

That would be all, thank you.