Kelly's Reflection:
Our Earth Day project was based on how many sheets of paper are used and wasted during the state mandated standardized testing (EOG’s) every year. When I take the EOG’s, I can see exactly how many sheets of paper are wasted, and I thought these were recycled. I used to think that since schools always teach students to reduce, reuse, and recycle, they would practice it themselves. It was extremely surprising to hear the numbers and the reality of these final exams.
Before this project, I was already recycling. I knew that it was the right thing to do, and that my contribution was going to change something about the Earth. But after this entire project, I realized that what I was doing was barely anything compared to the 3.1 million sheets of paper wasted every year by just Wake County middle schools alone. It was hard to imagine what the whole country had wasted after hearing the facts. After use, all of the EOG papers are burned, not recycled. I was blown away at the fact that even the blank, unused sheets are destroyed as well.
While writing the news article that we attempted to publish, I still couldn't comprehend the reality of it all. Not only did this project bring attention to how much paper is wasted, but it also screamed at me to go out of my way to recycle anything I can. We must think about the future while we fix the present.
In the future, whenever I recycle something, I will think about this project. Whenever I see someone throw paper away, I will tell them to make the better decision next time. It’s unbelievable how much of an impact a sheet of paper could have on the environment.
Before this project, I was already recycling. I knew that it was the right thing to do, and that my contribution was going to change something about the Earth. But after this entire project, I realized that what I was doing was barely anything compared to the 3.1 million sheets of paper wasted every year by just Wake County middle schools alone. It was hard to imagine what the whole country had wasted after hearing the facts. After use, all of the EOG papers are burned, not recycled. I was blown away at the fact that even the blank, unused sheets are destroyed as well.
While writing the news article that we attempted to publish, I still couldn't comprehend the reality of it all. Not only did this project bring attention to how much paper is wasted, but it also screamed at me to go out of my way to recycle anything I can. We must think about the future while we fix the present.
In the future, whenever I recycle something, I will think about this project. Whenever I see someone throw paper away, I will tell them to make the better decision next time. It’s unbelievable how much of an impact a sheet of paper could have on the environment.