During this term I have have learned a lot of new information about plastic pollution that has really impacted me. I've learned what happens to our plastic after we throw it away, and that a lot of it ends up in the ocean. I've learned how plastic is damaging the barrier reef, killing animals and fish, and how BPA is ending up in our food. What this class has really cemented for me was the fact that all the plastic that has ever been made is still on the earth, it doesn’t go away. I’d heard that before, but it had never sunk in, or hit me as powerfully before. I realized that just because I throw plastic in the recycling, doesn’t mean that it just goes away, and that it is hurting the environment, and myself. This class had such an impact on me that I stopped using plastic grocery bags and stopped buying water bottles. I make more of an effort now to be prepared ahead of time, to bring a water bottle with me, and reusable grocery bags. I also stopped using plastic lids and straws on my drink and coffee cups. I love Oregon, and I love hiking on the Coastal trails, the picture above is of my friends and I on one of our hiking trips. I want Oregon to be beautiful forever, so I have made a pledge to do my part to reduce plastic pollution!