Water is Neat

Water.

I’ve probably heard this word more this semester than I have the rest of my entire life combined. Alright, that may be an exaggeration but that’s honestly what it feels like. TCU must be pretty dedicated to this whole “Academy of Tomorrow” thing because I can’t seem to get away from it. From lectures to classrooms to murals on the wall, there’s always something to be said, seen, or 

learned about water.

And I’m okay with that.

My eyes have been opened to a crucial but “invisible” issue, and that wouldn’t be the case if not for TCU. During this semester in Lit Civ 2, Ecology and even Organic Chemistry, one of the main focuses has been water. Not just that it’s kind of a big deal, I mean like all about it. Water’s chemical make up, how it reacts with other compounds, what lives in it, what we’ve done to it over the years, what it represents in literature, how we affect it, how it affects us, and why all this is important.

The quality of human life is directly proportional to amount of available fresh water per person. This is scary to think about now after knowing how many people don’t have available fresh water. And it also makes me reevaluate the way I use this valuable luxury. Hearing the stunning facts about the amount of water we use every day just to flush our toilets and the water we lose from pipes in the earth has made me a lot more conscious. I find myself thinking about how fortunate I am whenever I fill up my water bottle, and how this way of life may not be the same in the coming years.

Another crucial part of my learning experience has been understanding the complex ecosystems within bodies of water. This portion of my studies has made me realize that we humans are not the only ones affected by water quality and availability. Fish are dying because of the effects of acid rain caused by our power plants. The quality of lakes and the stability of their subsequent ecosystems are suffering as a result of runoff by humans. Organisms at all levels, from phytoplankton to salmon to bald eagles, have been affected one way or another by human interaction with water. It truly opens your eyes to the vastness of this issue.  

On a more positive note, not only have I learned about water in a classroom setting, I’ve been able to experience it as well. Kayaking down the Trinity River was one of the best class experiences I’ve had at TCU. Not only was that my first time kayaking/canoeing/anything of that nature, it was also my first time closely interacting with the Trinity. At times the river was peaceful and enjoyable. At other points, it was rather disgusting and lived up to its filthy reputation.

Regardless, I enjoyed the experience greatly even if I was soaked and exhausted when we finally reached our stopping point. I began to realize the power of water and paradoxically, its vulnerability. It took a bit of skill and might to navigate the waters, and you could easily find yourself outside of your boat if you made a wrong move. But water has no power against human pollution and trash. Filth doesn’t just go away; thus, we have the Trinity River Trash Bash. It is too easy for us to trash the waters, but we can also clean it up.

Through only 6 weeks of school I am already becoming more conscious about the power of water and the way I use it and also aware of the crisis at hand. It makes me wonder: what am I going to do about it?