To be honest, an elective like ‘Singapore’s Natural Biodiversity’ was not my first choice. It wasn’t even close to first. Turns out I ‘did not bid’ – and yes, I am doing air quotes with my fingers here – for my electives and got placed into this particular one. At the onset I felt a little wronged (a little being angry-emails-and-smashing-walls little) seeing as all my friends were in Psychology, an elective I had dearly wanted to get into. So it was with a heavy heart that I trooped down to the first lesson.

Okay, big mistake. There was nothing to be afraid of. Turns out everything was wonderfully all right; we got to go on field trips, we got to learn about sea cows and sea grass (unfortunately there are, in fact, no sea cowboys) and we got to enjoy ourselves much more than those poor people in psychology. I sat in on a couple of lessons and all I can say is I will never suffer from insomnia again.

The entire module ended off with conservation, and what we can do to help the Earth. I don’t think, personally, that I can do much. By myself. Besides, there are already so many people in Singapore trying to preserve, trying to conserve; ACRES, WWF Singapore…what can I, one person, one single measly person who isn’t so sure about saving her grades, let alone the environment, do?

Then again, there is such a thing as the Change the World poem. Ghandi, King, Mandela…they started out as one man standing alone against stereotypes, against hardship, and yet they pulled through. And maybe I as that one person might not succeed in changing anything, but it’s no loss to me if I fail, and it’s a gain for everyone if I win. I can start small – doing the usual donations, volunteering with the organizations, and perhaps something will change. I won’t see the difference, but hopefully someone else will.