Ashok Mann, 11th Grade
At the beginning of this academic year, I joined the Prithvi Seva group in tree planting with the nonprofit organization, Friends of Trees. This was a brand-new experience for me. Going into it, I didn’t know what to expect. It was December 9, 2023 when I attended my first tree planting. I woke up early that morning and took a calming drive out to Jackson Bottom Creek with my mom. The roads were empty and there was a fog all around us, adding to the relaxing aura. When I arrived, I was welcomed instantly. Everyone was kind and, even though the weather was a bit gloomy, I couldn’t help but feel happy being there.
Once everyone had arrived, we went out into the planting area where we all we all shared our favorite stretches as we introduced ourselves. Thereafter, we learned the techniques of tree planting. When it was time to start planting, we headed out with our shovels and began our work. As a nature lover, I found this to be an amazing experience, not only because I got to give back to the Earth, but also because it gave me a chance to slow down my busy life and enjoy the beauty around me. Another bonus to this experience was seeing the wildlife such as deer and heron. We, as the Chinmaya family, worked side by side for about three hours. At the end of the planting event, we had planted over 300 trees.
After that day, I knew that I wanted to continue participating in more tree planting events . Since then, I have attended nearly all the tree planting events.
I find planting is like nurturing children at Chinmaya. The trees we plant are young saplings, and with right care, they grow to become big trees that provide food and shelter for human beings and animals alike . Similarly, with right care, the young children of Chinmaya can grow, and they too can provide for their own community. So for those of you who have never attended a tree planting event, make it a priority to attend at least once next year. I thank Chinmaya Mission for this opportunity.
