Autoethnography Example: a Personal Journey of Beach Cleanups Across Generations

About a year ago, a group of my friends and myself would go to the beach frequently. We would go just about every weekend. Before settling in and having a good time, we would walk up and down the shore of the beach. We would play a game involving trash that we found on the beach. The game was simple. Whoever found the least amount of trash in 20 minutes would have to run as fast as possible into the water, no matter how cold.

Given this consequence, no one would want to lose. This would make the game much more fun and encourage us to pick up as much trash as possible.

Inter-generational Responsibility: Lessons from My Mother

I learned right away that by doing this, we are helping the environment by not allowing trash into the ocean. Even though we are making a slight difference, this could still allow some marine life near us to live longer. This experience of picking up trash on the beach every weekend is similar to experiences my mom used to have when she was my age.

She never made it a game, and she did not go to the beach as frequently as we did, but every time she would go to the beach, she would clean up trash as well. She is the one who suggested that me and my friends start picking up trash. Doing this has brought me closer to a lifestyle of just picking up trash in general. The habit of picking up trash differs significantly from other people’s lives. Many people see trash and leave it there because, unfortunately, it has become customary to see trash lying around. So when other people see trash, they ignore it.

Beyond Personal Action: Discovering the Surfrider Foundation

I have done some research about a group called the Surfrider Foundation. This group holds monthly meet-ups where people volunteer to clean beaches in Los Angeles. I learned they clean beaches between Marina Del Rey and the Ventura County line. They supply reusable bags and gloves, so once you are done cleaning, you can take them home and use them if you like. They also supply sunscreen and water but encourage people to bring their own. Remarkably, there are groups near me that clean up beaches monthly. People should try this at least once because it feels good to do something that is helping our environment. For further information, or if you want to sign up, visit la.surfrider.org.

Reference

1. Surfrider Foundation. (n.d.). Los Angeles Chapter. Retrieved from https://la.surfrider.org/

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