Early in the morning, we felt the bright sunlight shining down. It was the perfect start to a new day.We were about to have our first activity in NSTP (National Service Training Program), which was part of the International Cleanup Drive.
After the morning assembly, all freshmen gathered and changed into clothes suitable for the cleanup.At first, we didn’t know where the cleanup would take place or how far it was from our school. We wondered if it was close enough to walk or if we needed transportation.
Since the bathrooms were crowded with students changing clothes, my friends and I decided to head back to our boarding house to change. Our boarding house wasn’t too far, and we didn’t want to risk running out of time and being punished for not being in the proper attire it would have been embarrassing in front of so many students.
After changing, we hurried back to school, running to make sure we wouldn’t be left behind. Attendance was being taken, so our presence was required.
As we rushed, we noticed a group of students heading in the same direction as us. It turned out the cleanup site was along the same route as our boarding house
As I had guessed, we were going to walk to the location—there were too many freshmen to arrange transportation. It took about 20 minutes to get there, as it was a bit far from the school.
When we arrived, we grabbed our sacks, put on gloves, and got ready to clean. The staff divided us into groups of twenty, each assigned to collect different types of trash to make sorting easier.
As we moved through the area, I noticed the large number of preserved mangrove trees. We were amazed by their beauty and by the vastness of the coastal area. There was even a gap between the trees that resembled an entrance.
We began picking up trash, one piece at a time. I realized that mangroves not only provide a habitat for fish but also help block trash from reaching the sea. Once our sacks were full, we returned to the meeting point.
After gathering all the sacks and taking some photos for documentation, something unexpected happened. Several students began to faint, one after another. The staff immediately called for ambulances to take them to the clinic.
Due to these incidents, the teachers advised us to go home and decided to suspend the NSTP activity for the day.One of the reasons for the fainting was that some students hadn’t eaten breakfast, were sleep-deprived, or were dehydrated, drinking only cold drinks. Additionally, many students today spend a lot of time indoors, glued to their gadgets, so their bodies aren’t accustomed to outdoor physical activities, especially under the heat of the sun.
The teachers reminded us to always sleep early, especially on Friday nights, eat breakfast, and stay hydrated. NSTP isn’t just about discussions it requires active participation to serve the community.