Let's make a difference

Let’s Make a Difference

Tiny, invisible set of organisms are handling the whole world now. They are able to confine all the human beings inside their residential places and let the animals free. Now I can understand how animals feel when they stuck inside cages. It seems like a nature’s revenge.

By the way still we are lockdown. When I heard the news about closing the university due to coronavirus pandemic, I was fed up with lots of assignments, presentations, group works as well as quizzes. I felt I should have a small break. I rushed to catch a train. While the train passing through tunnels and mountain sights, so many questions gathered inside my mind; how our small island cope with this huge destructive pandemic? Will it catch my loved ones? Can anyone be able to rescue the world?

During very first week I was blanked; most of the time news alerts came as “another infected person is confirmed”. Even the sound of an ambulance made me feel fear. (Believe me I’m such kind of a sensitive person). Somehow I adapted to tolerate.

Although my mind is full of negative thoughts due to this pandemic, I’m glad to say that I have found one of my strengths as an agriculture undergraduate. Actually it was happened unexpectedly. It was the day that I heard “Saubagya gewaththa” for the first time. I have seen some of famous characters in Sri Lanka starting to grow vegetables in their home gardens. My mind said, “Why couldn’t you try it?” But there is limited space in my home garden as I’m live in an urban area. Should I give up? Never… I’m a girl who loves challenges!

Eureka!!! Finally I found an interesting way of growing veggies. “HYDROPONICS” Actually it came up with one of our plant physiology practical. Simply hydroponic can be defined as soil less culture. I tried gotukola. (Botanical name is Centella) I observe it every day. Amazing!! It is going to be a success. It is suitable for those who have limited space. You don’t need more efforts to manage it. Awesome… I’m satisfied with my experiment! Yeah! I made a difference.

Being a change maker is hard, it’s never ending, and the waves of oppression can be relentless. So why do we do this? I can still remember a story which I heard during my childhood. It stirs something deep inside each time I recall it; once there was a young boy who had a habit of walking along the shore, picking up starfish into the ocean in order to survive them. A wise man showed him and asked, “Do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!” At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean, as it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one”

I hope it provides you the encouragement your need to keep being the change that the world needs!

“MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY”

Nethmi Senarath

Faculty of Agriculture