My exams were going on and they were quite difficult, which made me really anxious. Our principal promised that anyone who scored at least 90 percent would go on a school trip.

There was a mix of emotions in our classroom — some students were eager to go on the trip, while others were really stressed and terrified about the exams. We didn’t know where we would be going, and our teacher told us that it was a surprise.

I was nervous about my maths result because my percentage was always below my expectations. However, when the result was announced, I was overjoyed to find I had scored 94 per cent in maths, besides getting about 90 per cent in all the other subjects! I was more excited about my marks than the trip, because it was something I didn’t expect.

As promised, our principal announced the date of the trip for the high scorers of all the sections. On the decided day, school buses took us and our teachers to our surprise destination.

It turned out that our destination was a beach. We were overjoyed, but soon our joy turned to dismay as we descended from the buses and saw the area. It was littered with trash of all kinds — paper, plastic wraps, plates, cups, straws, soiled diapers, discarded medical items, etc.

I remembered that in our English exam, we had a comprehension passage about recycling and it suddenly clicked — this was the reason we were there: to help clean up the beach to protect the marine animals from pollution.

Just then, our principal gathered all the students and said, “The surprise destination was meant to amaze us, as it was supposed to be a place for us to enjoy. However, due to the harmful human practices, this once beautiful place has become not only harmful to us, but also to marine life.”

She paused, looking at us all, and added, “Imagine if it’s so polluted on the outside, how much waste is dumped inside the water, affecting the environment and the creatures that depend on it.”

The gravity of her words sunk in as we all realised the importance of preserving such places for the future.

We all started cleaning up the trash, using the gloves and garbage bags that had been provided for us. After a couple of hours, we cleaned ourselves up and had lunch together, making sure to take all the leftover plates and glasses with us. We were all exhausted, but the feeling that we had done something meaningful for a great cause made it all worthwhile.

On returning home, I shared the experience with my parents, and they decided we should visit the beach again with our relatives and neighbours on Sunday. My father booked a bus for the trip. When we arrived, my sister posted a picture on Instagram and Facebook of us all cleaning the beach. Soon, more people showed up, each carrying a bag to collect plastic and metal for proper disposal and recycling. After some hard work, the entire beach was cleaned.

My parents decided we would return to the beach every Sunday to keep it clean. They explained that it’s not just the authorities’ responsibility to care for the environment, it’s our duty as citizens too. Proper disposal of garbage is crucial for keeping our rivers and beaches clean and protecting marine animals. And by recycling the waste, we reduce waste that could end up in the ocean, where it harms sea creatures.

Small actions, like picking up trash and recycling, can help ensure our oceans remain healthy and safe for marine life. Every little action we take makes a big difference.