SABER

“When enough people come together then change will come and we can achieve almost anything.” - Greta Thunberg—Swedish Environmental Activist

Honestly, I always loved the planet but never thought I'd do much work in the field. Science Fair, DECA, Olympiads––these we're what I used to think mattered. 

When I was dragged to a meeting by the Student Association of Biological and Environmental Research (SABER), my first thought was, "wow, what a mouthful!" In all seriousness, I saw the beauty of it. Multifarious students working together on a project with no ulternior motive, but to be a part of something larger. This sounds cliché, but it truly altered my perspective of high school towards the belief that others shared my love for the planet and are willing to work towards it.

My sophomore year passed like water, the summer flew by, and from the moment I walked into the SABER classroom my Junior year, something was off. The charisma and spirit of the organization was gone; the seniors had graduated and the glue that bound the club together was ripped away. The new president who didn't actually care about the club quit after just two meetings and the SABER had lost its point: an ellegant tool reduced to a mere club.

I watched as nothing happened, and the club wilted with each meeting until it reached a breaking point. Four people stood in the room, our sponsor, Mr. Howard; a senior, Nyssa, and a sophomore, Thisala. We resolved to do something, to take control, we didn't know how, but we knew we needed to do something.

We became the officers, brainstormed ideas for the club, and started building the momentum again. We pushed harder and harder, and as we did the SABER was reforged to its former glory. Smiles at meetings. 3 then 5 then 7 then 9 students. The allure of the cookies attracted students, but the contagious determination for building something great was why they stayed.