How the young teaches us

Point of view

- By DOROTHY DELGADO NOVICIO

On an overcast spring day when the sun was not expected to shine, over 1,000 kindergarten to senior high school students from New York's five boroughs flocked to Governors Island. For what felt like a ferry ride that took only 10 blinks, I felt the excitement of a crowd of eager children, carrying dioramas, poster boards, contraptions, machines, etc., along with their teachers and us, guest reviewers. Yet that less than five-minute cruise steered me to a transformative gathering of like-minded individuals who tirelessly plant seeds of change to make a lasting impact in our environment.

When my good friend, Vicky Maronilla-Abueg, director for Finance of Billion Oyster Project (BOP), asked if I would be interested to join as a guest reviewer in BOP's yearly student symposium, I said yes with great enthusiasm. After attending an instructive forum about how BOP, as a non-profit, works for the restoration and protection of New York's water resources and natural surroundings amidst massive urbanization and climate change, I sensed that through volunteerism we could likewise help in their innovative undertakings. Because of the life-changing stories Vicky had told me on the impact of the science fair-like event on the lives of the young (and older ones like us!), I looked forward to being part of the immersive experience.

At the training and orientation, we were briefed that as guest reviewers (a less intimidating term for judges) we need not worry if it's our first time to participate. Those who had joined in the past solicitously related their encouraging experiences to the greenhorns. We were coached on the matrices, grouped in teams of three and given a sample project to review.