Who Am I?

                                        

 Hi! My name is Karissa Mohammed and I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago with the fortune of having supportive parents and two amazing younger sisters. This multi- cultured, beautiful twin island has molded me into my current self and I am proud to be a part of it.                                                                      

  My interest in nature and the environment began in primary school, when my class was assigned the task of germinating a red bean. We all swore it was the most important job we'd ever had, and I took it very seriously. Though there were many challenges in creating the ideal environment and conditions for this red bean to thrive, it was thrilling to witness and I was enthralled from the start.

  I soon began to collect seeds from each and every fruit I ate and planted it in our yard at home, checking every day and hoping that I would see the seed sprouting from the soil, to No success, but this didn't stop me.

 During my primary and secondary school years, I was quite introverted and occupied myself with educational books and the occasional documentary about our planet, and my curiosity grew. In school, I studied Geography, Environmental Science, and Biology in the hopes of learning more about the diversity of species that inhabit the Earth.

  Many documentaries about global issues caused by human activities that destroy and harm the Earth, our only home, have raised my awareness and motivated me to learn and understand more. In secondary school, I became involved in several groups that allowed me to venture and explore Environmental organizations like The Asa Wright Nature Centre and The Point-A Pierre Wildfowl Trust, among others. Here I was taught to appreciate nature and the treasures our country has to offer.

  Trips to various locations in Trinidad to carry out beach cleanups and beautification projects grew my love for the environment, but so did a determination to raise awareness among people about the importance of protecting our planet.

  The Caroni Swamp, located on Trinidad's West Coast, is the country's second largest
mangrove wetland. My Environmental Science teacher took my form 6 class and I there to observe and analyze the various species in these mangrove ecosystems. During the tour, I realized there was so much to see and learn about the mangroves that I became fascinated with them. It is home to many endangered species and a diverse range of organisms, including the Scarlet Ibis, one of our national birds. Nature has so many wonderful things to offer that I have yet to experience and discover and I hope you, as a reader, will accompany me on this journey.

  These events in my life have led me to where I am today, pursuing my passion in higher education. It is my hope that I can share as much of this knowledge as I can with people and that those people can continue to spread knowledge so that future generations can continue to call this beautiful place home.