Today is Earth Day. It’s a magical day where we become more aware of our impact on the environment through thinking about trees and listening to bladder-stimulating nature ambiance between class periods. What I always found funny about Earth Day was that nothing ever changed; I’ve never had a teacher who stopped printing worksheets out on Earth Day to save trees, or who even mentioned the notion of helping the environment through practical uses that we could display in a school environment. In fact, in elementary school, they used to print out extra sheets of paper to remind us that it was Earth Day. How’s that for conservative.

To turn serious, I do believe that there are a few nice things to be said about Earth Day. It shows that we’re at least trying to care about the world around us. Even if we don’t succeed, trying is a nice effort, I think. And besides, some people are reminded to recycle or take their bike to work, and perhaps a little difference is made.

Some people even plant trees, which I find the most fantastic idea for Earth Day. I think each student in school should be required to plant—or at least help plant—a tree on Earth Day. I’ve never done it, and I wish the opportunity had or will come to me, because something like that seems more beautiful than listening to waterfalls or thinking about polar bears. It’s something active, and it’s something that could still be in effect five, ten, fifty years from now. I could plant a legacy rather than just put another piece of paper in the recycle.

I always imagine the trees that were planted being used years later to print revolutionary novels or declarations of independence or a children’s diary. None of the trees planted in urban areas are even used for paper, but it’s great to think about nonetheless. Metal used as artillery in war today will be used to make a pair of crutches next century. The world is just one big recycling bin, really.