CLASSROOM CORNER
OPINION: Keeping New Mexico clean is everyone's responsibility
I grew up on a little farm in Socorro County, one of the state's more rural areas, surrounded by fields and ranches. I鈥檝e seen what happens when that land is treated carelessly. Unfortunately, these areas are sites of illegal dumping that leads to trash in ditches or litter near rivers, and it doesn鈥檛 just sit there. It seeps into the water we use for crops and the soil that grows our food. It affects livestock and the habitats wildlife depend on. Research even shows that illegal dumping alters soil chemistry and introduces heavy metals and pathogens that can be absorbed by crops. Litter anywhere is terrible, but in rural New Mexico, it can do more harm than in a major city because it touches every part of life that relies on clean land.
This is what first sparked my interest to get involved with the Land of Enchantment Young Ambassadors, a statewide youth leadership program focused on preventing litter and graffiti while promoting community pride. Seeing how much the land affects us, I want to take care of it as much as possible. Farmers and ranchers depend on the land for their livelihood. If we don鈥檛 have clean land, we won鈥檛 have healthy livestock or crops, and if we don鈥檛 have those, we won鈥檛 have a food source. Now that I鈥檓 a young ambassador, I can protect and preserve our lands and share my experience, and I hope that it educates others about how important our land is and the true impact of litter.
New Mexico is full of different landscapes, and what works to fight litter in Albuquerque might not work in a remote valley in Socorro County. Every community has its own challenges, so solutions have to come from the people who live there. Part of my work as a young ambassador is visiting schools and youth groups, talking about how litter affects our water, our crops and our wildlife. I explain why it matters, not just that it鈥檚 bad. If students understand the impact, they can spread that knowledge and start taking action.
I鈥檝e noticed that kids listen to other kids in a way they don鈥檛 always listen to adults. When someone my age talks about cleaning up a riverbank or a field, it clicks. They see it as something they can do now. Small actions, like picking up trash left behind by others, add up. Awareness isn鈥檛 the problem. The problem is turning awareness into action.
Being part of this program makes me feel like I鈥檓 not just participating; I鈥檓 helping lead. I can show other students that caring for New Mexico isn鈥檛 just an adult responsibility. If we get involved early, taking pride in our land becomes part of who we are. When we grow up, that mindset carries into our careers, our communities and our daily choices.
I challenge you to notice the litter around you. Don鈥檛 just turn a blind eye. Do something about it. If you see candy wrappers left behind after a baseball game, throw them away. When it comes down to it, keeping New Mexico clean is our entire state鈥檚 responsibility. We鈥檙e called the 鈥淟and of Enchantment鈥� for a reason. Let鈥檚 work together to live up to the name.
Breanne Lucero, 16, is a Socorro High School junior and member of the 2025鈥�26 Land of Enchantment Young Ambassadors, which is part of the New Mexico Department of Transportation鈥檚 鈥淨ue Linda鈥� program and the governor鈥檚 鈥淜eep Litter Out鈥� campaign, the initiative empowers students to beautify the state.
